An Introduction to Shamanism [karaoke song list]
Shamanism is an ancient spiritual path, which focuses on living in balance and harmony with the world around us. It cannot be categorized as a religion or belief system, neither is it a science - whilst, at the same time, it is all three of these, and more. Shamanism is a way of life. It is an understanding and acceptance of everything is a living entity and that true independence comes only through interdependence of all other things.
The title shaman is derived from the original Tungus word saman, which although a little difficult to translate directly is generally defined as working with fire, or heat. So if we use the word to describe a person, it could be translated as one who transforms energy. This would be an apt description, as the shaman creates incredible potential by transformation from the physical world to the spiritual and vice versa.
In our modern society there are pseudo-derivatives of the original word, for example shamanka, or shamaness, to describe a female shaman. However, for the sake of simplicity when I use the word shaman, it should be taken to mean all shaman - male or female.[karaoke song list]
It is generally accepted that shamanism is between 10,000 - 25,000 years old. However, shamanic tools and relics have been found which appear to date as far back as 40,000 years.
It has been written that shamanism originated in Siberia / Central Asia, but no one knows precisely where or when it started. Perhaps there was an original nomadic tribe (e.g. the Tungus people from Siberia), who traveled around with their knowledge and taught it to others who, in turn passed it again on to others. Or maybe there was actually a lot of similar ideas that originated from all different areas and cultures of the world.
How can it be that a man from Australia, a man from Scotland, one from Russia, one from China, one from Hawaii, another from Denmark all have conceived such similar ideas and conclusions about life without communicating with each other? (There were no cell phones or e-mail 25,000 years ago!) And how can it be that shamanism, no matter where or when it originated, is just as active and powerful today as it has always been?
Shamanism has been used in many different forms throughout the world for thousands of years. It has developed, together with different societies, to create even more complex belief systems. Sometimes by being integrated into an existing faith, or by being used as the foundation for a new religious movement.
There is no specific philosophy to define shamanism. Although each form of shamanism utilizes different methods, rituals and techniques, they are all based on the same fundamental concept that our world - and everything in it - has life and consciousness.
Shamans understand that everything is alive - plants, rocks, wind, water, etc. Spirit/Life is contained in all things and there are many ways to experience this. Being human is only one of them.[karaoke song list]
The shaman also understands that other life forms - animals, fish, insects, plants and minerals - experience life for what it actually is and from their own perspective. The shaman respects therefore all living things and is interested in learning the spirit of life from each of them. In an animistic culture everyone would understand this, but it is the shaman alone who holds the knowledge and expertise in communication between these things and people. The shaman is the pathfinder for balance between his fellow human beings and society, whilst simultaneously supporting the further development and survival of our planet.
Shamanic harmony is by no means passive - quite the opposite. It is a dynamic relationship with the living world and recognition of the connections that exist between the animate and the inanimate.
Through use of a range of rituals, like song, dance, music, silence, trance and, in some cultures, drugs, the shaman learns to separate himself from what we might describe as ordinary "reality". When working in trance - known as journeying - the shaman finds himself in what shamanic anthropologist Michael Harner calls "non-ordinary reality", where he communicates with his guides and other spiritual beings. This work may involve healing, soul-retrieval, path finding, locating power animals etc.
One of the most common types of work for the modern day shaman is in his role as psycho pomp, where he helps disincarnated souls (deceased people), who find themselves trapped between the physical and spiritual realms, further to the next dimension.
Shamanism has been developed through many, many years primarily as a tool for survival. Today, people feel relatively safer in their environment and the concept of pure survival has been replaced with the desire to live a better life. We do not have to fight constantly just to survive. For example, most of us have a place to live where we are protected from rain and cold. When we are hungry we can go to the kitchen and eat. Life is comparatively easy.
However, could it be that we - for example with our pollution, greed and indifference - are again on the brink of survival? There are gaping holes in both the ozone and the rain forests. Would you drink water directly from the river? When was the last time you plucked an apple from a tree and just ate it?
It is easy in our modern "safe" technological world to forget our needs. It is easy to look upon the animistic view of the world as primitive or superstitious, but it is a matter of record that, in general, these cultures live longer than ours and are less wasteful and destructive. Should we measure success in life by what we have or by what we give?
We all share a responsibility. The responsibility to look after ourselves, each other and the world we live in - after all it is our life, our family and our home.
Friday, January 25, 2008
5 Ways To Make Your Baby Smarter
5 Ways To Make Your Baby Smarter [karaoke song list]
More and more parents today are aware of how important it is to develop a baby's brain. Gone are the days where parents branded babies as too young to learn anything. Now the opposite is true. Many have adopted the idea that a child's critical learning time are during their first few years. Therefore, it is no surprise that the question of "how do I make my baby smarter?" has become a popular discussion topic among parents.
So, what can a parent do to make their baby smarter?
1. Develop and strengthen the connection between your child's right and left-brain.
This will help to increase their brain's function as a whole. Encourage cross pattern exercises such as walking, swimming and crawling. Cross pattern refers to coordinated movement of the right arm left leg, and left arm right leg. Even children who can already walk will benefit from crawling exercises. You could make it into a fun game such as crawling races or playing catch. Even brain-injured children have shown improvements by doing crawling exercises. [karaoke song list]
If you have very young babies, do the cross pattern movements for them. Bring up both the right are and left leg and tap them together. Do the same for the left arm and right leg. Sing a nursery rhyme as you do so to add to the fun. Other baby exercises include repeated crossing of the arms and legs.
2. Massage your baby to harness the power of touch.
A study of Romanian orphans led to an understanding that just feeding and changing babies is not enough. Babies that are deprived of human touch experience a decrease in brain development. Therefore, set aside some time to bond with your baby through baby massages. Choose a time when baby is calm, relaxed and comfortable such as after a bath. Start your massage from the head and work down to the toes. If you are pressed for time, just do a quick feet massage. First gently massage both feet at the same time. Then massage alternate foot. Besides helping baby's brain development, baby massage also helps relief colic symptoms, improves circulation and digestion, strengthens immunity and lessens tension and irritability.
3. Play music, sing and dance with your baby [karaoke song list]
.
Music can enhance your baby's spatial intelligence, mathematical ability, linguistic ability and emotional intelligence. Some parents opt for classical music. Children songs, nursery rhymes and lullabies are good too. It doesn't matter if you are a lousy singer sing anyway. You could even make up your own songs or modify the lyrics. Later when babies become toddlers, let them have a go at musical instruments. Make your own shakers or just let them play drum on a tin can. Teach them to clap to a rhythm or echo a simple tune. Scout around for a "music and movement" playgroup and join in the fun.
4. Constantly talk to you baby.
The fact that they can't talk back yet doesn't mean they aren't listening and digesting the information. As you go about your daily activities, describe to baby what you are doing. Talk about the things you see and hear. If you are in the kitchen preparing a meal, imagine you are hosting a cooking show. If you run out of ideas on what to say, use the alphabet to guide you. For example, "A" could be for apple. Go into details that relate to apples such as the color of apples, how does it taste like, where can you find them, and what can you do with them. Maybe include a song about apples.
Betty Hart and Todd Risley found in their study of 42 children that those who had heard more words early in their life later developed higher IQs and richer vocabularies. They also performed better in elementary school.
5. Read to your babies.
Don't wait until they have stopped chewing books or tearing pages. Read through those stages and make it part of your daily routine. Babies have short attention spans so conduct short reading sessions but do it often. Don't force learning to take place. Keep it fun and relaxed. Focus more on developing their love for books. Reading aloud to children helps to develop many pre-reading skills. When they are ready for formal lessons, watch them excel.
Baby brains are excellent learning machines. It is not difficult or expensive to raise a smart baby. What it requires is your time, attention and commitment to interact and to provide a stimulating environment.
Face painting and makeup provide an important finishing touch that can transform a basic and simple homemade costume into an overall effect that is truly unique and distinctive.
More and more parents today are aware of how important it is to develop a baby's brain. Gone are the days where parents branded babies as too young to learn anything. Now the opposite is true. Many have adopted the idea that a child's critical learning time are during their first few years. Therefore, it is no surprise that the question of "how do I make my baby smarter?" has become a popular discussion topic among parents.
So, what can a parent do to make their baby smarter?
1. Develop and strengthen the connection between your child's right and left-brain.
This will help to increase their brain's function as a whole. Encourage cross pattern exercises such as walking, swimming and crawling. Cross pattern refers to coordinated movement of the right arm left leg, and left arm right leg. Even children who can already walk will benefit from crawling exercises. You could make it into a fun game such as crawling races or playing catch. Even brain-injured children have shown improvements by doing crawling exercises. [karaoke song list]
If you have very young babies, do the cross pattern movements for them. Bring up both the right are and left leg and tap them together. Do the same for the left arm and right leg. Sing a nursery rhyme as you do so to add to the fun. Other baby exercises include repeated crossing of the arms and legs.
2. Massage your baby to harness the power of touch.
A study of Romanian orphans led to an understanding that just feeding and changing babies is not enough. Babies that are deprived of human touch experience a decrease in brain development. Therefore, set aside some time to bond with your baby through baby massages. Choose a time when baby is calm, relaxed and comfortable such as after a bath. Start your massage from the head and work down to the toes. If you are pressed for time, just do a quick feet massage. First gently massage both feet at the same time. Then massage alternate foot. Besides helping baby's brain development, baby massage also helps relief colic symptoms, improves circulation and digestion, strengthens immunity and lessens tension and irritability.
3. Play music, sing and dance with your baby [karaoke song list]
.
Music can enhance your baby's spatial intelligence, mathematical ability, linguistic ability and emotional intelligence. Some parents opt for classical music. Children songs, nursery rhymes and lullabies are good too. It doesn't matter if you are a lousy singer sing anyway. You could even make up your own songs or modify the lyrics. Later when babies become toddlers, let them have a go at musical instruments. Make your own shakers or just let them play drum on a tin can. Teach them to clap to a rhythm or echo a simple tune. Scout around for a "music and movement" playgroup and join in the fun.
4. Constantly talk to you baby.
The fact that they can't talk back yet doesn't mean they aren't listening and digesting the information. As you go about your daily activities, describe to baby what you are doing. Talk about the things you see and hear. If you are in the kitchen preparing a meal, imagine you are hosting a cooking show. If you run out of ideas on what to say, use the alphabet to guide you. For example, "A" could be for apple. Go into details that relate to apples such as the color of apples, how does it taste like, where can you find them, and what can you do with them. Maybe include a song about apples.
Betty Hart and Todd Risley found in their study of 42 children that those who had heard more words early in their life later developed higher IQs and richer vocabularies. They also performed better in elementary school.
5. Read to your babies.
Don't wait until they have stopped chewing books or tearing pages. Read through those stages and make it part of your daily routine. Babies have short attention spans so conduct short reading sessions but do it often. Don't force learning to take place. Keep it fun and relaxed. Focus more on developing their love for books. Reading aloud to children helps to develop many pre-reading skills. When they are ready for formal lessons, watch them excel.
Baby brains are excellent learning machines. It is not difficult or expensive to raise a smart baby. What it requires is your time, attention and commitment to interact and to provide a stimulating environment.
Face painting and makeup provide an important finishing touch that can transform a basic and simple homemade costume into an overall effect that is truly unique and distinctive.
Simple and Unique Gifts for Valentines Day
Simple and Unique Gifts for Valentines Day [karaoke song list]
It's Valentine's Day again. And guess what? All over the world, people are tapping away at keyboards, searching for inspiration as they trawl the Internet.
What are they typing into Google? Words like:
"Unique Valentines gift"... or "Valentines day surprise"... or "Valentines day ideas".
Of course, everyone wants to surprise their beloved with something truly different! They're hoping that somewhere out there, tucked away in a corner of Cyberspace, they're going to find an idea. Something that will make their Valentines Day target really sit up and take notice.
If that's what you're doing, you're going to be pleased that you found THIS. Why? The next few sentences are going to share the secrets of a truly original V-Day gift. It's really so simple that you're going to kick yourself for not working it out for yourself. But we're wasting time... let's get down to it. All you need, you see, is a system. [karaoke song list]
Are you rolling your eyes and wondering if you've wandered into a staff meeting by mistake? Never fear. This WORKS. For the sake of convenience, we're going to use "she" - but this works just as well for males or females.
== Step 1. Cut Out The Traditional Gifts. ===
Or if you don't cut them out, at least make them an 'add on' to the main gift. A box of chocolates as a warm-up, or red roses as a parting gift... yes, that's nice. But puh-lease... don't rush into the florist at the last minute and buy a bunch of whatever's left just so she will keep speaking to you.
== Step 2. Work Out What She DOESN'T Want. ==
This is not rocket science. If she hates seafood you're not going to take her to All-You-Can-Eat-Lobster. If she is into minimalist decorating then she's not likely to appreciate Wedgwood vases. If the Three Tenors make her go weak at the knees then she probably won't be keen on Hip Hop. The big trap here is buying her something that YOU like rather than what SHE likes. Open your eyes. Make sure you really know what makes her tick.
== Step 3. What Does She Buy? ===
What a girl owns will tell you a lot about what she likes. Does she pore over the jewelry catalogs, or brush them aside in favor of the latest brochure from the computer store? If she already wears six different chains around her neck and four bracelets and seven rings, you can safely assume she's REALLY into jewelry. But if a ten year old watch is the only adornment you can see, forget it. [karaoke song list]
If she loves sports gear and already has four pairs of cross-trainers, go shopping at the sports store. If she adores animals, buy something related to her pets - or maybe buy her an unusual new pet, if it will fit into her lifestyle.
Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Yep, "What fits her lifestyle" - that's the key. Let's continue...
== Step 4. Think Outside The Square ==
Now that you have your list of what she does and doesn't like (you are making a list, aren't you?) it's time to get really creative. Here are a few examples:
She likes jewelry:- What kind of jewelry will have a special meaning for her? Think in terms of where it's bought; any tie-ins with days or dates; a unique way you might deliver it. Can you present it in a way that will never be forgotten? (In the NICEST way, of course!)
She likes hi-tech toys:- Can you add a special song to a new MP3 player? Or present her with a new DVD player plus a romantic movie as a bonus? (If she's not into romantic movies - and plenty of girls aren't: they prefer to live romance rather than watch it! - how about the latest action thriller?)
She likes the outdoor life: If you're into grand gestures, how about a new kayak plus a river trip organized to go with it? Or if you're low on funds... a ticket to a sporting match along with a signed photo of her favorite sports star? (Yes, you do have to plan ahead for that one.)
== Step 5. The Valentine's Day Follow Up ==
True love is all about thinking of others ALL the time, not just on one day of the year. To be truly unique, why not organize a 12-step St Valentine's Day surprise - something new on the 14th of EVERY month! The gifts don't have to be large or expensive. A foot massage after a tiring day is more welcome than diamonds for a weary girlfriend. Start by giving her a meaningful gift on Valentine's Day, and accompany it with a note telling her there'll be another surprise on 14th March... then 14th April... then 14th May...
Do you think she won't be telling the world how wonderful you are? You better believe it!
It's Valentine's Day again. And guess what? All over the world, people are tapping away at keyboards, searching for inspiration as they trawl the Internet.
What are they typing into Google? Words like:
"Unique Valentines gift"... or "Valentines day surprise"... or "Valentines day ideas".
Of course, everyone wants to surprise their beloved with something truly different! They're hoping that somewhere out there, tucked away in a corner of Cyberspace, they're going to find an idea. Something that will make their Valentines Day target really sit up and take notice.
If that's what you're doing, you're going to be pleased that you found THIS. Why? The next few sentences are going to share the secrets of a truly original V-Day gift. It's really so simple that you're going to kick yourself for not working it out for yourself. But we're wasting time... let's get down to it. All you need, you see, is a system. [karaoke song list]
Are you rolling your eyes and wondering if you've wandered into a staff meeting by mistake? Never fear. This WORKS. For the sake of convenience, we're going to use "she" - but this works just as well for males or females.
== Step 1. Cut Out The Traditional Gifts. ===
Or if you don't cut them out, at least make them an 'add on' to the main gift. A box of chocolates as a warm-up, or red roses as a parting gift... yes, that's nice. But puh-lease... don't rush into the florist at the last minute and buy a bunch of whatever's left just so she will keep speaking to you.
== Step 2. Work Out What She DOESN'T Want. ==
This is not rocket science. If she hates seafood you're not going to take her to All-You-Can-Eat-Lobster. If she is into minimalist decorating then she's not likely to appreciate Wedgwood vases. If the Three Tenors make her go weak at the knees then she probably won't be keen on Hip Hop. The big trap here is buying her something that YOU like rather than what SHE likes. Open your eyes. Make sure you really know what makes her tick.
== Step 3. What Does She Buy? ===
What a girl owns will tell you a lot about what she likes. Does she pore over the jewelry catalogs, or brush them aside in favor of the latest brochure from the computer store? If she already wears six different chains around her neck and four bracelets and seven rings, you can safely assume she's REALLY into jewelry. But if a ten year old watch is the only adornment you can see, forget it. [karaoke song list]
If she loves sports gear and already has four pairs of cross-trainers, go shopping at the sports store. If she adores animals, buy something related to her pets - or maybe buy her an unusual new pet, if it will fit into her lifestyle.
Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Yep, "What fits her lifestyle" - that's the key. Let's continue...
== Step 4. Think Outside The Square ==
Now that you have your list of what she does and doesn't like (you are making a list, aren't you?) it's time to get really creative. Here are a few examples:
She likes jewelry:- What kind of jewelry will have a special meaning for her? Think in terms of where it's bought; any tie-ins with days or dates; a unique way you might deliver it. Can you present it in a way that will never be forgotten? (In the NICEST way, of course!)
She likes hi-tech toys:- Can you add a special song to a new MP3 player? Or present her with a new DVD player plus a romantic movie as a bonus? (If she's not into romantic movies - and plenty of girls aren't: they prefer to live romance rather than watch it! - how about the latest action thriller?)
She likes the outdoor life: If you're into grand gestures, how about a new kayak plus a river trip organized to go with it? Or if you're low on funds... a ticket to a sporting match along with a signed photo of her favorite sports star? (Yes, you do have to plan ahead for that one.)
== Step 5. The Valentine's Day Follow Up ==
True love is all about thinking of others ALL the time, not just on one day of the year. To be truly unique, why not organize a 12-step St Valentine's Day surprise - something new on the 14th of EVERY month! The gifts don't have to be large or expensive. A foot massage after a tiring day is more welcome than diamonds for a weary girlfriend. Start by giving her a meaningful gift on Valentine's Day, and accompany it with a note telling her there'll be another surprise on 14th March... then 14th April... then 14th May...
Do you think she won't be telling the world how wonderful you are? You better believe it!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Playing Piano by Ear
Playing Piano by Ear [karaoke song list]
If you've ever watched musicians in jazz clubs, you've seen the most amazing piano players. It seems they can just pick up and play songs they had never heard before, just like that. There are people like that. Whatever their instrument, they can hear a song once and play it without error or even hesitation! Most need music; carefully written notes and keys and time signatures to guide them. But it's possible to reverse this trend.
You can actually learn the piano by "playing by ear," but it's not the common route. The common way to learn piano is to learn to read music simultaneously. No matter how they learned, most professional musicians can play by ear, but this was a talent most honed with many years of practice, reading music, listening, ad imitating. Of course, playing by ear CAN be a born talent. It is said that Mozart could play and compose great and complicated compositions as a child before he ever saw a sheet of music. [karaoke song list]
But don't let that fool you into thinking if you could somehow activate this talent in yourself, you wouldn't need to learn to read music. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a necessary skill if you want to be a good musician, and certainly if you're contemplating going professional. Reading music gives you access to all the great music every written. You don't need to have heard it to play it. Plus, learning to read music and play piano from it gives you great hand to eye coordination, improving your overall musicianship. And, if you learn to play the piano by reading music, you'll find that just seeing the notes on the page will give you a good idea of what it sounds like. You'll be learning to play by ear unconsciously while you're reading the music. Then you'll have an extra talent -- when you concentrate on learning to play by ear, you'll easily be able to translate that piece to written music should you need to.
Reading music is an important basic, therefore, and most beginning piano instruction will include music reading instruction. It will give you all the basics you need to learn to play by ear. Without good technique and a solid understanding of music theory, playing by ear will be much, much more difficult for most people. So spend time with your scales and positions. These seemingly mundane tasks should be a part of every practice session. They build good habits, and just as importantly, they train your ear. We're not all Mozart, but we can gain some of his skill with practice! [karaoke song list]
Once you reach an intermediate level, you may need to search for a teacher skilled in the art of playing by ear. This will give you another jump in your abilities. They can teach you tricks of listening that will help you pick out the chord progressions that form the basis of any piano work. They will usually combine this skill with regular music-related teachings.
Whether you want to play for your own pleasure, play for friends and family, or even make a career in music, you'll be well-served by opting to both read music and hone those playing by ear skills. If you've ignored either, it's never too late to start. There are even Internet or computer-based courses that teach these skills. Start searching, start learning, and have a lot of fun in the process!
If you've ever watched musicians in jazz clubs, you've seen the most amazing piano players. It seems they can just pick up and play songs they had never heard before, just like that. There are people like that. Whatever their instrument, they can hear a song once and play it without error or even hesitation! Most need music; carefully written notes and keys and time signatures to guide them. But it's possible to reverse this trend.
You can actually learn the piano by "playing by ear," but it's not the common route. The common way to learn piano is to learn to read music simultaneously. No matter how they learned, most professional musicians can play by ear, but this was a talent most honed with many years of practice, reading music, listening, ad imitating. Of course, playing by ear CAN be a born talent. It is said that Mozart could play and compose great and complicated compositions as a child before he ever saw a sheet of music. [karaoke song list]
But don't let that fool you into thinking if you could somehow activate this talent in yourself, you wouldn't need to learn to read music. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a necessary skill if you want to be a good musician, and certainly if you're contemplating going professional. Reading music gives you access to all the great music every written. You don't need to have heard it to play it. Plus, learning to read music and play piano from it gives you great hand to eye coordination, improving your overall musicianship. And, if you learn to play the piano by reading music, you'll find that just seeing the notes on the page will give you a good idea of what it sounds like. You'll be learning to play by ear unconsciously while you're reading the music. Then you'll have an extra talent -- when you concentrate on learning to play by ear, you'll easily be able to translate that piece to written music should you need to.
Reading music is an important basic, therefore, and most beginning piano instruction will include music reading instruction. It will give you all the basics you need to learn to play by ear. Without good technique and a solid understanding of music theory, playing by ear will be much, much more difficult for most people. So spend time with your scales and positions. These seemingly mundane tasks should be a part of every practice session. They build good habits, and just as importantly, they train your ear. We're not all Mozart, but we can gain some of his skill with practice! [karaoke song list]
Once you reach an intermediate level, you may need to search for a teacher skilled in the art of playing by ear. This will give you another jump in your abilities. They can teach you tricks of listening that will help you pick out the chord progressions that form the basis of any piano work. They will usually combine this skill with regular music-related teachings.
Whether you want to play for your own pleasure, play for friends and family, or even make a career in music, you'll be well-served by opting to both read music and hone those playing by ear skills. If you've ignored either, it's never too late to start. There are even Internet or computer-based courses that teach these skills. Start searching, start learning, and have a lot of fun in the process!
iPod. The Next Generation Walkman Replacement
iPod. The Next Generation Walkman Replacement [ipod song list]
An iPod is a portable digital media player designed and marketed in 2001 by Apple Computers. Currently, it is the best selling audio player with over 50 million sold and 1 billion legal downloads sold through its online music store, iTunes.
The popularity of the iPod became Apple's first and successful attempt to branch out from its iMac products and a reputation of being just a computer company. It's easy to see why the iPod dominates the market, with Apple's ingenious marketing strategies, great features, and appealing look of their products, it is destined to dominate the mp3 market for some time to come. [ipod song list]
We need to understand that it is an mp3 audio player that has models incorporating video capabilities. The ability to have a large memory capacity enables the user to store thousands of songs for music and thousands of photos and videos. This makes the iPod such a desirable product, especially to the youth market. The newer models boast a memory of up to 80 gigs. This can be comparable to a hard drive in a home computer. Many people use their unit as an external hard drive to store data off of their computers.
There are many models to choose from as well as upgrades from previous versions. Each new version brings it's own unique features and accessories that can be added on. These accessories contribute immensely as revenue generators for Apple and keeps the public interested in spending more money to get the latest add on features.
You would be hard pressed if you couldn't find an electronics store that doesn't have a section devoted totally to iPods and the adapters and gadgets to dress it up.
Some of the extras presently available to consumers include camera connectors, power adapters, auto charger, car holder, external microphone, external speakers and many more. If you want to expand the fun aspect of these versatile devices, get yourself a karaoke attachment and sing along with your favorite tunes.
With the iPod being focused on music and convenience, it stands to reason that they would find their way into the automobile market. In the US, 70% of the 2007 models will offer iPod integration. [ipod song list]
If you're looking at portability as an option, which is the most popular way they're used, lithium, rechargeable lithium-ion and lithium polymer rechargeable type batteries can be used. Most lithium-ion batteries use a fast charge to charge your batteries quickly up to 80% capacity, then they will switch to trickle charging for the remaining 20%.
Docking units that use AC and DC power are also available to keep a full charge handy when the iPod is stored for a period of time.
Audio and video cables are available for these units to plug into your home stereo, or watch a video on your home theater that's stored on the iPod. There's even a remote control accessory to scroll through various functions and play lists.
There are a few companies releasing their own version of the iPod and accessories because they know that the market is very lucrative. Apple's version will probably reign supreme for a while yet especially with the new models and upgrades they constantly put out in the marketplace. They have also branded a name themselves and other companies wanting to get into this elite mp3 market, will have to contend with people calling their unit an iPod as a generality instead of the given product name.
In conclusion, with the great versatility of music, photo and video, coupled with fast transfer speeds, the iPod makes a great choice for those who love having a portable and personal multi-media device.
An iPod is a portable digital media player designed and marketed in 2001 by Apple Computers. Currently, it is the best selling audio player with over 50 million sold and 1 billion legal downloads sold through its online music store, iTunes.
The popularity of the iPod became Apple's first and successful attempt to branch out from its iMac products and a reputation of being just a computer company. It's easy to see why the iPod dominates the market, with Apple's ingenious marketing strategies, great features, and appealing look of their products, it is destined to dominate the mp3 market for some time to come. [ipod song list]
We need to understand that it is an mp3 audio player that has models incorporating video capabilities. The ability to have a large memory capacity enables the user to store thousands of songs for music and thousands of photos and videos. This makes the iPod such a desirable product, especially to the youth market. The newer models boast a memory of up to 80 gigs. This can be comparable to a hard drive in a home computer. Many people use their unit as an external hard drive to store data off of their computers.
There are many models to choose from as well as upgrades from previous versions. Each new version brings it's own unique features and accessories that can be added on. These accessories contribute immensely as revenue generators for Apple and keeps the public interested in spending more money to get the latest add on features.
You would be hard pressed if you couldn't find an electronics store that doesn't have a section devoted totally to iPods and the adapters and gadgets to dress it up.
Some of the extras presently available to consumers include camera connectors, power adapters, auto charger, car holder, external microphone, external speakers and many more. If you want to expand the fun aspect of these versatile devices, get yourself a karaoke attachment and sing along with your favorite tunes.
With the iPod being focused on music and convenience, it stands to reason that they would find their way into the automobile market. In the US, 70% of the 2007 models will offer iPod integration. [ipod song list]
If you're looking at portability as an option, which is the most popular way they're used, lithium, rechargeable lithium-ion and lithium polymer rechargeable type batteries can be used. Most lithium-ion batteries use a fast charge to charge your batteries quickly up to 80% capacity, then they will switch to trickle charging for the remaining 20%.
Docking units that use AC and DC power are also available to keep a full charge handy when the iPod is stored for a period of time.
Audio and video cables are available for these units to plug into your home stereo, or watch a video on your home theater that's stored on the iPod. There's even a remote control accessory to scroll through various functions and play lists.
There are a few companies releasing their own version of the iPod and accessories because they know that the market is very lucrative. Apple's version will probably reign supreme for a while yet especially with the new models and upgrades they constantly put out in the marketplace. They have also branded a name themselves and other companies wanting to get into this elite mp3 market, will have to contend with people calling their unit an iPod as a generality instead of the given product name.
In conclusion, with the great versatility of music, photo and video, coupled with fast transfer speeds, the iPod makes a great choice for those who love having a portable and personal multi-media device.
How to Say I Love You
How to Say I Love You [karaoke song cd]
Remember the words from an old song...
"Be sure it's true when you say I love you, it's a sin to tell a lie".
The concept of "sin" has lost its meaning for most in our modern era, and even "love" has lost its importance.
If you still believe in "falling in love" then you will realize how difficult it is to say, "I love you" in a meaningful way. Three little words that could change your life forever. The words, themselves, have lost their meaning because of overuse especially when it's not really true. Everybody says them. [karaoke song cd]
However, when you want tell your partner of your love it's such a hard decision to make for many reasons. Will your partner return your love? Will your partner simply accept your declaration with indifference? Will he or she feel threatened? It is such a common problem that even "The Seinfeld Show" had an episode on it.
So make it easy on yourself and plan the declaration so that as much as possible you eliminate the problems. The first step, of course, is to be certain you really are in love. If you so enjoy being with your partner that you want to be with him or her to the exclusion of all others, if you think of him or her every day when you are apart, you are probably in love. If you have even a small doubt you should wait a little longer.
If you are certain then plan a special occasion for it. Make it a significant moment in your life - one to remember with fondness for your whole life. Arrange an intimate dinner at your favorite restaurant and make it as romantic as you can. Give him or her a small gift because you love being with them, or you are so glad that you met them. [karaoke song cd]
After dinner while holding your partner intimately gaze intently into their eyes and say, "I love you so much it hurts when we are apart. I hope that we can stay together forever".
Do not be disappointed if your partner does not return your declaration. They may not yet be ready and might need more time to state their feelings. Continue to share with your partner the highs and lows of your partner's life. Care for your partner's happiness and be on guard to protect his happiness.
Under no circumstances should you ever ask your partner, "Do you love me"?
Remember the words from an old song...
"Be sure it's true when you say I love you, it's a sin to tell a lie".
The concept of "sin" has lost its meaning for most in our modern era, and even "love" has lost its importance.
If you still believe in "falling in love" then you will realize how difficult it is to say, "I love you" in a meaningful way. Three little words that could change your life forever. The words, themselves, have lost their meaning because of overuse especially when it's not really true. Everybody says them. [karaoke song cd]
However, when you want tell your partner of your love it's such a hard decision to make for many reasons. Will your partner return your love? Will your partner simply accept your declaration with indifference? Will he or she feel threatened? It is such a common problem that even "The Seinfeld Show" had an episode on it.
So make it easy on yourself and plan the declaration so that as much as possible you eliminate the problems. The first step, of course, is to be certain you really are in love. If you so enjoy being with your partner that you want to be with him or her to the exclusion of all others, if you think of him or her every day when you are apart, you are probably in love. If you have even a small doubt you should wait a little longer.
If you are certain then plan a special occasion for it. Make it a significant moment in your life - one to remember with fondness for your whole life. Arrange an intimate dinner at your favorite restaurant and make it as romantic as you can. Give him or her a small gift because you love being with them, or you are so glad that you met them. [karaoke song cd]
After dinner while holding your partner intimately gaze intently into their eyes and say, "I love you so much it hurts when we are apart. I hope that we can stay together forever".
Do not be disappointed if your partner does not return your declaration. They may not yet be ready and might need more time to state their feelings. Continue to share with your partner the highs and lows of your partner's life. Care for your partner's happiness and be on guard to protect his happiness.
Under no circumstances should you ever ask your partner, "Do you love me"?
Monday, December 10, 2007
Playing Piano by Ear
Playing Piano by Ear [playing karaoke song]
If you've ever watched musicians in jazz clubs, you've seen the most amazing piano players. It seems they can just pick up and play songs they had never heard before, just like that. There are people like that. Whatever their instrument, they can hear a song once and play it without error or even hesitation! Most need music; carefully written notes and keys and time signatures to guide them. But it's possible to reverse this trend.
You can actually learn the piano by "playing by ear," but it's not the common route. The common way to learn piano is to learn to read music simultaneously. No matter how they learned, most professional musicians can play by ear, but this was a talent most honed with many years of practice, reading music, listening, ad imitating. Of course, playing by ear CAN be a born talent. It is said that Mozart could play and compose great and complicated compositions as a child before he ever saw a sheet of music.
But don't let that fool you into thinking if you could somehow activate this talent in yourself, you wouldn't need to learn to read music. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a necessary skill if you want to be a good musician, and certainly if you're contemplating going professional. Reading music gives you access to all the great music every written. You don't need to have heard it to play it. Plus, learning to read music and play piano from it gives you great hand to eye coordination, improving your overall musicianship. And, if you learn to play the piano by reading music, you'll find that just seeing the notes on the page will give you a good idea of what it sounds like. You'll be learning to play by ear unconsciously while you're reading the music. Then you'll have an extra talent -- when you concentrate on learning to play by ear, you'll easily be able to translate that piece to written music should you need to. [playing karaoke song]
Reading music is an important basic, therefore, and most beginning piano instruction will include music reading instruction. It will give you all the basics you need to learn to play by ear. Without good technique and a solid understanding of music theory, playing by ear will be much, much more difficult for most people. So spend time with your scales and positions. These seemingly mundane tasks should be a part of every practice session. They build good habits, and just as importantly, they train your ear. We're not all Mozart, but we can gain some of his skill with practice!
Once you reach an intermediate level, you may need to search for a teacher skilled in the art of playing by ear. This will give you another jump in your abilities. They can teach you tricks of listening that will help you pick out the chord progressions that form the basis of any piano work. They will usually combine this skill with regular music-related teachings.
Whether you want to play for your own pleasure, play for friends and family, or even make a career in music, you'll be well-served by opting to both read music and hone those playing by ear skills. If you've ignored either, it's never too late to start. There are even Internet or computer-based courses that teach these skills. Start searching, start learning, and have a lot of fun in the process![playing karaoke song]
by Kim Brockman
If you've ever watched musicians in jazz clubs, you've seen the most amazing piano players. It seems they can just pick up and play songs they had never heard before, just like that. There are people like that. Whatever their instrument, they can hear a song once and play it without error or even hesitation! Most need music; carefully written notes and keys and time signatures to guide them. But it's possible to reverse this trend.
You can actually learn the piano by "playing by ear," but it's not the common route. The common way to learn piano is to learn to read music simultaneously. No matter how they learned, most professional musicians can play by ear, but this was a talent most honed with many years of practice, reading music, listening, ad imitating. Of course, playing by ear CAN be a born talent. It is said that Mozart could play and compose great and complicated compositions as a child before he ever saw a sheet of music.
But don't let that fool you into thinking if you could somehow activate this talent in yourself, you wouldn't need to learn to read music. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a necessary skill if you want to be a good musician, and certainly if you're contemplating going professional. Reading music gives you access to all the great music every written. You don't need to have heard it to play it. Plus, learning to read music and play piano from it gives you great hand to eye coordination, improving your overall musicianship. And, if you learn to play the piano by reading music, you'll find that just seeing the notes on the page will give you a good idea of what it sounds like. You'll be learning to play by ear unconsciously while you're reading the music. Then you'll have an extra talent -- when you concentrate on learning to play by ear, you'll easily be able to translate that piece to written music should you need to. [playing karaoke song]
Reading music is an important basic, therefore, and most beginning piano instruction will include music reading instruction. It will give you all the basics you need to learn to play by ear. Without good technique and a solid understanding of music theory, playing by ear will be much, much more difficult for most people. So spend time with your scales and positions. These seemingly mundane tasks should be a part of every practice session. They build good habits, and just as importantly, they train your ear. We're not all Mozart, but we can gain some of his skill with practice!
Once you reach an intermediate level, you may need to search for a teacher skilled in the art of playing by ear. This will give you another jump in your abilities. They can teach you tricks of listening that will help you pick out the chord progressions that form the basis of any piano work. They will usually combine this skill with regular music-related teachings.
Whether you want to play for your own pleasure, play for friends and family, or even make a career in music, you'll be well-served by opting to both read music and hone those playing by ear skills. If you've ignored either, it's never too late to start. There are even Internet or computer-based courses that teach these skills. Start searching, start learning, and have a lot of fun in the process![playing karaoke song]
by Kim Brockman
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