The Mystical Sound Of The Flute

By Jim Samposzi

The flute, an instrument of the horn family, works by the manipulation of air and pitch. The flute nowadays is approximately 26 inches in length and the center is about 3/4" in diameter. The end of the flute is exposed to create a very unique sound. The sound generated depends on the location that the player sets his/her lips and the air that circulates through the flute.

The flute consists of a row of 16 exposures, of which 11 activated and deactivated to change the sound. The other 5 can be triggered by the placement setting of the fingers and opposite thumb. So, a set of home keys for specific fingers is common; the musician just moves the fingers down the tube to hit other keys.

A flute generates its sound by air moving passed a sharp edge. The air is then compressed inside the body of the flute and the air is vibrated. This air then gets pitched and changed through the use of opening and closing valves along the flute's body. Usually, the flute is made of either silver or wood depending upon the natives playing the flute.

A sister instrument, the recorder, uses air to create sounds but through a wood piece instead of silver or metal. The recorder is thought to be a more simple instrument because with the flute, the player has control over the side that the air from the his/her lips hits the mouthpiece; this dictates the pitch and sound that comes from the flute. This control of the mouthpiece makes it possible for the professional to stretch notes out, specifically tune sounds, and get a greater range of volume and melody. To boot, the mouthpiece on the flute enables the musician to control the over-blow the notes. Over-blowing occurs when one attempts to achieve higher notes by increasing octaves with the air through valve. It is hard to bend ones lips and increase air flow to reach this octave, and therefore, a flute can generate a slough of different sounds.

A flute can also vary pitch by the use of the side channels. By shortening the burst of air and of the open air channel, one can hit the higher notes. This is possible via changing the harmonic one step from the home finger spots. The pitch can also be manipulated by aiming air down into the hole or aiming air upwards. This is also affected by the distance of the lips on the mouthpiece.

Whatever flute is being used, the listeners can be ready for a crisp, clean, and joyous sound. Flutes are a great addition in any rhythm and are most often seen at a music production on stage. Flutes in the music world date back to the time of orchestras and have been further developed along the years to become better and produce better sounds. Like several instruments, flutes differ in design and manufacturer. Due to the difference of brands available, flutes vary in cost. The better quality flutes made for concert play can cost several hundred dollars. Starter flutes typically begin at $50 or so and are perfect for someone just starting out. - 18780

About the Author:

Jim Samposzi is a publicist with over 20 years of editorial experience. Jim is presently engaged as a technical writer with our b2b site and has become the company authority on musical instruments. Visit our very useful website for more information on Flutes and Alto Flute.

Learning to Play the Piano? Choose a Piano Teacher or Online Lessons

By Amy Nutt

The piano is a time honored instrument that brings joy to the lives of many people. It is one of the most popular instruments to study because its easy to learn, provides compelling and beautiful sound, and it is an essential foundation of musical study.

There are a number of reasons why both young and old choose to learn the piano. The number one reason is to play music. The results provide a number of benefits such as:

1. Playing the piano helps one keep the brain functioning at its best. Such skills that can be enhanced and maintained include: eye-hand coordination, stress relief and increased relaxation, encouraged creativity, increased self-confidence, increasing the desire to be challenged and learn new things, and an increased sense of self-satisfaction.

2. Playing the piano can be a rewarding hobby. Gathering family and loved and entertaining them by playing the piano is a lot of fun.

3. People who play the piano often go on to be in a band or have a career as a pianist. It also gives a good foundation to learn other instruments and even improve singing.

When preparing to undertake the task of learning piano, one can either learn from a piano teacher or learn online. Piano teachers such as Celesta Piano Studio teach students of all ages who are interested in learning the piano for either professional endeavors or for fun. You can also find a piano teacher in your own area. Lessons are designed around each student's aptitude and goals. As well, there are online piano instructional programs. There are a number of piano internet sites that provide people with the ability to learn how to play piano online. You will be astounded by what you are taught and how fast you learn. Your friends and family will be pleasantly astonished by your new passion. Online piano lessons are very affordable and some sites offer free introductory beginner's lessons. All that you will need is an electronic keyboard or a piano, internet connection, a quality browser, and Windows or Macintosh. There are also piano lessons one can order that can contain quality instructional DVDs, play-along CDs, and detailed workbooks. You are guided through the program and instructions are easy to follow.

Playing the piano is a wonderful life skill to have and can be a lot of fun. When learning the piano, you are discovering the history of music. Becoming skilled at the piano is a life long process with many personal benefits. Quality piano instruction will teach proper technique, reading music, rhythm, tone, and listening skills. Training will be challenging but not too difficult as you learn chords and theory. Practicing every day is essential to mastering this beautiful instrument. As your skills grow, you will become a better pianist and playing piano will become a great love. It takes time and effort but it is well worth the endeavor.

Music plays an important part in every person's life. There are so many ways to learn to play the piano that there is a method suitable for anyone interested in this wonderful craft. Learning to play the piano will bring such pleasure in your life that you will wonder why you did not start sooner. - 18780

About the Author:

As a musician, you must not only consider what kind of instrument you will invest in: grand piano, or new one, used piano, or a standalone, but also the quality of the instruction. You can always take additional lessons to broaden your musical interest like Drum lessons Oakville, or drum lessons.

How To String A Guitar - 5 Tips To Do It Correctly

By Jon J Tan

Changing the guitar string is a very important step in learning how to maintain your guitar. There is no reason why you should pay somebody to string a guitar for you when you can do it yourself easily. Changing a guitar string is a very straightforward process and the risk of damaging your guitar is very low. Here are 5 tips to help you do it correctly:

1. Type of guitar string. If you don't want to damage your guitar, make sure you use the correct kind of string for your guitar. You should know that different kinds of guitars should be strung with strings made of different materials. Nylon strings are typically used for classical guitars and metal based strings are used for electric and acoustic guitars.

2. Take note of the tension of the string. If you are just starting out, you should start with using strings of lower tension. The tension is also known as the "gauge" of the string and is often indicated as such on the package. Higher gauge strings usually have higher tension. If you are a beginner, I highly recommend using a lower tension string as it is less taxing on your fingers.

3. Change the guitar strings one by one. It is important to change the guitar strings one by one, rather than removing all the strings before replacing them. This helps to preserve the tension of the guitar neck and the rest of the guitar to reduce the probability of guitar damage.

4. Use a string winder for speed. If you want to string your guitar fast, then using a string winder is important. This will enable you to wind up and down the strings so you can get back to playing the guitar quickly.

5. Do not cut your strings before tuning. The strings of the guitar have the tendency to slip slightly during the string change process. Because of this reason, it is highly recommended to tune your guitar up to pitch before you cut the strings. If you don't follow this process you might find that the strings might slip off the guitar before you are done. - 18780

About the Author:

Visit HowToStringAGuitar.Net if you want to learn how to string a guitar properly, including how to string an acoustic guitar.

Learning To Sing - Where To Start

By Charle Rivers

Singing with a barbershop quartet or just singing along with the radio you like to express yourself in song. You may think you cant sing like your favorite "idol" or even improve your ability to sing but you can. The first step is to understand the human singing voice accurately so that you can remove negative expectations for your singing ability.

There are many reasons why most people wont get up on a karaoke stage and sing; it could be lack of confidence, lack of education, or both. However, with a little training and practice, even the most tone-deaf singer can learn a few things to assist in their singing capabilities. Just because you are not one of the lucky few who was born with a "good ear" doesnt mean you cant celebrate life by singing as well!

In fact, only two percent of the worlds population truly cannot tell one tone from another! Scientific research has proven that all people can become good singers with a little training. By learning to recognize different tones and pitches, you will actually train your ear to become one with the music.

Now its time to ascertain what level your voice is at on the musical score. Do you sing with a naturally higher tone as a soprano or do you have a low bass tone to your voice? Once you become familiar with your voice stylings, you will be able to accurately fit your voice to songs that are within your range. Singing a low song as a soprano may not be the best idea. But finding songs that easily fit your voice will certainly showcase your singing abilities in a positive light. If you choose to take singing lessons, your teacher will be able to help you in this discovery process.

You must know how to breathe corectly if you want to sing beautifully. Take slow, deep breaths with your diaphragm, not your lungs. Take a long, slow breath, and try to push out your abdomen, keeping your shoulders still. This sort of breathing uses your diaphragm properly.

We have all heard amateur singers who have an unpleasing, even irritating quality, to their voices. This is often a result of projecting the voice through the mouth and nasal cavities. More pleasing is to project the sound through the head, sometimes called "head voice." To develop this skill, work at visualizing your breath and voice flowing up to and radiating out of your forehead.

After practicing these first steps and discovering your best range, start singing your favorite songs. You will find that if you like the song you will sing more enthusiastically and pleasingly. Try projecting the emotion of the song through your face and vocal phrasing. People respond to a heartfelt delivery whether it is perfectly voiced or not.

It is never too late to hone your vocal skills and become passionate about singing and celebrating life as it should be celebrated. Adults have the capability to improve even the most pathetic vocal prowess. Incorporating lessons from a qualified instructor will certainly enhance your vocal skills and lead you to many satisfying nights of karaoke and possibly even to a new career! - 18780

About the Author:

If you want to learn about singing then I encourage you to try an instrument. Try the Korg karma Synthesizer

Is The Sansa Fuze Better Than Ipod?

By Sam Pichi

The name Ipod has become the standard in MP3 players. Like Kleenex to tissue paper, Ipod is now the thing we associate portable music with. Sometimes, we want something different and from Sandisk (the company that owns Sansa) delivers with the Sansa Fuze. I would say that it is the direct competitor to the Ipod Nano. It's about the same size and it costs about the same at some places cheaper. So why Sansa's Fuze if Apple's Ipod is the standard? Well for one, competition is good. Competition drives prices down and it forces manufacturers to adhere to a higher quality. Another thing I am sick of is following what's "in". Be different people! Don't be a mindless sheep. Let's all do our part and improve our standard of living.

My girlfriend's Ipod Nano 2nd generation here to compare with my Sansa Fuze. The Ipod Nano is thinner and is slightly longer than the Fuze. The Nano is also lighter than the Fuse. The screen on the Sansa is larger though. It looks almost twice as big. The Nano feels very slick and smooth. While the Fuze seem to have a glossy finish on the front face, it has a rubbery back that adds to grip. It feels good. It does not look or feel cheap.It is solid. Both the Nano and the Fuze are well made and they feel like high quality MP3 Players.

My girlfriend's Nano holds 2 GB worth of songs. With the Nano there is no option to add extra storage. My Fuze holds 8 GB of music. I purchased the high end Fuze. They have a standard 4 GB Fuze. My Fuze also has a Micro SD slot that I took advantage of and added an 8 GB micro card making for a total of 16 GB or music storage. I believe the highest micro SD card I have seen was 16 GB but that was too expensive for me. The Fuze and the Micro SD card cost me about $130 all together. About $100 for the Fuze and $25 for the card, with tax included. I am not sure how much the Nano cost as my girlfriend got it for Christmas. I suspect it cost about the same but I could be off as it is an older generation of the Nano and they no longer sell the older generations.

I have listened to many MP3 Players. I have experienced Archos, Iriver, Creative Zen, Phillips, and of course, Ipod and Sansa. I can say without a doubt that the Sansa Fuze has the highest sound quality of them all. The Ipod sounds good and their headphones are awesome. Their headphones supposedly use rare earth metals and are of higher quality and I don't doubt it. The headphones that came with the Fuze are okay. I would not say they are cheap but they are definitely not as good as the Ipod's headphones. Headphones can be replaced though. I suggest yo to get a good pair of headphones that cover your ear and you will be blown away by the sound quality of the Fuze or any other MP3 players. From the Fuse, he treble is very crisp and the bass thumps well.

I'll tell you straight up that the Fuze wins here. The Fuze can show pictures, video(must be converted), and has a microphone in case you need to record... I don't know, your ex-wife admitting she lied in court? Anyways, the feature is there if you need it. To be honest, this is a moot point. I don't really care too much about this. While it's nice to have lots of features, we are reviewing and comparing Mp3 players, not video, sound recorders.

That is what sold me. I love the sound quality of the Fuze but the community is with the Ipod. The problem I have, and always had with Ipods is that it is really locked down. What do I mean by this? Itunes and transferring music and syncing the Ipod to do it. If you have ever used an Ipod, you know what I mean. I guess syncing and Itunes help prevent pirated music but that does not help me, the end user. I want to be able to drag and drop music into my MP3 and I can do that with my Fuse. I can't do that with the Ipod. At least I don't know how. Either way, I don't want to bother with it and its syncing. Drag, Drop, and play. That's what I want and that's what I like.

Another thing that has not happened yet but might is this incredible open source firmware called "Rockbox". It is a firmware is open source project that aims to improve the original. There is one available for the Nano but currently is not available for the Fuze. Hopefully there will be one in the near future. Somewhat of a side track but it's good to keep an eye out for it. I used to own and old 20 GB Archos and I installed Rockbox onto it and it was amazing. Made the MP3 player 10 times better. If a Rockbox is released for the Fuze, it could be a serious player that will be sure to take a huge market share from Apple.

I love my Fuze. The firmware can be a little slow sometimes as it does not respond immediately to my actions of the scroll wheel. The Ipod on the other hand is fast all the time. However, I spend most of my time with the Fuze listening to music and not playing around with the interface. The interface of the Nano better but it's still crap compared to a Rockbox firmware. I believe it is out for the Nano but the Nano is not mine so I can't mod it. Overall, if you are looking for an alternative MP3 Players thats not an Ipod, the Sansa Fuze is great. The Sansa line is great itself. The sound quality is great for the line. They have set a new standard in sound quality in MP3 players in my opinion. When you listen to this thing, you'll be amazed that your little Fuze only cost you up to 90 bucks. Granted my package cost $130 and I have 16 GB of storage! I don't think I will fill that space up any time soon. The Nano and its 2 GB of storage caused my girlfriend to occasionally "replace" and make room for some songs. Set it and forget it. I like that. Oh, and I saw the Fuze for sale at Radioshack and a Target the other day. Check it out. Some Radioshacks have a store model that you can try out. You might be able to find a deal on one. I highly recommended getting one for yourself or someone who wants an MP3 player. - 18780

About the Author:

Before you go MP3 player shopping, read Set's review on which is better. Sansa Fuze vs Ipod. Also don't forget to check out the rest of his articles. He shows you how to make money with spreadshirt and other money making tips.