Robyn and Kelis at Henry Fonda Music Box Theater
Wedding Player: Top Five Tips for Booking a Band
Arrangements for live wedding music is just one of about a hundredtasks facing couples and wedding planners. Between flowers, photos, locales, gowns, showers, rings, video recording, and more, even a moderate and subdued wedding requires a extraordinary amount of planning. It can be a stressful time because if even one of these areas falls through the cracks, your big day can end up being a super letdown.
Here are five tips to hiring live wedding instrumentalists for your ceremony and reception:
1. Be sure you engage a musician with a verified track record of professionalism. Does the director return your calls promptly? Does the band have a website? Business cards? Other marketing materials? Or do you get the impression you’re speaking to a guy rehearsing in his garage with his pals? The way the band exhibits itself as you begin speaking with them is a genuine indicator of how they’ll come out (or not!) on your wedding day.
2. Punctuality is essential. When you set an date to meet in person or on the phone, it’s like a mini-contract. If the band manager is late to meet with you, it’s a warning sign that they don’t take their agreements earnestly. If they can’t arrive on time in the preparation stage, what other arrangements will they break with you on your wedding day? This carries on to you, also - being prompt is just one way you can live a life that displays that you honor your commitments.
3. Make certain the band is easy-going rather than being a bunch of divas. By now you’ve probably heard a million Bridezilla jokes, even if you’re not hard-to-please or excessive. Imagine employing the equivalent in flakiness for your wedding dance band. The last thing you need on your wedding day is to have to wait on your musicians hand and foot, delivering them food and beverage, having the thermostat changed for them, or tending to other demanding demands. The best band for you is one that can take care of itself, one that’s easy to get along with, and one that does all it can to make sure your day is sweet and fun for you.
4. Hire a wedding band that’s fun. Getting hitched is one of the deepest decisions you’ll ever make. It’s serious business. The music on your wedding day should be beautiful and fun. You don’t want to see your invitees inattentive, spaced-out, and wishing the party was done with. You want them up, dancing, singing, and smiling. If you choose a live wedding music band well, your choice will do very much to make your wedding day unforgettable in a great way. This is the big day you’ve been ready for, and music is such a large part of it. Be sure you book a musician that makes the day flawless - enjoyable for you and your invitees.
George Pollis is the handler and a musician with Reel Ting Steel Drum Band. For a professional, timely, easy-going, talented, and fun live wedding music band, check into Reel Ting at http://www.reelting.com.
How do you Convert AVI to MTS?
If you would like to convert AVI video clips to MTS, then you could do it through the use of the excellent Need4 Video Converter. This will then afford you the opportunity to view the clip in a variety of sources, from your computer and cell phone to numerous other mobile devices, along with video sharing files. The Need4 Video Converter can handle any sized job. If converting a small section of the video clip at a time, or the whole thing at once.
Step 1. Launch - You will need a video converter program, such as the Need4 Video Converter to get you started. Download the program and follow the steps below.
Step 2. Add AVI Video to Convert - If you would like to add video you want to convert, click the +Video button. Then choose AVI in the Files of type field. Choose the right video file and click Open .The selected file will be added to the list of opened files below.
Step 3. Select Output Format - Choose the right output format from the Output format field. Select the right mobile device in the Preset list. You can also specify the level of video quality you want.
Step 4. Specify Folder to Save Video - In the Output Directory field, pinpoint the folder where to store converted videos. You could then check it to save the ready file in the same folder where the initial video resides; Overwrite the existing files - check it to replace existing video files with the same name with newly created ones; Show output directory when finished- It is deemed advisable to check it to open the folder with a ready file when conversion is finished.
Step 5. Select a Video Segment to Convert - Drag the left marker to the front of the video clip you want, along with the right marker, all the way to the end.
Step 6 Hit Convert to Save AVI Video to MTS - Check the added video file in the list of opened files. Hit Convert to convert it to MTS
Need4 Video is always on the forefront of cutting edge video conversion software.
N-Dubz Look for Commercial Success with New Album
Respected enough to conquer the Mobos, pop enough to wake the nation on GMTV a few weeks ago - it’s been a big old year for N-Dubz. After a few hundred thousand records and a No 1 single (Number One with Tinchy Strider), the North London trio are probably the biggest non-guitar group in the country.
To cement that fact, they’re on album number two just 12 months after their first. Even Gary Barlow has jumped aboard to help out with the songwriting duties on No One Knows. As with Dappy and Co’s debut, it’s all teenage dilemmas (cheating boys, searching for girls after a night out, accidental pregnancies) told in a mixture of careening male/female raps and vocals presented over polished electronic beats with help from guests including Mr Hudson, Chipmunk and Wiley. While it’s hardly exploding with originality, and the various references to Facebook and how many records they’ve sold do grate, this is a record brimming with vitality and chutzpah. N-Dubz are bound to be inescapable in 2010 - most probably because they will be being blasted out of a mobile phone on the bus - but the point remains.
She reckons the TAKE THAT star is second to naan for helping with new N-DUBZ album Against All Odds, out tomorrow.
Tulisa, 21, said: “Working with Gary was amazing. He was so funny and down to earth. We had curry and he stayed the night at our studio.
“He was sleeping in the next bedroom and we kept thinking, ‘Oh my god, Gary is next door!’ We were so grateful for him taking time with the underdogs.”
Iconic Jazz Cities across the World
London is one of the most well known world cities when it comes to jazz music performance. London has a long tradition of supporting jazz. Even during the time of the founding of jazz music, bar owners in London were always inviting jazz music’s pioneers to perform in jazz bars all over London. London jazz bars are a popular place for artists to meet and exchange ideas. London’s citizens have always had a great appreciation for culture, beauty, fine art and musical performance. Live jazz and London go hand in hand. There are many live jazz bars in London. There are also restaurants and other establishments that feature live jazz bands as well.
You as a jazz lover might want to share your love for jazz and appreciation for its musical styling with your kids while you’re visiting London. If this is the case, you will be happy to know that there are jazz establishments in London that don’t serve any alcohol at all. In addition to featuring many up and coming and traditional jazz bands, you will find London to be a beautiful city. Though it does provide a stoic historical backdrop, you will find London to be romantic, traditional and innovative. You will be able to experience many different types of jazz music when you visit London as well. From swing jazz and Dixieland, to trad jazz and modern, there are jazz bars for every London citizen or guest.
Some of the different types of jazz bars that you will find in London include piano bars, wine bars, pubs, dinner and lunch cruise bars, swing jazz bars and jive jazz bars. You will find every form of jazz music is well represented in London. The trad jazz (traditional jazz) that you will hear performed in London’s jazz bars will rival any American jazz music performance you are likely to hear.
Guitar Lessons: Guitar Playing Must Be a Passion
The first time I picked up a guitar my whole life changed. I think I slept with it the night I brought my first new guitar home. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but it is true. I remember the feel of the guitar in my hands and the shape, which reminded me of a girl I once dated. But seriously it was love, pure love.
Then I plugged it in and hit those first magic notes….. Wow did it sound awful, maybe the worst noise I ever heard in my life. So started my journey in the world of music some 23 years ago, I found my one and only mistress, the guitar.
Today I am happily married with 3 kids, a real job, and my guitars. The only thing my wife has ever been jealous over is my guitars. I told her once I could have girlfriends or guitars, she said she’d settle for the guitars. Thus is the secret to a happy marriage.
Oh more importantly, the guitars. No two are the same, even the same model, made in the same year, with sequential serial numbers, are going to play and sound different. They have their own personalities, their own feel and their own mood swings. I have Fender’s, Gibson’s, Washburn’s, Parker’s, solid bodies, hollow bodies and semi-hollow body guitars.
Every week I go to a friend’s house, or a local store and just pickup every guitar I can and play it for a few minutes. It really is an obsession. I think, dream and dwell on playing guitar 24 Hours a day.
Is this story the same as your’s. As humorous as this may sound, many of my playing friends say the same thing. You can never have enough guitars, or spend enough time playing your guitar.
Do you have a passion for playing as well?

Bill McRea is the publisher of The
Guitar Warehouse and Guitar
Playing Techniques. Both sites offer free lesson and product sales.
Piano Lesson Advice for Parents: Don’t Take it Personally
Parents can play an important role supporting their child’s piano lessons and their piano teacher. However, about a third of parents do too much and try to take over responsibility for their child’s progress, which hinders their child’s ability to develop positive learning skills on their own. In contrast, about a third of parents don’t do enough, and fail to support and can get in the way of their child’s learning. The remaining 1/3 gets it right. These parents have learned to work together with the piano teacher to support their child’s piano journey.
Parents who are not getting it right fail to effectively support their children in piano lessons because they either take too much responsibility for their child’s success or not enough. Getting this balance is important because it sets boundaries that create a positive learning environment where children can learn from their mistakes within limits. Parents’ attitudes about your child’s piano lessons matters for setting boundaries and teaching learning values. For example,
Regarding your child’s piano progress, do you
(a) feel personally embarrassed if your child is not progressing as fast as you think they should;(b) want your child to do their best and learn how to achieve their goals;
(c) feel that it doesn’t really matter how your child is doing, as lessons aren’t that important anyway.
If you chose (a), you may be taking TOO much responsibility for your child’s success and creating dependency instead of fostering your child’s ownership and responsibility of their lessons. If you find yourself answering (c), you may well be abdicating part of your responsibility as a parent and may be missing out on a wonderful way to encourage your child’s success. If you have answered (b), relax. You’ve got the right attitude and are encouraging your child while helping them take their share of responsibility for their piano success. Keep it up!

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.
These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com
Story of 50 Cent
G-Units 50 Cent , was born 6th of July 1976 is a New York State rapper that uprose to spectacular grandness inside the entertainment collective in 2003… Curtis Jackson incarcerated and much more. Quite easily, 50cent has become the greatest artist since Slim, as well 50 Cent’s album also has Dr.Dre. 50 Cent and G-unit have a clothing company Gunit Clothing and 50 cents music producing, Curtis Jackson will be around for a long time. G-Units 50 Cent released his first major album Get Rich Or Die Tryin in december 2003; it sported the single PIMP. Naturally produced by Marshall Mathers and Dr. Dre. watch disco inferno 50 cent could not gain mainstream exposure till he was discovered by Slim.
With G-Units 50 Cent fearless bravado, Banks catchy lyrical proclamations, and the Southern drawl of David Brown, the watch 50 cent disco inferno video excitement component alone have placed young Buck atop the hip hop game. Fifty like others before him like Jay Z, by launching his first Clothing Company. The foremost main line consists Jeans emblazoned G-Unit logotypes. 50 Cent has took after the steps of his compatriate Em who has lately diversified into clothing with his Shady Ltd range.
Already a staple on any urban floor worth its salt, this Dr. Dre produced hip-hop monster from the Eminem protégé is sure to cement his rep as one of the scene’s most exciting new talents as well as shoot a cursory glance at all those rappers merely coasting on their rhyming laurels. Taken from the 2003 album, ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin”. The title track is backed with four non-LP tracks, ‘In Da Club’ (Instrumental, Enhanced Video) & ‘Wanksta’ (Soundtrack Version, Enhanced Video). Interscope. 2003.
50 Cent
Eminem: A Social Commentator
In an interview given to Musik Magazine in 2000, Eminem comments some of his lyrics:
‘Please Lord, this boy needs Jesus/Help this child, help him destroy these demons/Please send me a brand new car and a prostitute while my wife is sick in the hospital’. What I’m trying to say is we’ve got all these preachers going ‘Jesus, Jesus! And then they’re molesting kids. I’m taking stabs at crooked muthafuckers in the system. (Eminem)
Believe it or not, but Eminem feels concern for kids. He is a denonciator of our society’s hypocrisy. Some people don’t like it when the truth gets exposed like this. But in the end only truth matters. Eminem’s words will shock you, stab you, pull away your old fashioned way of thinking : he is a commentator of our society’s deseases and should be taken seriously, because he does his job very well. Between his funny and dark humored lines, Eminem has something serious to say. The theme of the perverted priest also appears in the Role Model video where you can see the priest caressing a young boy’s knee.
Parents, you should be more worried for your kids being abused by priest than by Eminem’s so called bad influence . Eminem won’t rape your kids
Ukulele Tab: Learn To Play Christian Favorite Song Amazing Grace
Ukulele is a fantastic little instrument. You can play chords on it as you sing but you can even play melodies. With the help of ukulele tab notation you can learn to play Amazing Grace in a few minutes. Let’s start!
Amazing Grace is one of the most well-known Christian hymns. The words were written by John Newton. Here are the lyrics to the first verse:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see
You don’t need to know sheet music notation on your ukulele. Instead we will use a form of notation known as ukulele tab.
The ukulele tab notation I will use is my own form of tabs that are readable on article sites. You will find the more common ukulele tab notation on my own site with ukulele tab and free sheet music.
When you hold your ukulele in playing position you will have the first string nearest your feet. It is the string with the highest pitch and it is usually an A.
Here comes an example on how to ukulele tab:
01 11 31 11 01
The first digit in the pair tells you what fret to press down. The second digit what string to play. 01 means that you play the first string without pressing down a left hand finger. In other words you play on the open first string.
11 means that you press down a left hand finger on the first fret on the first string and play. Now you can play the easy ukulele tab above.
Let’s play the first part of Amazing Grace:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
03 12 01 12 01 32 12 23 03
03 means that you play the third open string. Play the notes with your right hand thumb or in some other way you like.
The length of the notes is not indicated with this type of ukulele tab notation. I guess you will find out how to play the notes by your self.
Let’s play the next line:
That saved a wretch like me!
03 12 01 12 01 32 01 31
What left hand finger should you use when you play?
Even if it can be a little bit difficult at first I suggest that you play the notes on the first fret with your first finger, the notes on the second fret with your long finger and the notes on your third fret with your ring finger.
Of course, you can play all notes with your first finger but when your left hand fingers get used to playing the way I suggested it will actually become easier to find the right notes.
The next ukulele tab comes here:
I once was lost, but now am found
01 31 01 12 01 32 12 23 03
You know how to read this ukulele tab by now so I don’t need to help you!
The last line with lyrics and ukulele tab follows:
Was blind, but now I see
03 12 01 12 01 32 12
Now the melody is complete and you can play Amazing Grace with ukulele tab!
This melody can be played on guitar too with the use of the above ukulele tab notation! The first three strings on a guitar are tuned in the same way but in a different pitch.
May I recommend you to take one ukulele tab line at a time and practice it until you know the whole song by heart. It is fun to have a repertoire with songs to play anywhere and anytime!
Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and ukulele tab at http://www.capotastomusic.com