Music Libraries ? A Storehouse of Musical Applications for All Music Lovers
Music is so impactful that it has become the sole companion of thousands of human beings. Music has cast such a magical impact that it has driven millions of people crazy. Every nook and corner of the world adores music and some cannot think of living without it. Besides being the leading source of entertainment, music has completely dominated the hearts of teen music junkies. Today, music professionals follow varied mediums to stand out among millions of competitors. This in turn has given rise to the popularity of music libraries.
The majority of music experts are considering nowadays music libraries to be their only source in accumulating their much favored music collections. Being a compact database application, music libraries help you enlist and even play music files of your own you choice. Most importantly, music libraries should never be mixed up with the MP3 concept. It helps you to deal with any of your musical choices. If you wish, you can take the help of your personal computer or otherwise you can do without it if you wish.
Music libraries can be treated as an html viewer as well as a full-fledged explorer. This latest cutting-edge application lets you administer your individual collections and assist you in viewing your favored options in terms of albums, artists, genres locations etc. Through music libraries, you can also get your personal hard drives scanned. Not only this, you are also automatically provided with a list of diverse music files like APE, WMA, WAV, MP3, MP4 etc.
With the help of music libraries, you will be able to download cover albums, album info, album arts, certain music software as well as programs. Music libraries also help you in mass-tagging base on your file names. In other words, your files can be renamed based on tags. An MP3 playlist will also be provided that can help you arrange and therefore identify the location of your favorite tracks.
There cannot be any indispensable tool than a music library. In fact, it’s a splendid option for all music enthusiasts. You can even sort out your home music collections like tapes, LPs, CDs etc. This implausible music data base comes with strong duplicate detecting features. This lets you detect and remove all duplicate and trash files from your PC. Music libraries can even let you share your personal collections with friends. If you want, you can always export, import and also compare features and this can let you transfer your database to other computers as well.
Music licensing for movies is nothing but the licensed use of copyrighted music used in movies. Movie makers consider music licensing as one of the primary options to ensure that the creator of the musical works gets the justified payment for his contribution. It’s important, especially for fresh movie makers, to opt for music licensing for movies. There are several websites that provide tips and instructions on how one should go for music licensing for movies. To know more, get in touch with an online music professional.
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Popular Music Artists Are a Rage
Music soothes the mind. In fact, music, even in olden days appealed the audience and it does so even now. Music is a wide term. Hence, it can be categorized into a number of genres in many a different ways. Basically, a music genre is a particular category of music which has sounds or notes unique to it that can be distinguished from other types of music.
But, due to the varied purpose that each genre of music has and the varied points of view through which they are created, this categorization of music is very often considered illogical and controversial. Often it is seen that closely related genres seem to overlap. That is why; such generic classification of music is not good and this type of categorization sets boundaries and limitation for music. This in a way hampers the smooth development of music.
That is why; the popular music belongs to a wide range of musical genre that has a wide appeal. Thus, popular music generally refers to all those different styles of music that can be easily accessible to the general public and that can be distributed, broadcasted or even advertised by one or more forms of mass media.
Popular music is also made in order to make a profit. That is why; the popular music artists have an appeal throughout the world irrespective of culture, caste or creed. The popular music is the most marketed form of music. Most of the commercial radio stations, commercial music retailers and even the common departmental stores seem to have popular music.
In fact, the popular music artists use their songs in movies and even in television shows for commercial viability. In this respect, popular music and pop music seems to merge. It may seem that pop music is abbreviated from popular music, but this is not the case. In fact, pop music has a wide appeal of its own.
Pop music is also commercially recorded music but it is generally targeted towards the youth market. Pop music as a genre is in particular associated with the rock and roll. Being distinctly different from jazz and folk music, pop music artists list is varied. Being a softer alternative of the rock and roll style, the pop music usually aims towards the singles chart and not the sum total of all the charts.
Originating in Britain in the mid 1950s, the pop music artists list includes such legends as Elvis Presley, The Beatles, the Carpenters, ABBA who rocked the world with their immortal songs between 1960s and 1970s. Frank Sinatra who started off quite early as 1935 continued till the 1990s. Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John, Bryan Adams, Cher, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, the Bee Gees, George Michael, Lionel Ritchie Michael Bolton all started off their careers in and around the 1970s and have till now continued to entertain a wide variety of audience throughout the world. The more recent stars of the late 1990s like Maria Carey, Robbie Williams, Ricky Martin, Backstreet Boys, Boyzone, Beyonce Knowles, Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Britney Spears have till date entertained and continue to do so for even a decade or more.
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Things To Consider When Downloading Music
One of the favorite activities of most people is to download music from the Internet. They find satisfaction browsing the different websites online and get their music downloads. It is probably one of the easiest activities you can do over the Internet. Some would question if there is a negative effect on the music industry when you download music. There would also be doubts as to the effect of such downloads in the income of music artists. The following shares some of the advantages and disadvantages over this matter.
The Advantages Of Downloading Music
The masses are directly benefited by the instant access of downloading music. The music is streamed down to a great number of people in a matter of a few minutes. Whenever there is a song that can be downloaded, the music enthusiast gets it without waiting for a long time. When there are new music releases, it becomes a treat for people to be able to acquire them easily with the power of downloading. Getting to download music becomes a very easy thing to do.
Downloading music also saves you on the cost compared to buying your songs from the stores. It is common knowledge that music cassettes, DVDs and CDs cost a lot and you would need a considerable amount of money just to get your favorite songs and free music. When you download music, chances are you are getting these at no cost.
There is a connection between the popularity of music artists and downloading music as it easily reaches a great number of people, according to supporters of downloading activities. The idea of making music available at no cost to a great number of people has helped in the improvement of the music industry. The popularity of the music artists increases when their music reaches many in a short period of time.
The Disadvantages Of Downloading Music
While downloading music makes it reachable to many people, the music becomes widespread and loose, lessening the value of the music because of its availability. Remember when an item is easily available its value is greatly depreciated. Conversely, an item that is scarce and longed for increases its value and worth exponentially.
When you download music, the sales of music cassettes, DVDs and CDs are greatly reduced, and this impacts on the sales volume of music companies. There is a negative effect on such lowering of sales in the music industry.
There are also certain websites which require registration or membership fees before being able to get downloads. Bear in mind that not all music downloads are free. There may be instances when you would end up spending almost the same amount as that you would when you purchase your music from stores. Downloading music also opens up issues on copyright and piracy. When you download music, the music loses its originality, and copying encourages piracy.
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US Pop Music and the Pop Culture
One of the unique cultures for which the US is popular all around the planet is its fondness for pop music. A few of us refer to the older term ‘popular music’ from where the abbreviation got into existence. USA has a traditional trend of pop music with a band of popular music artists who have gained repute across boundaries. Interestingly, the US pop music reveals manifestation of regional cultures in guise. Many provincial remote cultures of the US get their true revelation through music. Pop music is in fact one of the prime aspects that has tied the United States into one forever. The US populace has a great adore for music that are inspirational and jovial.
The US pop music artists lists seem to be never-ending following numbers of bands and solo artists contributing talents in this field. American pop is an interesting mix up between blues, rock, gospel, funk, punk, salsa, hip hop, doo wop, soul, jazz, R&B, disco and heavy metal. As explained above, many of these types have their own native originations. Popular music artists have blended and molded them into unique idioms. All these music trends have their equal contribution behind the expansion of the US pop culture. The band culture also takes and learns much from these original music patterns.
American popular music is trendy in ears, feet tapping and inspirational. Most of the lyrics consist of deep insight meaning. Interestingly, pop music has an inclination to uphold the underprivileged class of the society. Still, music is for all and thus pop music has easily come over the societal barriers and has become dear to people all around the earth. Bands like Backstreet boys, Hi-Five, The Beach Boys, the 5th Dimension have earned limitless popularity and have all ways led the US pop music artists lists. People have loved pop music over everything else. From young lads to their dads, pop is everybody’s hot favorite.
Explaining in a broader sense, pop culture is not about the US musical trends alone. Rather, it is a mixed bag of ideas, concepts, thought patterns, and other behavioral attributes. Anyone researching on American pop culture would astonish but surely discover imprints of European and African impact on the evolution of American music overall. This is no wonder as many popular music artists in the US belong to native stats of the US and other corners of the planet. As a matter of amazement, American pop music manifests care and concern for the underprivileged class of the society.
From above we can easily discern the unique and unparalleled traits of the US popular music. However, there is less stability in this culture with steady modifications of ideologies and eddies. Popular culture continues changing with people and time. As far music is concerned, pop music has a deep interdependence on assorted musical derivations. People love them listening often as they use to be light and motivating despite their serious survival connotations.
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Music licensing for film ? Process to Bring Out Talented Musicians
Music is an essential part of life. It connects an individual to another. Music is essential for all the parties that are happening all across the world. Music is required to introduce various other events and is also a must needed element in the art of seduction.
However, music is not free and it comes for a price. The present generation is however willing to steal music by free downloading options. That apart, music is well desired and required for a lot of purposes. With the recent popularity of online musical and other video sites, it has become easier to steal music.
This is one of the major reasons why, many budding musical talents are unable to gain the much deserved recognition for creating their music. There are numerous young artists who despite possessing incredible talent are unable to display their ability due to the lack in proper exposure. There are many talent hunt shows that are organised these days to give a proper platform to these young talents. Despite that, there are still lots of people who are unable to reach till that platform. They have just one remedy to solve this problem. They can take help of the process for licensing music. That way, these talented individuals can publicize their creation of music without worrying about the musical copy cats.
Music licensing for films is another process through which, talented musicians can place their music in the upcoming movies. With the help of music licensing for films, producers are able to search for some good musical piece for their movies. This actually gives the upcoming talents a chance to get greater avenues in terms of a musical career. Music is a must for all kinds of entertainment businesses and therefore the demand for original music pieces is always high. Therefore licensing music for the young musicians also gives them an opportunity to showcase their music in other entertainment products like TV Commercials, websites, games etc as well.
Music is one of the most important factors for the success of a movie. Thus an impressive symphony is always termed as an added advantage in the success of a movie. There are several companies as well as websites that offer online services for music licensing for films .If you are an artist and are looking for a platform to showcase your talent, then licensing music is a must for you to bar the copy cats from demanding your music as their own. Licensing music secures your creation as well as gives you the right to litigate the person into a lawsuit who copied your product.
The companies offering music licensing for films help the struggling youngsters to publish their musical piece in the music library for the producers to notice them. Licensing music is the only proof that the product is your original creation. As soon as a music producer finds a suitable musical piece from your composition, he will get in touch with you to pave way for a bright future in the musical industry.
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Production music and music stings: the music for the soul!
The world of music is something that can soothe as well as pep up the mood of a person. No wonder music of diverse kinds has been a very vital and integral part of media and entertainment. Production music and music stings occupy a very conspicuous part of the entertainment industry. It is very true that any form of a video clip has an amplified impact upon the audience when an appropriate piece of music is incorporated into it. Consequently, the demand for music has been considered invaluable since time immemorial. These music bits are basically produced by music libraries that also own the possession rights of the music piece.
The music stings are usually sold to be used in the television, films, radio and so on. These libraries possess complete rights of the music that they own. As a result, they are free to license any music piece to the customer without worrying about acquiring the consent of the composer. The easy access to a plethora of music bits makes such libraries as the finest option for licensing the music. You’re not only getting to pick from a wide assortment of music but also do not need to shovel out huge chunks of money on the same.
The myriad genre of music available in the libraries of production music and music stings helps customers choose something that suits their requirements completely. Usually such experts of music play a significant role in the television as well radio. The advertisements played on these media require easy access on music pieces that are apt for various jingles and logos. This kind of jingle music helps in establishing an audio-visual impact on the listeners and the audience in relation to the brand name. Whether it is a product or the publicity of the channel itself, musical stings can do wonders in grabbing the attention of the people.
The music transitions generally from the music bits that take forward one segment of the video to another. Linking two segments of a video or show is usually done with such excerpts of music. These kinds and many more varieties of music bits exist in the libraries. Production music and music stings provided by the library usually functions on two diverse streams of revenue. When the library provides a piece of music as video music, for jingle, etc. it is paid the revenue directly. Although it is not mandatory at all, there are certain production music libraries that provide a share of the amount to the composer.
On the other hand, performance cost is the sum of money received by the library if the music is being performed publicly. The nature and repetition pattern of the music bit determines the cost that can be charged by the library. Production music and music stings undoubtedly forms a major industry on which the entertainment and advertising business is reliant upon. It is evident from the boom in the emergence and growth of such libraries, how well the industry is doing in the market.
Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You a Happier Person?
How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes?
Music affects us all. But only in recent times have scientists sought to explain and quantify the way music impacts us at an emotional level. Researching the links between melody and the mind indicates that listening to and playing music actually can alter how our brains, and therefore our bodies, function.
It seems that the healing power of music, over body and spirit, is only just starting to be understood, even though music therapy is not new. For many years therapists have been advocating the use of music in both listening and study for the reduction of anxiety and stress, the relief of pain. And music has also been recommended as an aid for positive change in mood and emotional states.
Michael DeBakey, who in 1966 became the first surgeon to successfully implant an artificial heart, is on record saying: “Creating and performing music promotes self-expression and provides self-gratification while giving pleasure to others. In medicine, increasing published reports demonstrate that music has a healing effect on patients.”
Doctors now believe using music therapy in hospitals and nursing homes not only makes people feel better, but also makes them heal faster. And across the nation, medical experts are beginning to apply the new revelations about music’s impact on the brain to treating patients.
In one study, researcher Michael Thaut and his team detailed how victims of stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease who worked to music took bigger, more balanced strides than those whose therapy had no accompaniment.
Other researchers have found the sound of drums may influence how bodies work. Quoted in a 2001 article in USA Today, Suzanne Hasner, chairwoman of the music therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, says even those with dementia or head injuries retain musical ability.
The article reported results of an experiment in which researchers from the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., tracked 111 cancer patients who played drums for 30 minutes a day. They found strengthened immune systems and increased levels of cancer-fighting cells in many of the patients.
“Deep in our long-term memory is this rehearsed music,” Hasner says. “It is processed in the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala. Here is where you remember the music played at your wedding, the music of your first love, that first dance. Such things can still be remembered even in people with progressive diseases. It can be a window, a way to reach them.”
The American Music Therapy Organization claims music therapy may allow for “emotional intimacy with families and caregivers, relaxation for the entire family, and meaningful time spent together in a positive, creative way”.
Scientists have been making progress in its exploration into why music should have this effect. In 2001 Dr. Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre of McGill University in Montreal, used positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to find out if particular brain structures were stimulated by music.
In their study, Blood and Zatorre asked 10 musicians, five men and five women, to choose stirring music. The subjects were then given PET scans as they listened to four types of audio stimuli – the selected music, other music, general noise or silence. Each sequence was repeated three times in random order.
Blood said when the subjects heard the music that gave them “chills,” the PET scans detected activity in the portions of the brain that are also stimulated by food and sex.
Just why humans developed such a biologically based appreciation of music is still not clear. The appreciation of food and the drive for sex evolved to help the survival of the species, but “music did not develop strictly for survival purposes,” Blood told Associated Press at the time.
She also believes that because music activates the parts of the brain that make us happy, this suggests it can benefit our physical and mental well being.
This is good news for patients undergoing surgical operations who experience anxiety in anticipation of those procedures.
Polish researcher, Zbigniew Kucharski, at the Medical Academy of Warsaw, studied the effect of acoustic therapy for fear management in dental patients. During the period from October 2001 to May 2002, 38 dental patients aged between 16 and 60 years were observed. The patients received variations of acoustic therapy, a practice where music is received via headphones and also vibrators.
Dr Kucharski discovered the negative feelings decreased five-fold for patients who received 30 minutes of acoustic therapy both before and after their dental procedure. For the group that heard and felt music only prior to the operation, the fearful feelings reduced by a factor of 1.6 only.
For the last group (the control), which received acoustic therapy only during the operation, there was no change in the degree of fear felt.
A 1992 study identified music listening and relaxation instruction as an effective way to reduce pain and anxiety in women undergoing painful gynecological procedures. And other studies have proved music can reduce other ‘negative’ human emotions like fear, distress and depression.
Sheri Robb and a team of researchers published a report in the Journal of Music Therapy in 1992, outlining their findings that music assisted relaxation procedures (music listening, deep breathing and other exercises) effectively reduced anxiety in pediatric surgical patients on a burn unit.
“Music,” says Esther Mok in the AORN Journal in February 2003, “is an easily administered, non-threatening, non-invasive, and inexpensive tool to calm preoperative anxiety.”
So far, according to the same report, researchers cannot be certain why music has a calming affect on many medical patients. One school of thought believes music may reduce stress because it can help patients to relax and also lower blood pressure. Another researcher claims music allows the body’s vibrations to synchronize with the rhythms of those around it. For instance, if an anxious patient with a racing heartbeat listens to slow music, his heart rate will slow down and synchronize with the music’s rhythm.
Such results are still something of a mystery. The incredible ability that music has to affect and manipulate emotions and the brain is undeniable, and yet still largely inexplicable.
Aside from brain activity, the affect of music on hormone levels in the human body can also be quantified, and there is definite evidence that music can lower levels of cortisol in the body (associated with arousal and stress), and raise levels of melatonin (which can induce sleep). It can also precipitate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller.
But how does music succeed in prompting emotions within us? And why are these emotions often so powerful? The simple answer is that no one knows yet. So far we can quantify some of the emotional responses caused by music, but we cannot yet explain them. But that’s OK. I don’t have to understand electricity to benefit from light when I switch on a lamp when I come into a room, and I don’t have to understand why music can make me feel better emotionally. It just does – our Creator made us that way.
Unlimited Music Downloads ? Where to Download Quality Music
Unlimited music downloads are now made readily available on the internet from different online music stores and services. Some go on a pay-per-download basis, while others go on a subscription service, either on monthly or one-time basis. They reportedly carry millions of sound tracks and MP3 files from all the known music genres you can ever find. The question of where to download music is therefore answered by going to these music services which provide unlimited music downloads. But it is equally important to know which are the best deals in town when locating where to download music online. We take a look at what is downloading online music from these music download sites all about.
Major online music stores like HMV, Amazon and so on carry many labels and their selection is fantastic with loads of music pieces, movie soundtracks, songs, music videos and practically unlimited music downloads are available for you to download. Never worry about where to download music again. However, music lovers after getting the thrill of downloading lots of music files start to feel the pinch. This is where the latest new generation of music download sites would make them scream with excitement again.
You see, the new music download sites offer unlimited music downloads. And by that, it means that you not only can find any title or album you want but also download them without any quantity restriction. Be it 1000 songs or 10,000 songs that you intend to download, it does not matter. These music download sites would charge you only once for unlimited music downloads at an affordable rate that even teens have the ability to get their memberships. That is the whole intention of the music download sites, to reach the mass musical audience.
But there are almost a dozen of unlimited music downloads sites that solve your problem of where to download music quickly. So it can be quite a challenge to decide which to go for. Do not worry as here are some useful tips to help you along to decide where to download music from which music download sites for unlimited music downloads. These would find you the suitable music download site.
Be sure to first check out the music selection of these music download sites. There is really no point in using them even if they have millions of music pieces and songs, ie unlimited music downloads in their collection but none are what you want. Most should carry the general range of music that are more common like pop, rock and so on. But if you are looking for specific niche genres which are a little bit uncommon, you need to check if the music collection at these music download sites carries your desired label or brand of music.
Secondly, you need to confirm the file format of the music files you are downloading from the music download sites. This is easy as many have unlimited music downloads in MP3 format. This is the most commonly readable format used by most MP3 players or digital portable players. So as long as the music download site has it, you know this is where to download music so that you can enjoy unlimited music downloads on your player.
Another thing to take note of is some music download sites for unlimited music downloads require you to download special client application in order to download music online. If you are a frequent traveller, you may not like the idea that you need to install software on your computer in order to download music. This means that you can only do so from home. As such, you may want to go for those that do not require any client applications to do so. That said, the client application does not need a lot of computer resources and can be easily installed and removed. It is really your choice when getting the unlimited music downloads from the music download sites.
Anyone who wishes to learn more about where to download music at amazingly low one-off prices can visit my music blog and begin your journey of putting unlimited music downloads on your computer or MP3 player.
Technology in and for the Instrumental Music Classroom
Music education, in some form, goes back as far as education itself. While sometimes struggling for legitimacy, it nonetheless has had its champions. More recently, as technology has flourished within education, technological applications designed specifically for the teaching of music have been developed. While much of this technology is designed primarily for the classroom there are programs designed for the student to utilize in the home, albeit limited to those students with a home computer and internet access.
The teaching of music in the American educational setting dates back 1838 when Lowell Mason introduced singing classes to Boston grammar schools. Instrumental music appeared in fits and starts over the next fifty years but was never included during the school day; rather, it was relegated to the ranks of extracurricular activities. Around the turn of the century, instrumental music began to see some acceptance into the classroom, though often was taught by those untrained in the area of music education. Moreover, little if any standardization of the instrumentation or music literature existed. (Rhodes, 2007)
Near the conclusion of World War I the quality of school music began to increase. This was due primarily to veterans who, after having been musically trained in the various service branches, began to fill music teaching positions in the schools. Band, however, was still regarded as an extracurricular activity. (Ibid)
In 1907, the Music Supervisors National Conference or MSNC, (now known as the Music Educators National Conference or MENC) was organized to support school music. In 1912 a proposal was made to include, as accredited subjects, a number of music activities including choruses and general music. Band was included – but at a much lower priority. Later, however, at the Cleveland MSNC conference in 1923, Edgar B. Gordon stated,
The high school band is no longer an incidental school enterprise prompted largely by the volunteer services of a high school teacher who happens to have had some band experience, but rather an undertaking which is assigned to a definite place in the school schedule with a daily class period under a trained instructor and with credit allowed for satisfactory work done. (Ibid)
In the same year, and likely due to the increase in both acceptance and importance, Carl Greenleaf (then head of C. G. Conn Ltd.) helped organize the first National Band Contest in Chicago. Later, in 1928, he directed the Conn company to contribute to the founding of the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan and later supported publications designed to support band directors. While these endeavors may have appeared somewhat self-serving in light of his position with Conn, they nonetheless helped establish school band as a significant part of school curriculum. (Banks, 1997)
Despite a gradual, while still limited, acceptance of instrumental music within the school curriculum, budget cuts have often curtailed or even eliminated these programs. Further, with the recent increased emphasis upon “teaching to the test” due to the pressures of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and similar state requirements, support for the inclusion of music in schools has begun to wane. Michelle R. Davis, in “Education Week,” stated “The federal No Child Left Behind Act is prompting many schools to cut back on subjects such as social studies, music, and art to make more time for reading and mathematics…” (Davis, 2006) This is most unfortunate considering that the study of music, especially instrumental music, has proved to be beneficial for all students – even increasing their ability to reason and problem-solve.
Many theorists have contributed to the elevation of music as central to education, or at the very least, demonstrated that limiting the school environment to the “Three R’s” is short-sighted. Howard Gardner postulated his “Multiple Intelligences” theory with the understanding that children do not possess identical propensities for learning. Not only do they have differing capacities for learning but have differing capacities for learning in many areas. These areas, as he explained, are the varying intelligences of which he speaks. Originally describing seven intelligences (of which music is highlighted) he identified two specifically (linguistic and logical-mathematical) as “the ones that have typically been valued in school.” (Gardner, 1999, p41) Obviously, Gardner recognized that the educational system was not reaching all students – only those that could “do school” well. Gardner did not limit his study, of course, to the mere existence of multiple intelligences but demonstrated that a given person can be strong in more than one, enabling those intelligences to interact one with the other. He explained that, “there are other ways in which different intelligences can affect each other…one intelligence can mediate and constrain the others; one intelligence can compensate for another; and one intelligence can catalyze another.” (Gardner 2, 2006, p219) He further extolled the advantages of a musical intelligence by explaining that “…a strong musical intelligence may lead a person engaged in a linguistic task to be more sensitive to the rhythmic properties of language as well as its meaning.” (Ibid, p223)
While many may assume that music and the study thereof is associated primarily to that which is heard, it is also related quite closely to mathematics. Dahlhaus, reflecting Rameau stated that “music had its origins in the Pythagorean proportions; (i.e., music is a mathematics).” (Gargarian, 1996, p137, 138) Regardless of whether or not one agrees with the theory that music is mathematical in toto, there should be little dispute as to the relativity of music notation to mathematics. Indeed, introducing the coordinate, or Cartesian, plane appears to aid the new music student in understanding the horizontal (x), and vertical (y) axes of music notation. Simply stated, the horizontal (x) axis on the music staff relates to duration while the vertical (y) axis relates to pitch. This, of course is a reflection upon Gardner’s aforementioned theory of intelligence interaction.
There is further evidence that instrumental music study is advantageous for the student. In 1995, Gottfried Schlaug, et al, published a study, “Increased Corpus Callosum Size in Musicians” wherein they described an increase in neural fibers across the Corpus Callosum (CC), contributing to its enlargement. They further were able to determine that this increase in fibers/CC size was attributable to instrumental music study. (Schlaug, et al, 1995) Obviously, the supposition can easily be made that, if there is greater cross-talk between the two hemispheres of the brain (specifically, the left – thought to be the analytical, and the right – thought to be the creative) the result would be a person with a greater, more creative, problem-solving ability.
Reflecting upon Gardner’s theories, as well as those of Schlaug, et al, it should surprise no one that others have confirmed links between music and other skills. Bahr and Christiansen in their article “Inter-Domain Transfer Between Mathematical Skill and Musicianship” published findings demonstrating that students who had studied music demonstrated superior performance on mathematical tasks provided there was some structural overlap with music. (Bahr, Christiansen, 2000) This “structural overlap” could be nearly anything, including the relationship of dividing measures or notes into fractions, relating pitch to frequency, or, as aforementioned, establishing the link between the coordinate (Cartesian) plane and the music staff.
With this enhanced problem-solving ability; this increased awareness of mathematical concepts, it would not be a grand leap to assume that music students might perform well with classroom technology. Indeed, music students should be expected to do at least as well as other students with regard to technology. If that is true, then the next step would be to assume that they would do especially well with technology geared especially to them.
Somewhat recently, technologists, recognizing a dearth of technologically-based music applications began to develop computer programs for music education. Music theory websites began to appear, many having been produced by, and linked to, symphonic organizations. Others have been produced by teachers and graduate students either as part of coursework or perhaps for their own use (and anyone wishing to utilize the application). A quick search of the internet reveals that there are quite a number of available technological tools produced and published for the music student. There are interactive music games, in-class keyboard music theory applications, countless online pitch and rhythm websites, and, perhaps most powerful, applications known as “computer assisted instruction” (CAI)” specifically for the music classroom and student. In January 2005, Steven Estrella published the findings of a study demonstrating how music teachers in the U.S. used music technology. Among his findings, he discovered that approximately twenty percent of the survey participants used some form of CAI as part of their instruction. The survey further discovered that the predominant software application was “SmartMusic.” (Estrella, 2005)
SmartMusic is a teacher/student interactive application allowing students to practice, at home, with a synthesized band or orchestral accompaniment. The program can also, with an included microphone, record the student’s efforts and grade them using rhythm and pitch data. The student can immediately see their results and can retry if they wish. The recording and the accompanying grade are then emailed to the student’s teacher/director and automatically entered into the teacher’s database grade book. The program includes accompaniments for around thirty-thousand compositions including band and orchestra method book pieces. (Nagel, 2007) While early reviews of the program were mixed, the company that produces SmartMusic, “MakeMusic,” was apparently responsive to teacher/consumer complaints and suggestions. The program requires that the home version be installed on the students own computer and, in earlier versions, installation, setup, and microphone placement were problematic. In the latest version, SmartMusic 11, many of these issues were addressed either by simplifying the process or with enhanced user guides. (Whaley, 2008)
For the classroom, SmartMusic holds a wealth of applications. The most basic functions of the program include a displayed tuner and metronome. (A music classroom with an interactive whiteboard can make excellent use of SmartMusic’s utilities.) The teacher can then play a pre-recorded version of a piece to be studied and, while the students are playing along, can instantly record them independent of the pre-recording for later playback. The program also includes fingering charts for all instruments so a quick check for the students perhaps needing additional instruction is easily accomplished. Keys and tempi can be changed easily, if necessary, and if a single performer wishes to play with a pre-recorded accompaniment, that accompaniment, “listening” to the performer via a microphone, can follow the performer’s changes in tempo – not unlike what the conductor of a symphony orchestra would do in a live performance.
As important and powerful as SmartMusic is in the classroom, its most powerful application – and the primary purpose for which it was intended – is that of a home practice and assessment tool. There are literally thousands of accompaniments and scales included in the software as well as thousands of music titles. Once the students have subscribed, downloaded (or installed from a CD), and set up the home version of the program, the teacher can design playing assignments which the student then accesses at home on their own computer.
Playing through a microphone to the program’s accompaniment gives an instant visual and aural response; while the recording of the student’s performance is played, their correct notes are displayed in green while mistakes are displayed in red. The student can decide upon and set their own tempo, then practice with the computer-generated accompaniment as many times as they wish prior to recording for a grade. In short, the student is in control while at home. Students having access to broadband internet and a reasonably up-to-date computer can fully realize the potential of the program – as well as their own. (Rudolph, 2006)
But what of those students not fortunate enough to have a computer at home – let alone internet access?
Obviously, the power of SmartMusic would be largely lost on those students without a home computer or internet access. The cost of the home version is small, and some districts have even provided the subscription free of charge for their students. (Nagel, 2007) However, can districts provide a workable computer and internet access or all of its students?
David Thomas stated that schools have made great progress in the introduction of computer and internet access. However, that access, for disadvantaged students, remains at school. (Thomas, 2003) Thomas further quoted then U. S. Secretary of Education, Rod Paige:
We need to address the limited access to technology that many students have outside of school. There is much more we can do. Closing the digital divide will also help close the achievement gap that exists within our schools. (Thomas, 2003)
A 2007 study in New York revealed that between seventy and eighty percent of students have computers at home. (Traber, 2007) One might suggest that the real numbers cross-country are actually much lower.
There are many music students dependant upon school-provided instruments, method books, and even instrument supplies such as reeds and valve oil (usually provided out the teacher’s own pocket). These students are already behind their more affluent counterparts and cannot afford private lessons, let alone a workable computer and internet access. These are the students who could benefit most from a program such SmartMusic. However, as useful and powerful as SmartMusic is, it cannot by itself bridge this “digital divide” that still exists.
Educational technology holds great promise for the student musician but until a method for equitable access is discovered, disproportionate achievement will persist.
References
Bahr, N. & Christensen C.A. (2000). Inter-Domain Transfer Between Mathematical Skill and Musicianship. In Journal of Structural Learning & Intelligent Systems (Vol. 14(3), 2000, pp. 187 – 197). US: Gordon & Breach Science Publishers
Banks, Margaret Downie (1997). A Brief History of the Conn Company (1874-present). The National Music Museum.
Davis, Michelle R. (2006, April). Study: NCLB Leads to Cuts for Some Subjects. Education Week.
Estrella, Steven (2005). Survey of Music Educators and Music Technology. Shearspire.
Gardner, Howard (1999). Intelligence Reframed, Multiple Intelligences for the Twenty First Century. Basic Books/Perseus Books Group: New York
Gardner, Howard (2006). Multiple Intelligences – New Horizons. Basic Books/Perseus Books Group: New York
Gargarian, Gregory (1996). The Art of Design. In Kafai, Y., & Resnick, M. (Eds.). Constructionism in practice: designing, thinking, and learning in a digital world. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Nagel, Dave (2007, August). Tucson USD Gives SmartMusic Subscriptions to Students, THE Journal.
Rhodes, Stephen L. (2007). A History of the Wind Band – The American School Band Movement. Lipscomb University.
Rudolph, Tom (2006, February). The Wide World of SmartMusic. Music Education Technology.
Schlaug, Gottfried; Lutz, Jäncke; Huang, Yanxiong; Staiger, Jochen F., Steinmetz, Helmuth, (1995). Increased Corpus Callosum Size in Musicians. Neuropsychologia, Vol. 33, No. 8, pp. 1047-1055.
Thomas, David (2003). Internet Access Soars in Schools, But “Digital Divide” Still Exists at Home for Minority and Poor Students. U. S. Department of Education.
Traber, Chris (2007, September). Poor Students Struggle In Class. YorkRegion.com News.
Whaley, Roger (2008, September 10). SmartMusic 11! – MakeMusic has released SmartMusic 11!. The Band Ed Tool Shed (Weblog).
Report on the Effect of Specially Composed Music for Mother and Child
Music for Mother and Child
Summary of a report on the effect of specially composed music on fetuses, infants, toddlers and parents
“We were just visited by a couple and their 8 months-old girl. At one point during the evening she was restless and distressed. I put on the CD “Tales of the Ocean” from the CD series “Music for Mother & Child”, and she began to listen, and calmed down with her mother. After a short time she was asleep – and my unborn child “danced” in my womb.” (Ann, mother-to-be)
Background and objective
In the summer of 1999 the two musicians and composers, Claus D Jensen and Henrik Birk Aaboe, produced the CD series Music for Mother & Child, which contains music specially composed and designed to calm fetuses, infants, toddlers and parents. In the course of the process henrik and Claus received such exciting responses from people that they decided to undertake a private study of the effect of the music on pregnant women, infants and their parents.
They wanted to study the direct effect on fetus/infant, as well as the indirect effect: whether the music could calm down the parents, and whether the tranquillity of the parents could positively affect or be imparted to the fetus/child.
In addition to studying how the music affected the participants in the study, they wanted information on how often and when the music was used and for how long at a time. The participants were given the CDs and a questionnaire in the form of a checklist with space for supplementary comments.
Study Group
44 people participated in the 12-week study. The 44 participants were divided into three groups:
1. Mothers-to-be, some of whom gave birth during the course of the study.
2. Parents with infants and toddlers from 0-3 years of age.
3. Practitioners who work with infants and/or pregnant women.
How the music originated
The idea for the CDs arose from a common desire of the musicians to compose music that could give fetuses/infants a good start in life. For it is recognized as an extreme upheaval to leave the mother’s secure womb and suddenly face the “real” world. They wanted to compose music that could impart security and inner as well as external peace and tranquillity.
One thing that impressed the composers was that during their research they read an articleabout the widely recognized French physicist Tomatis, and learned that hearing is the first sense that is developed, and that the fetus already has a fully developed sense of hearing by the 6th month.
Conclusion of the study
Of the pregnant women questioned, 88% were positively affected by the music. Most of them described the effect with words such as “relaxing”, “calming” and the like. One found that by listening to the music her fear of the childbirth was replaced with confidence in a positive birth experience.
One created a personal space with the music, so that instead of depression she found solutions for what she could do. 79% of the pregnant women could feel a reaction from the fetus, either often or occasionally or infrequently. Several could directly perceive that the fetus was calmed and that it was responsive to the music. Two of those participating used the music during the childbirth, and they both had a positive experience with it, because the music was both relaxing and distracting.
Of the new parents questioned, 93% were positively affected by the music, and typical reactions were that the music was exceptionally relaxing and good against stress, that it was energizing, etc. No one was negatively affected.
The study shows that the music, besides having a clear effect on the fetus, had a significantly positive effect on infants and toddlers. 72% of the respondents found that the music had a positive effect on their children. Many experienced very significant and powerful reactions.
55% of the respondents noticed the positive reaction from the children immediately, while 17% replied that the reaction came after the child had heard the music several times.
The typical reactions were noticeable contentment, “a calm, listening child”, “the child is calmed”, “the child falls asleep more quickly”, etc. One replied that “the music is the ultimate medicine when my child is sick”. No one in this group noticed negative reactions to the music from their children. However there was one child who did not like the dolphin sounds.
The practitioners all noticed significant reactions not only from the children they treated, but also often from the parents. One noticed a reaction every time a child was in treatment, while the two others answered “often”. Words such as “peace”, “tranquillity”, “inner presence and calm”, that “the music produces calm and attentive children”, etc., were used to describe the children’s reactions.
As to the indirect effect on infant/toddler, which is the effect achieved when the parents are calmed and their state is imparted to the infant/toddlers, we cannot draw any certain conclusion from our study. However we refer to the section on stress, where 57% of the parents questioned believe that there is a connection between their stress and their children’s restlessness.
Since 93% believed that the music had a positive effect on the parents themselves, and reduced their stress, we can draw a guarded conclusion that the music must also have an indirect, positive effect on the children/fetus.
About the CDs
The CD series Music for Mother & Child consists of three CDs:
1. Windchimes, indicated for pregnant women, the unborn child and infants
2. Tales of the Ocean, for the 0-1 year-olds and their parents
3. Lullabies, for 1-2 year-olds and their parents
The composers talk about the CDs:
“The music on the CDs Music for Mother & Child contains elements chosen specifically to be relaxing for fetuses and infants, and elements that are more generally relaxing for all age-groups. Thus the music can be used by both the unborn, infants/toddlers and adults.
On Windchimes there are purposely long, continuous passages. Through dialogue with a reflexologist who has specialized in work with infants, we learned that the continuity is an important element for calming young children. Too many breaks in the music can be very disturbing to young children.
Therefore the CD consists of two long passages connected by light, melodious wind chimes. The music has a light and airy quality and is thought of as a soothing blanket of sound. Besides the continuous wind chimes, the instruments we have chosen are Native American drums, which according to the original Americans represent the heartbeat of Mother Earth, the human voice as a primordial instrument, and the acoustic guitar for its transparent tone. The music is composed both with an intuitive approach and a search for a balance in the harmonious structures from a more analytical angle.
Thus, among other things, Windchimes consciously consists of a melodious, five-tone structure, which is completely devoid of tension.
On Tales of the Ocean we use dolphin sounds and the sound of the waves as recurrent elements. Through the ages many people have been powerfully affected emotionally by listening to the fascinating sounds of the dolphins, and we felt that they would help give the music the right expression.
We all come from the watery element, and we quickly found that the child who is now more conscious, reacted very positively to the naturally created, soothing rhythm of the sounds of the sea.
In addition, on this CD we use Tibetan singing bowls and bells, which have a unique tone and contain an element of primordial strength, which is soothing for both children and adults. Tales of the Ocean is thought overall as a journey of the consciousness from the surface down to the deeper layer (under the sea) ending with a homecoming symbolized in the composition The Sea is my Home.
The last CD, Lullabies, is, as the name says, a sequence of newly composed lullabies, each of which tells its own little story. Compared to the other two CDs, the melodic material is significantly advanced, so they harmonize with the child’s enhanced consciousness and ability to comprehend actual melodic sequences.
At the same time we have sought to preserve the tranquil and secure atmosphere by purposely using repetition as an artistic effect. Some of the compositions on Lullabies have an almost hypnotic expression, something that naturally also influences the listening experience of the adults.”
About the composers:
Claus D Jensen is a qualified guitarist amnd composer with a degree from The Music Conservatory of Jutland. He has played professionally since 1984 and has taught at music school, college and evening school. He is involved with several scientific researches about the effect of music and relaxation audioprograms on hospitals and self hypnosis-audioprograms for pregnant.
Henrik Birk Aaboe was educated at the Musicological Institute at the University of Århus, and has taught both at the university and in music schools. In addition he functions as arranger and composer in various contexts. He has his own company, Corona Music (www.coronamusic.dk), with a recording studio and music publishing house. He has released several music collections in his own name.
Quotes from the report:
“Because of a previous traumatic childbirth, I have some fear of childbirth. The music was a centering and calming influence on me, and I had more confidence in a positive childbirth experience.” (a mother-to-be)
“If there was restlessness, the fetus became more calm when I played the music.”
(a mother-to-be)
“With sickness, when the child was restless and unhappy, this music was the ultimate medicine.” (mother of infant)
“They are delightful CDs. Not only for the mother-to-be and toddlers. Also for adults.” (reflexologist)
“My clients achieve a feeling of lightness so that they feel they are floating over the mat, and they experience a feeling of presence more quickly than with other music. For the best effect in this process I have used the CD, Tales of the Ocean.” (reflexologist)
“Wonderful stimulation against stress, hip-hop, radio commercials and such. Very relaxing!” (mother of infant)
“I relax more – drop my shoulders, etc. while nursing. Beautiful to listen to – uplifting and relaxing.” (mother of infant)
“She often becomes calmer and stops crying. She falls asleep quickly when I play the music when it is time for her to sleep.” (mother of infant)
“Our child seems more relaxed, and he appears to lie and listen because it sounds good.” (mother of infant)
“She listened quite intensely and calmed down, especially during nursing, if she was a little hysterical or over tired.” (mother of infant)
“If she cries, she stops quickly when we play the music.” (mother of infant)
“The child became calm, listening, searched a little within himself, where fantasies and dreams grow.” (mother of infant)
For more info:
www.musicformotherandchild.com
www.clausdjensen.com
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