Music and Audio Books

Excellent research and writing by Mr. Embacher have provided an exceptional book which is both an easy read and informative. As a children's book it is impeccable because it provides inspiration to youthful readers and allows them to learn new words using the footnotes on each page. As a biography, this book is a quick look at the incredible life of Will Smith, and while it only focuses on a few events, it gives an entire view of his life and how hard he has worked to achieve success. I can't wait to see more films and rap albums from Will Smith; and more book from Eric Embacher.

I am a huge fan of Will Smith, and I have read many books about his life. This book, however, inspired me to bring Will Smith to our children. Well-written, accurate, and fun, this book really entertains as well as informs.

I look forward to seeing more of Embacher's work.

As the drum, drum, drumming in the air grew louder the usual pregame roar in Ball One Ballpark in Phoenix softened and attention swung to a pre-game show by the Bashas' Bears High School drumline.

They are good. The driving pulse of a drumline, like the beat of a powwow drum circle, is captivating, dynamic, addictive and hypnotic. Music and its rhythms enchant and entrap our souls, and this book offers a fascinating look at "Why" it has such impact. There are many books about music, but this is a fresh look by a skilled writer about why instead of merely the how, what, when and where of musical notes.

Unlike usual textbooks which are heavy on being textbooks and light on understanding, Levitin has experience enough to explain his subject. Humans are said to be the only species that laughs at itself, or needs to; likewise, we are the only species that creates original music, or has the ability to do so, or perhaps the need, and certainly the desire.

Levitin, a professional musician and successful record producer, now runs a laboratory for music perception, cognition and expertise at McGill University. He is a rare academic, solidly grounded in the everyday world of his specialty instead of mere bookish theory. He is a professional who relates to his fellow artists and thus knows how to express basic ideas and themes in words everyone can understand.

Six songs? I'd add a few, such as the Bears' drumline. Even though a drumline is not melodic, it has a powerful rhythmic appeal. It's an example of how music is more than notes on a scale, and how basic the appeal of rhythm and music is to our senses.

Levitin offers some very basic ideas to understand our need and appeal for music, using wit, charm and personal anecdotes. He's been there and walked the walk ... in his case played the notes professionally ... it gives his thoughts and ideas a perfect pitch.

Exquisitely written, it is really about ourselves because we are such a musical species. It makes me wonder: What if humans had never learned to talk, but merely communicate through music? It seems far more reasonable than merely talking without understanding -- at which we're all too expert.

What then the Bears' drumline? Their rhythms are among the most powerful ideas ever expressed. Like Irish step dancing, a powerful expression of unity without using a word, music can be a dynamic expression of human emotions, ideas and spirit.

Fortunately, Levitin is admirably skilled in his use of words; every bit as good as the Bears' drumline or Beethoven's Sixth.

This fascinating book explores the powerful force music has played in shaping our common humanity. It's evolution, with a backbeat. Author Levitin makes the case that six basic types of songs have existed throughout the course of human history, all over the world. Mankind, apparently, shares a soundtrack.

The six broad categories of music are songs about friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion and love. Each has a different function, but all serve to bind us together. They make us stronger as a species.

Levitin, a musician and scientist, cites anthropologists, evolutionary biologists, neurosurgeons, psychologists, and many famous musicians in this book. He includes lyrics from a great range of songs, including "At Seventeen," "The Hokey Pokey," "I Walk the Line," "Twist and Shout," and "Log Blues" from Ren & Stimpy.

Music can be so evocative. A snippet of song can take you back to the exact moment you heard it in childhood or high school or whenever. It's like there is a direct link that exists in the human brain between music and memory.

This books tells us that Americans spend more money on music than they do on prescription drugs or sex, and the average American hears more than five hours of music per day. It's obviously important to us. After reading The World in Six Songs, you'll have a much better idea why.

Here's the chapter list:

1. Taking It from the Top or "The Hills Are Alive..."
2. Friendship or "War (What Is It Good For)?"
3. Joy or "Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut"
4. Comfort or "Before There Was Prozac, There Was You"
5. Knowledge or "I Need to Know"
6. Religion or "People Get Ready"
7. Love or "Bring `Em All In"

My knowledge of this book-and-tape set dates back to about roughly 12 years ago, when I was 5 years old during the holiday season in December. Being in love with the characters of Sesame Street, I found this set to be completely charming and delightful. I hope that the company that published this childrens' book will re-release it again. If I can remember how much it touched me as a child, then I know that it can touch a new generation of children too. Also, being an avid Sesame Street fan definitely helps a whole lot!!

My knowledge of this book-and-tape set dates back to about roughly 12 years ago, when I was 5 years old during the holiday season in December. Being in love with the characters of Sesame Street, I found this set to be completely charming and delightful. I hope that the company that published this childrens' book will re-release it again. If I can remember how much it touched me as a child, then I know that it can touch a new generation of children too. Also, being an avid Sesame Street fan definitely helps a whole lot!!

I found a goodly number of these otherworldly, ethereal, New Age tracks with their acoustic rhythms (I am a New Age fan relatively new to regular yoga practice) very inspirational and motivational, to the point where the listener can "choreograph" a progression of movements using Yoga (or dance, for that matter).

These tracks also make for good listening music, so the CD does double duty. I found Track 6, "Illusion" an incredible journey for the ears, with its variety of string, percussive and wind instruments. Track 8, "Exit from Eden" seemed to go on too long, over 9 minutes, but it reprised the theme of the CD very well.

Excellent CD!

I was not into "yoga with music" until I heard this CD. It's a great resource for both teachers and home-practice. Each track has been loosely composed for standing, forward bends, sun salutes, etc and allows you to program your CD player accordingly for a perfect background. It helps you reach deeper practice, it never dominates and through clever layering, reinforces breath focus throughout. Think Kruder & Dorfmeister meet asana practice. Buy it.

I bought this book after I started learning harmonica with another book written by David Pickow. This book has many songs, including some blues, third position (b minor) blues, rock, jazz, and other kind of songs. That's what makes the book so valuable: it has a lot of songs. It could be a bit difficult for a beginner who hasn't ever had a harp in his hands, but I strongly recomend it as a second book. Now I'm looking for a more advanced book. I feel I can play about anything and the only thing I'm lacking is other musicians to jam with. The book comes with a CD recorded with the harmonica tracks on the left speaker channel, and the background music on the right one. My advice: get it!

I've been through many harmonica books and videos without success in my playing. Finally I found this one. My playing is really improving because of this great method book. Other books seem to teach either single note melodies or jump right into advanced bending and blues riffs. Pickow's book is just right. It starts off getting you playing tunes using 2, 3, and 4 hole chords. Then moves into single note playing mixed with some chords. After you feel that you have a handle on first position playing he eases you into blues. It's an excellent harmonica method book with some easy to understand music theory. A perfect choice for the budding harmonica player.

Want to learn a little about a lot of opera? If not you, perhaps your kids? This is a excellent way to better know the world's most famous operas, with a CD highlighting the great music.

As an Emotional Intelligence instructor (EQ) and coach, I habitually find adults whose emotional life was nourished in an intelligent way when they were kids. My adult learning course, and the one I use to train other coaches, includes the arts, particularly music, as we know that it effects the emotions, and supports the immune system. I purchased this book in the hopes of including it on my online store of EQ products and have been very pleased with it. I also recommend it in my Club Vivo Per Lei/I Live for Music. For adults who are emotionally mature enough not to "mind" learning in a delightful and easy way, why not start with a book and recording like this and then move on to The Teaching Company. Opera is an acquired taste because we aren't brought up on it, just as classical music seems to have slipped away in recent decades, but is coming back in a big way. Why? Because we need it. For all the reason we intuitively know. It soothes the savage beast. I took my 8 year old friend to her first opera the other day - The Barber of Seville is a great starter. She laughed ... I laughed ... and that opera is very old. This is a great book for Christmas giving and I recommend it highly. Then take your little one to Barber of Seville and spend the money to get seats right up front. (Very important, the immediacy of it.) Put your "arts" budget for the kids right after food, clothing, shelter and education (agitate for music appreciation in your schools, and I don't mean rap), and you'll have an emotionally intelligent child, which won't over-ride IQ, but without it, IQ isn't much good! Ask Turandot, wink wink. She had to "learn" his name was Love, and he taught her with a kidd, not his intellect.

"Your naked voice is your original sound, the authentic voice of your spirit. It connects you directly to your true self and with the support of a deep and compassionate listening." ~ pg. 6

Chloe Goodchild brings a new awareness to what it means to rediscover your inner voice. Through an understanding of sound and silence she adds new dimensions to the meditative quality of music.

She also introduces the "Seven Sounds of Love" which can be practiced at home. You can sing SA - The Root, RE, GA, MA, PA, DHA, NI, SA - The Crown. It is a little like the The Sound of Music, except with a more exotic Indian appeal.

Some of the highlights:

Falling in Love with your Voice
The Heart Sutra
Deep Listening Practice
Becoming Sound-Conscious
The Seven Chakra Mantra

Vocal practices are combined with mudras (sacred hand gestures you may recognize from yoga). In the booklet, there are pictures and further explanations. The practise sessions in "Your Naked Voice" awaken the heart, open the mind and comfort the soul. Through this 3-CD Set you can find healing as you learn to love your own voice.

~The Rebecca Review

I purchased this CD after discovering Chloe Goodchild on Amazon. I have purchased 2 of her other CD's "Fierce Wisdom" and "Devi". When I saw that she made an audio book I knew I would not be disappointed when purchasing it, and I wasn't.

"Your Naked Voice" is a 3-CD set audio book, where on the first CD Chloe lectures on the importance of a person's voice, going into different dynamics of the philosophy of a person's voice. She talks about identity and the "self". I found the information right on track with tons of valid information for these topics.

In the second CD, Chloe lectures a little more on the voice and then teaches, as she calls it, the seven sounds of love. For anyone interested chakra work, Chloe goes over the 7 chakras and the sounds associated with each one. Inside of the CD booklet are also mudras (or hand gestures) that associate with each chakras. Not only does this CD teach a person great meditation techniques, but it also encourages self confidence and provides information for people to honor their raw true self that is revealed through the voice.

The third CD is a straight drone that lasts for about 40-45 minutes. The drone is just a constant sound, sometimes a chord, with a main base note which you would use for your voice practice. There is no talking on the third CD. It was designed specifically for a person to practice their voice exercises.

I would recommend this Audio CD for anyone interested in spirituality. This is CD is also one of the very few CD's that teach people this form of practice. It has a very high quality. I would also recommend this CD to people who sing or have to use their voice for speaking purposes, or for those who would like to be more confident in their own voice. The CD is designed for people to be comfortable with their voice, developing a more intimate self-relationship. I would not recommend this CD for someone who is trying to get singing lessons. It is more therapeutic than it is a voice lesson.

This book must be ordered for a specific voice range--a fact not indicated by the Amazon listing. These arrangements bring delightful new life to familiar and beloved hymns. Some receive a bit of a gospel treatment, some a jazz touch, all fresh and contemporary, expressive without being overly sentimental. Both the vocal arrangements and the piano accompaniments are shaped to enhance the expressiveness of the text, so that listeners will hear these familiar texts as though for the first time. Performance difficulty (for voice and piano): easy to moderate.

Just like it says: this books has 130 Irish ballads for acoustic guitar. It includes all of the ones I know, like "Whiskey in the Jar," "Black Velvet Band," "Finnegan's Wake," "Danny Boy," etc. Most of the songs are pretty simple.

This book is exceptionally well-designed. It includes a CD that has the first verse and chorus of all 130 songs (!) so that you can learn how to sing even the songs you're not familiar with. The fingerings for all of the chords are also included. Because it's spiral-bound, this book is *really* easy to lay flat on a table or music stand if you want to look at it while you're playing.

This is some of the very best instructional material I've come across. The etudes are relatively difficult but very cool and each has a different flavor. As if that weren't enough each etude has a different lesson to teach. After the 14 performances then you have 14 tracks minus Mintzer's excellent improvisations which is totally above and beyond the call. Guitar players the caliber of Scott Henderson have admitted to being more influenced by sax players than by other guitarists and here you can see why. There is no tablature but if there ever was a reason to learn how to read notation, this is it! If you are a guitar player, make sure you get the C version, not the Bflat or Eflat versions.