Music and Audio Books

The articles in collection are very readable - a great deal of care seems to have been made in the editing process. Various authors give summaries of different parts of the area of computer music. Some of the articles I particularly like include the following: i) several articles by different authors on synthesis of the singing voice; ii) the article by Mathews and Pierce on the Bohlen-Pierce scale, a non-octave-based scale of odd harmonics, with 3:5:7 and 5:7:9 chords; iii) Risset's article on paradoxical sounds; iv) Schottstaedt's article on automatic counterpoint. The subject is moving very rapidly, so some of the information is outdated, but most is not.

Writer, researcher, freelance music journalist and Visiting Professor at Manhattan College, Michael D. Ayers has assembled several international experts with impressive credentials who explore the recent phenomenon of the Internet music revolution, wherein there has been a convergence between artists, capitalism, fans, media, technology, and music itself. The result is an excellent compilation of essays featured in Cybersounds: Essays on Virtual Music Culture that present an insightful analysis of topics that up to now were lacking in technical sophistication in their discussions.

In bringing together these experts, these contributors have done a remarkable job in breaking down into their basic components such hot- button issues as the legal challenges that surround music and the Internet; the birth and evolution of cyber communities; how technology is used to frustrate corporate interests; questions about transformation and how cyberspace has affected the way we appreciate music from a passive to an active role; the question of power and regulation, for as Ayers states, "music in the on-line world has pushed the envelope;" the emergence of the Apple's iPod; how bands use their websites in branding themselves and how fans interact; how music and on-line activism have come together; how fans challenge the recording industry and trade their own home made recordings of live concerts; how artists and DJs work together over large geographical spaces to create new kinds of music, and also how new technology as digital recordings in cyberspace allow for new creativity; the effects of bootleg trading and peer to peer file trading, as well as the restructuring of the patterns of music distribution and consumption.

These are only a sampling of the huge territory that this book covers and as Jonathan Sterne, one of the contributors asserts, "Cybersounds offers us an unprecedented opportunity to reflect on music on the Internet and the state of scholarship about music on the Internet."

In an academically grounded but for the most part informal presentations, this is a remarkable collection of essays that break new ground in educating readers on the convergence of cyberculture and musicology. Moreover, thanks to these contributors the door has now been opened where the study of these two disciplines has been greatly advanced.

Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

The best workout CD/Tape I've ever used. The only thing better would be to have it custom-fit for your voice like I do for my students. This is one you'll want to keep in your car for when you're driving back & forth to work or school.

I lost it a few years back, and so I'll be buying the CD. I wish Amazon had it for sale.

Excellent range development, and breath development. When I used this tape every day, my voice was the most powerful it's ever been! Highly recommended! I have yet to find anything this thorough and complete.

OK, so you want to learn how to play bluegrass guitar? Well this is where you start right here. After some basic discussion of the standard "boom-chuck" rythym style of playing Dan jumps right into the flatpicking solos. They start off pretty easy, just learn them slowly and use a metronome to make sure you're keeping even time. Then he starts moving into more intermediate and advanced territory.

There are two sections that I particularly like. The first is the Licks and Riffs section. It's full of various bluegrass licks that you can throw into just about any bluegrass tune. The 2nd great section is the repetoire section. Here Dan teaches several standard bluegrass tunes (complete with solos). If you knew everything in this book you'd fit in at any bluegrass jam anywhere.

I'd put this book in the intermediate to slightly advanced level as far as technique. Remember, you don't have to play the songs as fast as Dan does on the CD. Learn to play it right with clear notes, speed will come later. But if you're ready to learn this style of flatpicking guitar then this is the book you NEED to have. Also good is String Letter Publishing's book "Flat Picking Essentials". The 2 books together will give you a very strong foundation in this style of music.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RELIGIOUS OR IRISH TO ENJOY THIS ALBUM. IF YOU NEED A QUIET TIME, ALONE, WITH LOVED ONES, OR IN ANY SITUATION WHERE PEACEFULNESS AND CONTENTMENT IS SOUGHT, PUT THIS ALBUM ON. WOW!

It's not the book that makes the difference in this set, it's the recording. That said, READ the introductory section! Don't worry about reading the music - even the introduction itself says students are not expected to read music until BOOK FOUR. (If your teacher slips it in earlier, find another teacher. Anything else is not true Suzuki Method. Suzuki Method/Mother Tongue method is an AUDITORY method.) Read the lines, and read between the lines. Remember, Suzuki was oriental - no brow beating here; only much sublety. A point is made once, and you are expected to retain it. Reread every 6 months.

Suzuki saw that music is the one true study of mankind. If you study music thoroughly and completely (!) you will learn about mathematics, art, physics, language, animals, emotions, history, religion, cultures. . . it is music that is the common thread among all peoples of the earth. Music develops sensitivity, expression, self confidence, self discipline, spirituality and all qualities which at their fullest expression turn us from men into Man.

David Cerone performs the Suzuki materials better than any one else. Unlike Suzuki himself, who didn't pick up a violin until he was in his 20s, David learned early and plays that much better than the Suzuki version. He admits he worked harder on these recordings than on any other professional recordings, sweating through perfect performances only to redo and redo and redo trying to create just the right inflection and emotion. He knew that thousands of hopeful young violinists would listen to these songs: working song 50 times a day, polish songs 20 times a day, upcoming song 50 times a day. Day after day after day! And then imitate it. He wanted to give them the best to look up to. He sees children as precious seeds, and gives them only the purest water music for their growth. Don't settle for anything less!

This is the fourth cd we've purchased and they've all been of high quality. Don't hesitate to purchase it for your violinist-in-training!

This is a great cd for your wedding. The O'Neill Brothers do a great job in puting a classical feel to many wedding songs. To here there entire album go to the Bridal Association of America Website and Click on WEDD Wedding Radio.
Wedding Music or call us at 1-866 MY WEDDING

The poetry set to music on this cd includes classics such as Hope is the Thing With Feathers and The Frost is on the Punkin. Poets include Dickinson, Longfellow, Poe and others. The music is completely appropriate to each poem. It is therefore, musically diverse. My children ages ten and six have, over the past two years memorized poetry that they would have never listened without this terrific cd. Ted Jacob's other work, The Poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson is equally wonderful. If you would like to memorize some poetry that is worth knowing, this is a fantastic and enjoyable way to do so. I really hope we will be hearing some more from Ted Jacobs.