History of Percussion Instruments

By David Zed

Anthropologists and historians repeatedly speculate that percussion instruments were the first musical apparatus ever came into being. But with the utmost certainty, the human voice was the first musical instrument, and surely, percussion tools such as feet, hands, rocks, sticks and logs came in second to the on-going evolution of music. When humans developed tools for hunting and agriculture, their knowledge along side with skill, enabled them to produce more complex tools. They use slit drum, made from a hollowed-out tree trunk. For instance, a simple log may have been shaped to generate louder tones (log drum) and may have been pooled to create numerous tones (set of log drums).

With time, percussion instruments became more complex. By the 10th century, the kalimba (aka the thumb piano) was in use in Africa. In the Americas, maracas and other percussion instruments were known at least three millennia ago; Australian and Micronesian seed rattles have been in use for thousands of years, as have chimes, gongs and xylophones in Asia. Percussion instruments were used as part of religious ceremonies, for practical communications and simply for enjoyment.

Many of the percussion instruments were familiar with in the western world come from the Balkans, the Levant and elsewhere in the near east. European percussion instruments advanced with the import of drums and other instruments brought back by returning crusaders in the 11th to 13th centuries.

The function of percussion instruments within an orchestra or other musical ensemble varies depending on their design and size. Some instruments produce sounds which can carry melodic or harmonic roles, while others are strictly percussive in nature. Composers and arrangers usually assign the percussion and instruments in the lower register parts which make them work as a team to create a rhythmic basis for the composition.

Bass and percussion form the rhythm section in most forms of popular music; this stands in contrast with the majority of orchestral and chamber music composed before the 20th century, where percussion instruments are for the most part confined to a supporting role. In modern works, however, percussion instruments are occasionally allowed to get their fair share of the listeners attention.

The 1700s and 1800s saw small percussion instruments such as cymbals and triangles coming into use in the orchestral setting, though again largely in a supporting role. It wasnt until later that percussion instruments were accorded a more equal footing with other instruments within the context of the orchestra.

However, percussion is an integral part of nearly every musical style aside from classical-period orchestral and chamber group works. Percussion instruments are the basis of military music, where they set the pace for marching troops to follow. In more contemporary forms such as jazz, the sound of the hi-hat, ride cymbal and brushed snare are nearly synonymous with the genre. Modern popular music genres including hip hop, rock, heavy metal and even country music would be nearly unimaginable sans the rhythmic framework provided by percussion instruments.

Some musical groups perform compositions which are written solely for percussion instruments. The versatility of percussion instruments is such that there are instruments which can provide melodic and harmonic voices as well as those which simply provide a beat. Watching one of these percussion ensembles in action is something which is truly amazing to see. - 18758

About the Author:

David Zed has been an authoritative figure on percussion instruments for over a decade.

Piano For All - Robin Hall Piano For All Review

By Chris Jensen

Many people believe that learning how to play the piano is extremely difficult and not everyone can learn how to play this classic instrument. However, Robin Hall tries to correct this belief by introducing a Piano For All course available in pianoforall.com.

Piano For All is a complete piano course that lets you learn how to play pop, blues, jazz, ballads, classical, and many other pieces on the piano. It also lets you learn how to play piano faster - you will not need to wait for years to see results, you will start noticing changes in your piano playing skill in months.

Robin Hall's Piano For All course lets you start with popular chord-based rhythm style piano playing. This playing style is relatively easier to learn than any other style yet it sounds remarkably like real piano playing. This helps you pull off a professional sound almost instantly. Once you believe you sound great while having lots of fun you can take on more advanced chord and rhythm pieces in the blues, ballad, jazz, ragtime, and improvisation styles. How? Because Piano For All integrates learning and fun that encourages to continue learning more. Eventually, you will find yourself progressing to sight-reading classical pieces with Piano For All as a guide.

This piano course has 10 modules: Party Time / Rhythm Piano (basic), Shake.. Rattle 'n' Roll.. (blues and rock 'n' roll), Chord Magic, Advanced Chords Made Easy, Ballad Style, Jazz Piano Made Easy, Advanced Blues Piano & Fake Stride, Taming the Classics, Speed Learning, and Bumper Resource Book. It also has 200 video lessons to help you in every step of the way. The e-books are also embedded with 500 audio piano lessons to help cut the learning time in half.

Robin Hall gives interested students a plus by having Piano For All available in great payment options. You can choose to order one book at a time or you can choose to have the complete piano course on a CD-ROM. With Piano For All, you will not have to spend money, time, or effort on traditional piano lessons. - 18758

About the Author:

This author specializes in writing articles about Piano For All and Learn To Play Piano Online among other similar subjects.

Outrageous Spending Habits Of Michael Jackson

By James Ziebarth

According to Fox News.com the late Mr.Michael Jackson's monthly expenses, while residing at the famous Neverland Ranch, cost almost $2.5 million a month. Who would have thought that an Amusement Park and a kiddy Zoo would be so "cost effective."

The featured article from FoxNews.com reported "Michael Jackson left behind $400 million worth of debt". Many are asking how Michael Jackson could run up such debt? He owned a long list of valuable items. He owned the Beatles music collection. He was still receiving royalties from "Thriller". Yet, he still managed to run up $400 million in debt.

Michael Jackson had not put out any significant new material since 1997. He had racked up tens of millions of dollars in legal fees. These fees came from his child molestation trial. Michael Jackson was also notorious for his spending. FoxNews.com reported he had 75 card registered under his name.

"Documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court in September of 1999 show that Jackson spent $95, 700 on the gardening alone to maintain the sprawling Neverland Ranch. Security costs totaled another $51,900. Upkeep on his famous zoo/amusement park was another $66,200 and housekeeping/PR expenses stood at around $60,200 bringing the grand total monthly household expense to an astonishing $358,600" FoxNews.com.

Michael Jackson did not skimp on personal expenses either. FoxNews.com reported Michael as spending $178,100 on legal services, $120,000 on personal/property insurance, $25,600 on medical needs, and $42,600 on gifts, but only $100 a month on entertainment. I guess you could count the expenses for Neverland Ranch as entertainment. Overall, his personal expenses were estimated at $1, 420,600 monthly.

Overall, it would cost $2,339,300 to live the life of Michael Jackson for just one month. And that would likely put anyone in debt."

Now I don't have a degree in Accounting (yet), but I can do the math. That's almost $30 million a year that was being spent on the Neverland Ranch alone. This is not including all the plastic surgery, pain pills, underage birthday parties, and court cost to fight "molestation" charges. And people are actually wondering why MJ was almost broke? Do the math people. When your bills are more then your gross income, you go into debt. Now I'm no Suze Orman but i think I'm on the right track.

Goodbye to not only a musical icon but also the King of Pop. R.I.P. MJ. Make sure you don' catch any new criminal charges up there. We know you love them "Barely Legal" Angels. - 18758

About the Author:

Enjoy finding out more about Michael Jackson's Expenses? Subscribe to Jim's Celebrity News and find other Celebrity facts.

Cheap Acoustic Guitar - Your Starter Guitar Starts Here

By Nico Davenport

The material from which it is crafted is usually a main factor in the pricing of a guitar. Some guitars are manufactured using graphite or plastic in place of the traditional wood, but even in a cheap acoustic guitar wood makes it possible to achieve the tone you really want to produce. Cheap acoustic guitars made from materials other than wood often sound flat and lifeless, and new players are likely to find them frustrating. It is better to pay slightly more for an inexpensive wooden guitar than to buy a plastic one.

Although the Seagull S6 isnt the most cheap acoustic guitar going, it does offer fantastic value for the money that you spend on it. This guitar is a great start for any beginner. It creates a beautiful sound with its solid cedar top and mahogany sides and back. Even professionals will keep one of these in their collections among their more expensive ones. It's a guitar that anyone who is serious about becoming a guitar player should look into investing in. It costs around $400 to $500, but you'll understand the great value of it once you get into playing. A great place to look for special deals and compare prices for this guitar would be to do a little web browsing about it.

A solid, dependable choice for a cheap acoustic guitar is the Yamaha F310. It features a top of solid spruce along with a back and sides made from mahogany. The price might fit better for your budget, coming in at $150-$200 and it is a universal choice for the serious novice.

The next price range for cheap acoustic guitars is from $120-$150. A great selection in this category is the Epiphone DR-100. This guitar has a high quality spruce top with mahogany back and sides. This is a student instrument and you will have to upgrade at some point. If you dont know how serious your interest in the guitar really is, then this is a good choice if you still want to obtain a decent quality guitar at a low price.

Even if you are looking for a really cheap acoustic guitar you are better off to avoid those with a cost below $100. Practically speaking, in the $100 price range there are no bargains. Many such guitars will be very disappointing. The cheap acoustic guitars under $100 are usually of such poor quality that may lead many inexperienced players to give up on learning to play guitar. This is particularly sad for young people, which are maybe at their first encounter with music and willing to play. So, stay away from those guitars under $100, since at that price you will not find stuff of even modest quality.

If you can't pony up for a better quality acoustic guitar, try to buy one second hand instead. If you buy a used guitar, it will have already developed a full and rich tone that you will not find in a brand new one. Many stores have a special section for used cheap acoustic guitars and you can play each one until you find the one that suits your needs.

A solid wood top is a must-have, even for a cheap acoustic guitar. A guitar with with a solid wood top, instead of a plywood top, has a richer and fuller tone. A guitar with also the sides and the back made of solid wood is even better, if your budget allows it. - 18758

About the Author:

Looking For a good learn guitar course ? Visit guitar lessons where you will find a jamorama lessons

Download Songs for Ipod Touch Successfully With These Tips

By Davion Wong

When you download songs for Ipod Touch, there are a few important factors other than getting cheaper deals. Of course, getting savings and getting more downloads are important, but you have to weigh your choices first carefully. If you must pay for your song downloads before storing them in your Ipod, it is important that you get a good deal.

Many Ipod owners keep returning to Itunes, due to the wide selection of songs and music for downloading at this site. Since Apple has designed this online music store specifically for Ipod users, you won't have a difficult time transferring songs to your Ipod. Nonetheless, at 99 cents per song, making numerous downloads can translate to huge spending.

Song downloads for Ipod Touch can be obtained from a range of downloading sources these days. While these sources can be wide ranging, it will be easier if you check on the song selections available for downloading first of all. If you don't find the songs or music you need, don't hesitate to find other sites.

Since many downloading sites can require different modes of payment, you need to find the payment type most suitable for you. You can choose to pay per download, or pay a single payment for membership. There are free sites which don't require you to make any payments at all.

A good number of customers make Ipod Touch song downloads from membership sites since these sources offer a more affordable scheme than most pay-per-download sites. All you need to do is to pay a single amount, if you want to obtain limitless downloads. Membership sites are more secure than free downloading sites moreover.

Customer support is one important factor you should also check into before you download Ipod Touch songs from the Internet. This is important especially during instances when the site encounters problems or when you experience interruptions when downloading songs. The website should be able to provide assistance when needed.

Downloading the songs will be easy, once you have finally found the downloading site that fits your budget and provides you with the song selections you require. With the available alternatives on the web nowadays, you can easily work within your budget, while getting the songs you need almost instantly.

For more on how to find the best websites and where to download songs for Ipod Touch online, just click on my website now. - 18758

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Get your iPod music downloads - newly released music, videos and all for pennies. Also read another top article on iPod music downloads.