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Do you have an old piano lying around? – Here’s a great way to put it to new use!
And it is especially great if you need to squeeze something beneath a sloping staricase!

Karaoke Revolution

The late 1990’s dance craze inspired a new meaning for the word “revolution”. To legions of fun loving movers and groovers, “revolution” was a noun that meant “a gadget offering extreme activity and excitement, and immeasurable enjoyment and relaxation.” This form of revolution also provided a great way to keep in shape. This was the Dance Revolution.

Dance Revolution is an addictive, indulgent gizmo that has entranced kids, teenagers and adults alike. Like karaoke, the machine plays a selection of popular songs. The difference is that players move along to follow the dance steps. Even older generations receive hours of enjoyment with this crazy stuff called Dance Revolution.

Japan was first to introduce this unique method of having fun. Dance Revolution creators saw huge profits because of the phenomenal success of their products. With popularity as widespread as television, virtually every household in Japan has its own Dance Revolution set for the family’s pleasure and enjoyment.

The Dance Revolution series has been a home and arcade favorite for many years in Japan. There are half a dozen different versions of the game, and a handful of rip-offs and spin-offs have been introduced. Dance Revolution hit US arcades in 2000, showing American kids what they’ve been missing out on. Like their Japanese counterparts, the American kids and teens tried it and loved it.

People who love singing karaoke tend to envy those who use Dance Revolution. It’s as if they are exercising their love of dance and creating their very own revolution. But singers take heart; the latest technology has introduced the Karaoke Revolution, a new gadget that is bringing much joy and excitement.

Karaoke Revolution follows the same concept as basic karaoke, and like its predecessor, was introduced in Japan. The initial product was improved by Japanese developers, making it easier to handle and more comfortable to use. Since then, Karaoke Revolution has enjoyed popularity in a number of countries including the United States. American people have adapted karaoke singing into their leisure lifestyle, partly due to the fact that Karaoke Revolution offers an easy to use option.

Since the karaoke phenomenon first took hold many years ago in the U.S., people have been devising new ideas to bring singing back into the home. In Japan, karaoke (pronounced “kah-rah-oh-kay”) has become standard party and picnic fare thanks to portable machines.

To make the karaoke world come to life, Karaoke Revolution uses a screen with eight characters to choose from, each with up to four outfits. Eight different settings provide the perfect backdrop, from a house party to a stadium show. A back up band will be there to play your tune and support you, but it’s the on-screen crowd that you really need to please.

Karaoke Revolution uses a scoring system based on rhythm and pitch. If you hit the right tones at the right times, you’ll score points. As your song plays, you’ll see bars move from the right side of the screen to the left, along with the lyrics. Each bar represents the pitch and length of each word of the song. Higher bars denote a high pitch. If the bar is flat, the tone should be steady. If you see a long and squiggly trail, you’ve got a serious vocal workout ahead of you. Karaoke Revolution software is available at game retailers, and additional songs can be downloaded for free on the Internet.

Like the name suggests, Karaoke Revolution did create a revolution for the listless karaoke set. The game adds a whole new element of fun and excitement to the favorite pastime. It’s a fun hobby and can bring a real sense of personal satisfaction to its users. Put a song in your heart, and try Karaoke Revolution today.

Last Fall when we were down in Florida, I gave a master class on playing the Didgeridoo to a group of 15 or so. Here we are performing in the Palm Coast Didgeridoo Choir! – Stand by for pictures later on when I will be conducting a Musical Saw Master Class!!!

This post ran a little late – sorry! – The Musical Saw Festival was August 10

Just a reminder about the Musical Saw Festival scheduled in San Jose, California this August 10. To read the particulars, visit www.SawPlayers.com – Also, it’s not too late to start planning for next year.

The East Coast Saw festival 2013 was a resounding success! Thanks Natalia for hosting them every year.

Music Inside Us

Everyone of us has music inside. And it is not an abstract statement, but scientifically proved fact. Molecules of DNA “sound” inside us and it is very important if music from outside is in keeping with music inside us.

Scientists pay great attention to researches concerning music’s influence on human beings. Attention to such researches has increased recently and their results are interesting and convincing. For example, after listening classical music cows have increased their yield of milk and mimosa and petunias have grown faster and burst into bloom 2 weeks earlier. 120 breast-feed mothers took part in experiment in Japan. Some women listened classical music, other women listened pop and rock music. In first group the amount of milk increased in 20 per cent, and in second group – reduced twice.

Such researches are the attempt to synthesise science and art (music). But in ancient India science and art were considered to be the parts of single creative power. All knowledge of ancient India one can find in the Vedas (Holy Indian Scripture) and one of four main Vedas Sama-Veda is entirely dedicated to music. According to the Vedas the creating of the world started from the primordial sound “OM”, which appeared while division of the Almighty (Sadashiva) and his creative energy (Adi Shakti). “OM” was the foundation of the universe and the first musical sound.

Human subtle system consists of 7 main chakras (energetic centres) and 3 channels, which rule mental, emotional and physical life activity of person. 7 chakras of our subtle body revolve with certain frequency and form an octave, which consists of 7 tones of proper altitude. Intervals between them should reflect intervals between chakras. These tones were called musical sounds – notes (’svars’ in Indian music). They sound – sa, re, ga, ma, pa, da, ni and they are in keeping with chakras – from first till seventh. 5 notes can change (fall and rise), creating 5 additional sounds (left and right aspects of chakras). Thus, these notes are built-in subtle body and represent the ideal “repository” of information, the repository of those feelings, emotions, wishes and thoughts, which composer or performer has.

While listening music a person receives some influence on subtle level, which later appears on physical body. Same notes can bring destruction or good, it depends on the inner condition of person. For example, anger, aggression, drug intoxication and so on, which have power over the mind of composer or musician, will find the reflection in his music. There are some styles and forms in music which reflect only such bad qualities. Such music may do harm not only the musician, but also a person who listen to it. Clear, inspired people, who have lucid mind will never create such music. They created only folk music with great variety and classical music which has its roots in folk music.

Let’s listen to music, which is in keeping with music inside us.

Check this video out – this guy does an incredible job with his Musical Saw!

Since Ramadan 2013 is just over I thought it would be appropriate to include an entry on the music of Ramadan.

Often accompanying the iftar meal during Ramadan are live music performances known as fas?l, a style of music from the Ottoman period.

The iftar meal with which one breaks a day’s fast during the month of Ramadan is very frequently accompanied by what is known as fas?l music. Restaurants, whether or not they’re in hotels, often boast of providing live fas?l music. It is most often compared with the chants of the medieval Roman Catholic Church although the latter seem far less complicated.
(Read More…..)

Check out this fantastic performance of a Brass Quintet: Mnozil Brass

Think about it!

My aunt has just written this book:

The book is a creative introduction to African, Indian and Western musics. Each lesson is devised into an exciting discovery of the characteristics of the different musics, a stimulating journey into the creative potential of experiencing new sounds.

You may contact her, Elizabeth Oehrle on FaceBook to inquire about the book.