Microsoft Zune Killing May Have Been Result of Corporate Shakeup - (It's wonderful)

Microsoft Zune Killing May Have Been Result of Corporate Shakeup

Microsoft may have killed its Zune portable media player, according to reports. However, the company seems reluctant to share details about its future plans for the Zune franchise, whose hardware includes the touch-screen Zune HD and first- and second-generation Zune.  

We have nothing to announce about another Zune device, a Microsoft spokesperson e-mailed to eWEEK late March 14. Our long-term strategy focuses on the strength of the entire Zune ecosystem across Microsoft platforms.

In a March 14 report, Bloomberg reporter Dina Bass suggested that Microsoft would stop introducing new versions of the Zune music and video player because of tepid demand. However, she added, Zune software would maintain a presence on Microsoft platforms such as Windows Phone 7.

Although the Zune HD earned strong reviews in the wake of its September 2009 release, the device failed to break the Apple iPods tight grip on the portable-media market. That market is also undergoing its own seismic shift at the moment, as smartphones and tablets increasingly become the center of peoples mobile digital lives: even Apple has seen sales of its traditional iPod fall over the past several quarters, a phenomenon the company partially attributes to the rise of the iPhone.

But the Zune hardware may also have found itself something of an orphan after Microsofts massive corporate upheaval in 2010, which saw the departure of the executives who had brought the project to life, and a reorientation of the companys approach to consumer products. 

In May 2010, a major shakeup gripped Microsofts now-extinct Entertainment and Devices Division, with rumors that underperforming products and killed projects had led to the departures of its two top executives: Robbie Bach, the divisions president, and J Allard, its senior vice president of design and development. Allard and Bach had each logged about two decades worth of service with Microsoft.

During the first quarter of 2010, the divisions revenues had contributed about 11 percent to Microsofts $14.5 billion bottom line. But the high-profile failure of Microsofts Kin social-networking phones, coupled with continuing problems in its smartphone line and the Zune HDs anemic reception, led analysts to question the divisions ultimate viability.

This has been a vampire division since its inception. A vampire division is one that lives off the value created by the rest of the company and, from a corporate perspective, does more damage than good, Rob Enderle, principal analyst of the Enderle Group, told eWEEK in May 2010. Its profit, which wasnt much, was massively offset by the economic cost it caused to the corporation and it needed to be rethought.

Ballmer later reorganized Microsofts divisions and presidents, breaking the Entertainment & Devices Division into a Mobile Communications Business overseen by Andy Lees and an Interactive Entertainment Business headed by Don Mattrick. By splitting responsibilities for mobile and entertainment to Lees and Mattrick, Ballmer seemed intent on giving those product lines new focus. Part of that focus may have involved killing the Zune hardware, while keeping the software componentand associated media storeas a part of the Windows Phone 7 ecosystem.

 

Japan quake, tsunami 2011: Donate via iTunes and Google Checkout

Two tech giants making Japan quake and tsunami donations easier.

 

Google and Apple are trying their best to donate for Japan victims easier.

Google and Apple, two companies that are rivals when it comes to mobile operating system (Android and iOS), are both trying their very best to help the victims of the recent Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Google, with its popular internet search engine, created a page that is specially designed to feature some of the important things about the 2011 Japan quake and tsunami.

From Japanese emergency dial numbers, to news, Google’s crisis response page created by Google.org is one of the most important page on the internet today. Apparently, Google also included an instant donation field, powered by the Mountain View, California-based company’s Google Checkout.

If you’re planning to help the Japan quake and tsunami victims via Google, you must create a Google Checkout account, or you can also create an account by using your current Google Mail/Gmail account. According to Google, “donation must be at least 100 yen, up to 25,000 yen,” and added that all donations “will go to the Red Cross in Japan.” To donate with the help of Google, click here.

Another California based company, Apple inc, is making donations easy with its iTunes software. iTunes is the place where iOS-powered devices and Mac owners buy apps and music. The minimum donation allowed is $5, while $200 is the maximum. Apparently, you can repeat donating. You can start donating via iTunes by clicking this link. According to Apple, all donations will go to American Red Cross.

We’re praying for you Japan.

Search for more Google and Apple news below:

• Japan earthquake and tsunami 2011: Zynga and Facebook will help


• Japan earthquake and tsunami “buried” iPad 2 in the news and social networking sites


• iTunes challenger à la Google Android soon via iPad 2 killers?


• Google Science Fair 2011: The first global online Sci fair


• Black Friday 2010 of Apple means iOS 4.2 for iPad and Beatles on iTunes

After everything lately about microsoft zune, microsoft zune, microsoft zune and now: Microsoft Developing New Music/Video Service

Microsoft Developing New Music/Video Service

Microsoft is making its third attempt to enter the music and video discovery arena with Ventura.

While Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices (E&D) unit is reportedly cranking up its development team to work on next Xbox console, the company is also hiring developers to work on a project called Ventura. According to sources close to the project, Ventura will focus on "music and video delivery and consumption," and will likely include recommendations, ratings and comments from users.

"The team is a tight group of music and video lovers that create services and experiences revolving around music\video discovery and consumption," reads a job description from a listing uncovered by ZDNet. "We are not afraid to try new things in the name of pushing the bleeding edge of technology."

"Think large scale. Think Azure," the job listing added.

As pointed out by Business Insider, Ventura will be Microsoft's third attempt to establish a successful service in this particular area. The company's first venture was through the acquisition of MongoMusic for $65 million back in 2000. At the time, the studio was building a music recommendation engine similar to the Music Genome Project used by Pandora. However the MSN group reportedly "squandered" the opportunity to compete with Pandora after the acquisition, and the technology "went nowhere."

Microsoft attempted to enter the sector again with the launch of the Zune service and the Zune player in 2006. The service pushed the idea of sharing music you liked with friends also using Zune, allowing them to check out your favorites and to make comments. A Zune Pass subscription added the ability for friends to listen to songs simultaneously. But Microsoft didn't sell enough Zune players for the service to be useful, thus Zune never really caught on.

As of this writing, consumers can download the Zune client and purchase movies, TV shows and music just as they would with Apple's iTunes. The Zune website also provides socialization features, allowing users to tweet on Twitter and "Like" on Facebook from everywhere on Zune.net. "Share the love for all your favorite music and movies beginning with Lady Gaga's latest single, Born This Way," the website reads.

Additionally, the monthly Zune Pass grants unlimited access to music that can be streamed or downloaded on a PC, Xbox 360, Windows Phone 7 smartphone, or Zune HD device. The service also includes ten extra songs that consumers can keep "forever." The actual downloadable Zune client features a social section, but seemingly remains locked to those with a Windows Live and/or Zune account.

Currently it's unknown how or when Microsoft's Ventura service will launch. It's speculated that it may open its doors as a standalone Web site or as downloadable application. It may also become part of another Microsoft product like the current Zune platform, Xbox Live, Games for Windows – LIVE, or the Windows Media Player.

Will Ventura be the next step in Zune's evolution, or a rival to Pandora?

3 George Straight Songs Women Love The Most (And Why)

Anberlin

While browsing for something fantastic to post about I came across this photo: Anberlin.

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imadehollywood describes it with these words:

www.anberlin.com/home/ www.myspace.com/anberlin www.facebook.com/anberlin

If you're interested in the original photo on the off chance that you might want it.

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Was this pic of live concert is worth seeing?

After everything lately about livenation, livenation, livenation and now: Live Nation settles Ticketmaster delivery fees class action

Live Nation settles Ticketmaster delivery fees class action

Live Nation has confirmed that it has settled a long running class action lawsuit against its ticketing company Ticketmaster, and that as a result a one off pay out of $22.3 million will appear in it’s fourth quarter financial results. The case was launched way back in 2003 by two Americans called Curt Schlesinger and Peter Lo Re but was only confirmed as a class action, so that anyone negatively affected could claim damages, last September.

The plaintiffs accused Ticketmaster of misleading customers by implying in its marketing materials that “delivery fees” added to ticket purchases were a simply cost of sale, ie what it cost Ticketmaster to deliver tickets. In fact a profit margin was included so the fee was a revenue stream for the ticketing giant. Given the size of the delivery fees (up to $25) that was probably a given, but the plaintiffs reckoned the ticketing firm was at fault for not explicitly stating so.

Having become a class action lawsuit last year the case was due to go to court this month, but it seems an out of court settlement has been reached. Under the settlement, Live Nation/Ticketmaster will not accept it deliberately misled customers, but will (somehow) make efforts to compensate past ticket-buyers who were confused by their explanations of fees and ensure future communication is clearer. It will also cover all the legal fees related to this dispute. Hence the $22.3 million set aside to clear things up.

As an aside, Live Nation is already suing its insurers Illinois Union Insurance Co in relation to this case after it refused to pay the $4 million in legal fees the live music and ticketing giant has run up fighting the case.

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Co-Publishing Deals In The Music Licensing Business

Is it Wise to Buy Ludwig Drums Or Drum Accessories Online? by K. Villa

Have you ever considered purchasing your Ludwig drums or any drumming equipment online? If you're like most people, you might think that's not an option, or that the items are too large or expensive to ship to you. There are several reasons you should consider this easy and fast method.

Save Time

Buying Ludwig Drums online is a huge time saver. Instead of running from one local music store to the nearby big outlet store, hoping against hope that they will have just what you are looking for, shopping online is an almost guarantee that you will find just what you need. There's also a good chance you'll find some interesting accessories that aren't in your local music shop.

Get the Latest

The brick and mortar music shops usually won't carry the latest glow in the dark sticks from Hip Tricks or Remo's graphic Tatoo Skyns head. Luckily these days, they are just a click away if you head over to your computer. You will be surprised to find the newest gear and accessories online where everything is up to date. The local music store most likely hasn't ordered the newest equipment.

Less Expensive?

Shopping online is both convenient and can be less expensive with continual sales and free shipping offered since there isn't any overhead. These days there are more and more options online than the local stores can carry and for a lot less money.

If you're into Ludwig drums especially, they aren't always something you can pick up anywhere. A good solid Ludwig snare is at the very least a necessity for those that love the "Luddies". So go online and see what deals you can get on whatever drum equipment you're into.

at long last some positive news - AEG Live Hails Regional Operations

AEG Live Hails Regional Operations Industry News SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | RSS | REPRINTS | Share



AEG Live Hails Regional Operations

August 27, 2010 - Touring



By Ray Waddell, Nashville



Larry Vallon, executive VP North American regional offices for promoter AEG Live, says the various regional offices for the company are doing "pretty good" this summer.



"At some point we figured out that the audience has voted against ridiculously high ticket prices," Vallon tells Billboard.biz.



Vallon says while some superstar bands rate the highest end tickets, including as many as 1,000 or more VIP price levels of $250 or higher in major markets, "with tons of bands you can't even get near that, and in some cases it's a turnoff to even have it in existence. With that in mind, we're starting out with falling in love with the ticket price and basing the guarantee off that."



In New York this summer, Vallon says AEG Live has done well at a site called Williamsburg Waterftont on the East River, presenting in association with the New York parks.



"We've had sensational luck there with things like Nas and Ziggy Marley, Silversun Pickups, and Pavement's coming up, Belle & Sebastian, Modest Mouse," says Vallon, adding that the venue fits well with AEG Live promotions at its Nokia Theatre and Highline Ballroom. Also in the New York market mix are shows AEG promotes at the Jersey arenas, the Garden, Central Park Summerfest, or the Apollo and Beacon Theater.



AEG also promotes at the Wang in Boston and the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia, where Arcade Fire, Passion Pit and Tokyo Police Club drew 4,000 people.



But the regional success extends South to Nashville, where the AEG office under Ali Harnell has a wealth of shows booked, including Natalie Merchant, Pixies, Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow, MGMT and Sara Bareilles at the Ryman Auditorium; Mary Gauthier at Belcourt Theatre, Flyleaf and 30 Seconds to Mars at Rocketown, Guster and Mumford & Sons at War Memorial Aud, and Metric at the Cannery Ballroom. Up I-65 in Louisville, AEG Live's Nashville office will present Eagles opening the market's new KFC Yum Center and later My Morning Jacket.



Nationally, AEG Live is promoting Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift and Bon Jovi, along with dates on the Paul McCartney tour, including a sellout at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

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Download CD Album Covers - Get Album Artwork Automatically With an iTunes Organizer

Having to download CD album covers for a massive iTunes library can be a dreadful process. I've been an avid iTunes user since I first got my iPod back in 2004. Everything about iTunes works perfectly except for one minor detail. Over six years of importing songs from CDs and mix tapes I'm stuck with a plethora of songs without the right album cover, or even any type of album cover at all!

The whole album cover debacle isn't as bad as my major pet peeve, missing song info! I was tired of looking through my songs and having them come up as Track 01, or just a song title and no artist information. I took to the internet to try and find a solution to this problem and after wading through so many programs that failed to deliver on their promise I stumbled across this nice little app called an ID3 tag editor.

This new mp3 manager was able to download CD album covers for all of the tracks that I had, and I really do mean all of them. Aside from being able to get album artwork, it was even able to find and remove duplicate tracks, leaving me with the higher quality song file. So all of these perks, and this program still has more to offer.

A quick rundown of features are as follows:

1. Download CD album covers


2. Find and remove duplicate tracks


3. Fixes song details (adds in details such as artist, album title, genre)


4. It's all automatic!

The iTunes organizer gives you a chance to clean up your music library without all the time and hassle it usually takes. I'm really happy I found this little gem of a program, I'm positive I did not want to sit down and sift through more than a thousand songs in an attempt to get my iTunes organized. And now I don't have to!

Russian activists defy concert ban - (I'm so happy)

Russian activists defy concert ban

By Antoine Lambroschini (AFP) – 1 day ago

MOSCOW — Russian activists pressed ahead with plans to stage a banned rock concert on Sunday to rally opposition to routing a highway through a forest, despite worries that police would disperse the gathering.

Authorities earlier in the day detained one of the concert's main organisers as several unknown assailants attacked vehicles carrying musical equipment for the event.

Police also said they would not let any music amplifying equipment onto Pushkinskaya Square in the heart of Moscow, activists said.

Mikhail Shneider of the opposition movement Solidarnost was detained during a smaller protest in Moscow earlier in the day, his colleagues said.

"Mikhail Shneider's detention makes one think about a possible provocation," leading rights campaigner Lev Ponomaryov said.

"We know that authorities are very concerned about this rally, they even forbade us to hold a concert there," he said on the popular Echo of Moscow radio station.

Police detained Ponomaryov near the square as the rally was about to begin, the radio said.

Along with former government minister Boris Nemtsov, Shneider was one of around 20 activists detained earlier as they tried to carry a Russian banner along a central street to celebrate the official Flag Day holiday.

Another activist said unknown assailants had sought to prevent the musical equipment from getting to the site of the rally.

"Several bikers in black outfits and motorcycle helmets, their faces hidden, surrounded two Gazelle trucks carrying sound equipment for the event," said Pyotr Verzilov, an activist with art collective Voina, or War.

"They jumped off their motorbikes and started trying to pierce the vehicles' tyres with iron rods," Verzilov said on Echo of Moscow, adding the drivers managed to chase the attackers away.

As of 1045 GMT, Pushkinskaya Square was cordonned off and dozens of buses with OMON riot police were stationed along its perimeter, AFP correspondents reported.

Activist Mikhail Kriger told the radio station that police would not let the organisers bring any sound amplifying equipment except loudspeakers into the square.

"Therefore the very idea of not only the concert but the protest as a whole is being undermined," Kriger said.

Police say the opposition have received permission to stage a three-hour protest set to begin at 1300 GMT, but not a concert and opposition activists say Moscow authorities have told them that they will not allow the concert to go ahead.

Police spokesman Anatoly Lastovetsky told AFP that around 400 policemen were expected to enforce order.

The concert's aim is to buttress efforts by environmental activists to oppose the construction of a highway through Khimki forest outside Moscow, which has become a symbol for Russians fighting for their rights.

Authorities have in the past used force to disperse anti-government protests in Moscow, even though the country's opposition is weak and fragmented and its protests usually do not attract a lot of sympathisers.

Organisers however said they expected that some 1,000 people would turn up at the protest at which several popular musicians, including Yury Shevchuk, lead singer of the popular rock band DDT who is openly critical of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, are expected to perform.

Shevchuk in May openly challenged Vladimir Putin, considered Russia's paramount leader, telling him at a meeting Russia was being ruled by "dukes and princes with sirens on their cars" and demonstrations are broken up by

"repressive" security services.

"Today the Khimki forest embodies the fight of ordinary people against bureaucratic genocide which we all feel," Shevchuk said in comments posted on Solidarnost's website.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

From Piano-Sheets.net Moonlight Sonata Sheet music

I feel like it's my birthday - I know that a few people have been sending me email asking if I knew where they could find a piano version of Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven - Well, the search ended a few minutes ago when I found a FREE version of Moonlight Sonata for the piano or keyboard. Now you can all start practicing Moonlight Sonata on the piano, and hopefully you'll all end up as good as me!

I have to tell you that my uncle was visiting me a few days ago. You won't care about him much. He teaches piano lessons. I asked him if he could give me a free lesson on how to play Moonlight Sonata. Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven is a challenging song. He started to play it from memory, then told me to print some sheet music. After I did a little digging around I found Moonlight Sonata had just been added at Piano-Sheets!

Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven sheet music Here's something to think about from "The Secret" (A favorite book and DVD of mine). "Are your thoughts worthy of you? If not - NOW is the time to change them. You can begin right were you are right now. Nothing matters but this moment and what you are focusing your attention on."

No More Piano sheets

When I woke up today I checked my favorite site for free sheet music, and I discovered something wonderful. A new song was added to Piano-Sheets.net - No More. No More by 3Lw is a terrific song, and I'm thrilled I could write a post about it.

WOOOOOT!!! I feel like dancing, and I'll make plain the reasons why - PianoSheets has just released a new piece of FREE sheet music: No More. No More by 3Lw is a awesome melody - No More, or to be very clear: No More by 3Lw is great, and the sheet music ir really well done. Now I can finally learn how to play No More on the piano - by practicing with the No More piano sheets I linked to at Piano-Sheets.

No More by 3Lw free sheet music "What can you do right now to turn your life around?? Gratitude."

Don't Let Me Get Me Sheet music

I've been searching the web for weeks now trying to find a sheet music version of Don't Let Me Get Me by Pink for the piano. With no luck so far, I finally tried piano-sheets.net and BAM, instantly, there it was on the front page. Don't Let Me Get Me is a pretty simple song, for me at least, but some of you might have trouble learning to play Don't Let Me Get Me by Pink on the piano. Start slow, perhaps with the chorus, and practice, practice, practice!

My father was visiting me recently. That part's boring. He loves to play piano. So, I asked him if he knew how to play Don't Let Me Get Me. Don't Let Me Get Me by Pink is easy to play. He started to play it by ear, then wanted me to print a free copy of the sheet music. I looked on google for a little while, and found it at Piano-Sheets!

download this free sheet music for Don't Let Me Get Me by Pink "Learn to become still... and take your attention away from what you don't want, and place your attention on what you wish to experience."

Read all about itThe Great Yamaha Pianos

Since 1900 when Yamaha built Japan's first piano it has consistently led various methods to improve its piano making tradition. Its methods were very effective and satisfied the user in all ways.

Numerous methods have been adopted to improve the quality of their product. They started selecting better materials, design and produced the various components itself to keep the standard of their product sky high. Amid of all their improvement they took various measures to improve their product and make them more satisfactory. With the passage of time Yamaha continued to keep its quality, consistency, efficiency always high.

Yamaha offers a great range of things, it has something for everyone. From beginners to great pianist all trust Yamaha. Yamaha is the best choice if one really wants to enjoy each note or each strike on the piano. It has pioneered the acoustic and electronic range. It is famous for its clear tone, touch and durability.

There are verities of piano hybrid available in the Yamaha chamber. Some of the major one are-

Yamaha Silent Pianos

FantasticGrace Slick - Five Surprising Facts About a Sixties Rock Star

Grace Slick will forever be known as the focal point of the iconic sixties rock band Jefferson Airplane. As a songwriter, a singer, and a sex symbol, Grace set herself apart from the female singer/songwriters of the hippie era by the force of her personality and her authenticity as a full fledged member of a premiere rock band.

Grace Slick was born Grace Barnett Wing, October 30, 1939. According to the FBI, Grace was born in Highland Park, Illinois, although Grace Slick tells people she was born in Chicago.

In the early 1950s Grace's family moved from Illinois to California, where she attended middle school and high school. Grace attended Finch College in New York and the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, in the late 1950s and even did a little modeling in the early 1960s.

In 1965 Grace and her first husband, Jerry Slick, saw the newly formed Jefferson Airplane perform at The Matrix. Realizing that she could make much more money and have a lot more fun in a rock band, Grace decided to give up modeling and start a music career. Grace, Jerry Slick, his brother, Darby Slick and other friends formed their own band, The Great Society. The group debuted during the autumn of 1965 with Grace providing vocals, guitar, piano, and the recorder. She and her brother-in-law wrote a majority of the songs. By early 1966 The Great Society was one of the popular psychedelic acts in the Bay area.

Jefferson Airplane

In 1966, Jefferson Airplane asked Grace Slick to replace their lead singer Signe Toly Anderson. It didn't take Grace long to become firmly established as a full fledged member of the band, an equal among equals. Soon after Grace joined Airplane, the band began recording an album which included two The Great Society tunes: "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love". By 1967, Surrealistic Pillow and its singles were great successes and Jefferson Airplane was one of the best-known bands in the country.

From 1966 to 1971 Grace Slick wrote several memorable songs: "White Rabbit", "Rejoyce", "Greasy Heart", "Eskimo Blue Day", and "Lather." She became the face of the 1960s counter culture and became notorious for her outrageous, reckless, and violent behavior, usually fueled by alcohol.

By early 1971 Jefferson Airplane was over. Grace Slick retired from the music business in 1989. Currently Grace spends her time as a celebrity artist, selling and exhibiting her drawings and paintings.

Conclusion

From 1966 to 1971, Jefferson Airplane contributed to the soundtrack of the social and cultural revolution that affected America profoundly and spread throughout the world. Grace Slick, as a singer, song writer, musician and collaborator in that band has earned a unique place as a star of the 1960s Cultural Revolution. The song "White Rabbit", written by Grace Slick, became an anthem for those seeking altered states of consciousness. The 1970s and 1980s saw Jefferson Airplane transform to Jefferson Starship and then to Starship--a transformation that is illustrative of what happened to rock music and the youth culture as commercialization overtook the music and middle age overtook those rock stars who managed to survive the psychedelic sixties.

Grace Slick was an important figure in the 1960s psychedelic rock genre, and is known for her witty lyrics and powerful contralto vocals. Slick's legacy as a trail blazing rock star remains to this day. She paved the way for countless female vocalists, writers and performers seeking to emulate her unique style.

Five Facts About Grace Slick

1. Grace Slick is purported to have written "White Rabbit" in an hour.


2. Grace is the vocalist for some of Sesame Street's often played musical shorts, Jazzy Spies, which featured a frenetic musical background while a singer repeatedly intoned the particular numeral being highlighted. Her then-husband, Jerry Slick, actually produced those segments.


3. After giving birth to her only child, China Kantner, Grace gave birth to an urban legend when she sarcastically told a nurse that she intended to name the child "god". The nurse took Grace seriously, not understanding it was a joke.


4. Grace was married and divorced twice. Her first husband was Gerald "Jerry" Slick. Although Paul Kantner and Grace Slick had a serious relationship from 1969 to 1974 and have a daughter, they were never legally married. Grace married Skip Johnson in 1976, they divorced in 1994.


5. Grace Slick was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 (as a member of Jefferson Airplane).

Violins For Beginners - Types and Sizes

Violins come in different sizes to suit children and adults of various age. Here is a violins for beginners guide that can help you choose the right size of musical instrument that fits your needs:

Violin Types

Generally, the violin has two types. However, violin makers from all parts of the world have created different types for select brands. Here is a look at the two basic types of violin:

1. Electric

This type of musical instrument utilizes an electronic signal output. Violins for beginners are not usually of the electric type since the latter is more suited for expert players. Electric violins produce a sharper sound than that of the acoustic type.

2. Non-Electric or Acoustic

Non-electric violins are conventional and are appropriate for first-time learners. This type of instrument is usually seen in pictures and movies. It is usually played for folk and traditional music.

Violins can also be categorized by time.

1. Modern

Recent instruments have sharper angles on its neck. The strings are adjusted to a higher pitch and the wood material used is thin and small.

2. Classic

Old models have smaller heels and a thinner neck.

3. Baroque

Baroque violins are more ornamental. They have shallow neck and angles compared to the two other types. Shoulder and chin rests weren't given much importance in the construction of such violins.

This popular musical instrument can also be classified by country. Violins were very popular in places like Italy, China, Germany, Korea and Hungary. The most costly pieces came from Italy while the cheapest ones originated from China.

Violin Sizes

Violins for beginners were made to suit an individual's size and capabilities. The different violin dimensions are:

1. Full Size Violin ( 4/4) The full-size violin is intended for 9 year old individuals and above. Most adults use this size of musical instrument. It has an average arm length of approximately 23.5.

2. 3/4 (Three-Fourth) Nine to eleven year old children can play this size. Its arm length is 22 to 23.5 inches.

3. 1/2 (One-Half) Six to 10 year old children use this violin size.

4. 1/4 (One-Fourth) This violin has an arm length of 17.6 to 20in. It is suitable for 4-7 year old kids.

5. 1/8 (One-Eighth) Children with an arm length of 17.1 - 17.5in will fit this violin size.

6. 1/10 (One-Tenth) Younger violinists, usually those between the age 3 and 5, use this size.

7. 1/16 (One-Sixteenth) This violin has an arm length of 14 - 15 3/8 inches. It is mostly used by three to five year old children.

For more violins for beginners tips, browse our site and discover a rich source of violin information!

From Piano-Sheets.net Say (all I Need) Piano sheets

When I woke up today I checked my favorite site for free sheet music, and I discovered something wonderful. A new song was added to Piano-Sheets.net - Say (all I Need). Say (all I Need) by One Republic is a terrific song, and I'm thrilled I could write a post about it.

I don't think I wrote this yet, so my friend Norm was visiting me recently. I'm always happy when he visits. He plays piano AND keyboard in a band. So, I asked him if he could give me a free lesson on how to play Say (all I Need). Say (all I Need) by One Republic is a challenging song. He started to play it from memory, then told me to download and print a music sheet. After I did a little digging around I learned Say (all I Need) had just been added at Piano-Sheets!

Say (all I Need) by One Republic new sheet music "Gratitude will bring more into our lives immediately."

Used Drum Sets

So you're thinking about buying a used drum set? Good for you! This is a great way to either get into your first set of drums or to upgrade inexpensively. Used drum sets can be found but you have to be careful when purchasing to make sure it will perform at its best.

Take for instance drum heads. The drum heads (the parts you usually strike when you are playing-the "skins") are something that could be worn out and need to be replaced. Make sure you check that out. The cost of replacing these could run $70 or higher.

Another important thing to check is the drum hardware. Are you sure that all of the connections are tight and not worn down? Can you can tune your drums (very important)? Tuning happens with with drum keys. They should turn easily and none of the bolts should be so stripped.

Some other things to look at are the hoops (the metal ring that holds down the drum head) and the tension rods (the screws that adjust drum head tension)

Although these prices can vary, you can expect to pay between $200 to $1000 dollars for a used drum set. You can pick up a used drum set either from an individual, a store or even online. There are advantages and disadvantages to each one.

So there it is. Make sure you shop carefully and use these techniques when you make this very important decision of buying a used drum set. thank you for your time and happy shopping.

Christopher Braun shared Review - Yamaha CP33 Stage Piano

The Yamaha CP33 Digital Stage Piano is the entry digital piano in Yamaha's professional stage piano lineup. This is basically the same piano as the Yamaha CP300 but about $1000 cheaper. The CP33 is a large step up from the P-series units in both sound and feel.

This piano is perfect for a professional gigging musician or an amateur that wants a serious digital piano. Let me cut to the chase - the sound is vibrant, sparking and authentic. You can actually hear harmonic overtones and felt dampers when using the pedal. I had the privilege of finding one for sale at my local music store (these pianos are hard to find) and the sound was so sweet and inspiring I had to drag myself away from the keyboard.

Not only does a piano have to have a magical sound that will inspire you to keep playing it also needs to be responsive to your fingers. Well let me tell you, the CP33 feels great. This piano has impressive keyboard action that really lets you express yourself thanks to their advanced Graded Hammer Effect technology that gradually increases the resistance of the keys as you hit the lower notes. As a serious musician realistic piano action is very important to me and the Yamaha CP33 gets top marks here.

All in all, the Yamaha CP33 stage piano is a very balanced digital piano suitable for the professional musician. Sure there are many fine digital pianos out there that cost less but if you can afford it, it's truly worth the few extra hundred bucks -- you'll thank me in the long run.

The CP33 is one classy digital piano for the serious pro musician and the amateur alike. This keyboard is an investment that you'll never regret.