Download Movies Music Games And Shows

By Luis Aguirre

Downloading. This has become the tool of choice for people who want their favorite shows, movies, music and even games...fast. The time when companies like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video ruled the movie and game section is now coming to an end. Online video game and movie companies are now taking things to the next level, people don't want to get in their car and drive to the store and rent a movie or game and then return it when you are done with it. No, you want to sit at home and watch the movie right away, and the only thing you should be getting up for is the popcorn.

Downloading a movie is much better than renting one. Getting your favorite music or game has always come natural to the younger generation of our time, problem is you gotta know where to look. Most will search on Google for their favorite game or movie, when all you need to do is become a member of a website that provides this kind of service for a small monthly or yearly charge. Imagine just having to search for your favorite movie and then clicking a button and in minutes if not sooner, you have what you want at your fingertips. The information era is making everything easier, movies are clearer, games look and perform better, music is crisper.

Having one of the most well put-together databases on the web takes some serious work.
Searching for movies shouldn't have to be like pulling teeth from a T-Rex. Mp3 downloads have gotten a bad reputation in the past 10 years, from illegally downloading them from networks like Morpheus or Kazaa to Napster (which is now legitimate). Companies like Apple have gotten into the mainstream of things and started to offer good, solid alternatives to downloading music illegally.

Games are another phenomenon that is taking the country by storm. Online gaming and console gaming is getting bigger and bigger, with consoles like the PlayStation 3, X-Box and Wii there is no end in sight. Games are getting faster, look better, and they clearly outperform their older counterparts a million times over.

TV Shows are another thing people want to own, but they are getting expensive to purchase in bulk. If you want a whole season of a show then you better be able to pony up the cash for it.
They can cost as much as $100 for a single season, and if you love a show and it keeps going for 10-11-12 seasons then it can get pricy real fast. Most of the time, you wont need to buy whole seasons, just the episodes you want to watch.

All of this and more can be obtained if you just know where to look, companies that offer that kind of downloading capability don't have crappy video or audio quality, most of it is either higher than TV or PC quality..leading into Hi-Def or higher.

Author: Luis Aguirre

For Movies, Shows, Music & Games...Check Out MoviesDownload.biz

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luis_Aguirre

How To Find Quality Yet Affordable iPhone Music Downloads

by homebizbuilder

iPhone music downloads must be one thing on the mind of all proud iPhone owners. After all, the new advanced technology’s baby allows playing up to 100 stored songs, apart from functioning as a regular cell phone. With such possibilities, it would be a sin to leave your wonderful gizmo empty.

Fortunately, there are websites for iPhone music downloads, and they are not limited to iTunes only. Try a search and you will see that the Internet is full of choices – from genuine and reputed to very suspiciously looking ones. However, very rarely it is clear from the first look that the site is a fraud or scammer. Most of the time, lots of marketing tricks don’t let you assess the site properly and you can’t see what might be wrong with it. Below are a few points to pay attention to.

What Kind of Music Files Does the Site Offer?

This should be your first concern as you expect your iPhone music downloads to be of good quality, free from dangerous elements, and compatible with your iPhone. However, if your eyes are set on a fantastic free offer, you have few chances to get all three. Music files that are shared on P2P sites are really not an alternative for your precious new iPhone as they are often infected with viruses, incomplete, or have some nasty stuff instead of the song you want.

Is the Website Easy to Navigate and Use?

You obviously don’t want to waste time trying to figure out heads and tails when you attempt iPhone music downloads. If the site has complicated navigation, no search possibility, lots of confusing pop-ups and a slow downloading speed, move on. Even navigating in a non-member area should give you a good idea of what to expect from the website.

Do They Provide Full Support and Protection?

Easily reachable customer support service, protection from spyware and adware, as well as secure payment processing are signs of a good source for iPhone music downloads. Well-developed FAQ section of a website as well as its own forum, where users can help each other, is big a plus.

What Is the Payment Mode?

Apart from the pay-per-download mode, which turns out to be the costliest in the long run, there are cheaper options. Monthly or yearly subscription plans do offer a discount, but if you want to get iPhone music downloads at cheapest, consider paying for a lifetime membership. In other words, you pay only once to become a member and after that can download unlimited number of files for your iPhone absolutely free. You hardly risk anything, because the membership fee in this case is practically equal to that of a one year subscription.

Looking for quality yet affordable iPhone music downloads, assess your options carefully, read related forums and don’t hesitate to ask for people’s advice.

About the Author
Davion is an ardent lover of techno gizmos. He runs a hugely popular iPhone review blog where he reveals where you can find unlimited iPhone downloads for pennies. Also, read more tips about unlimited iPhone downloads download services.

Source: ArticleTrader.com

Building Speed On The Guitar - A Commonly Overlooked Problem

By Lee Nicholas

Some guitarists have an uncanny ability to play incredibly fast in a reasonably short amount of time while others can struggle for what seems like an eternity, improving at a very slow pace with an ever decreasing likelihood of reaching high speeds on the guitar.

There are many reasons why this can be, anything from physical differences to bad posture, incorrect handling of the pick or just plain bad practice. Whatever the reason, there is often one common element that differentiates the two types of guitarist... Focus! Alternate picked straight sixteenth notes at 250bpm may be your goal because that's what your guitar idols can play at. You may have been struggling for years and still can't get past 120bpm? Now let's forget the numbers and think only about improvements in small steps.

If you are like many guitarists in this situation then the chances are your attention has been largely focused on that 250BPM goal. Now there's not necessarily anything wrong with that but unfortunately for most, that goal takes away too much attention from where you should be concentrating and that is just plain improvement at any level, no matter how small a degree.

Having long term goals are important but it's also important to keep things in perspective.
Getting from 120 to 250bpm is huge, it's a massive and long term achievement that requires a lot of concentrated, disciplined practice. If your current perfect speed is 120bpm and you are trying to reach 250bpm with most of your practice sessions having the metronome set at 200+ then you are never going to do it. You might improve to an extent but it will always be sloppy. If however you can play something with perfection at a given speed then there will always be headroom for further improvement from that current level. By setting your goals much smaller you will be always be pushing the boundaries upward with the necessary headroom to keep moving forward.

Getting from 120 to 125bpm is a very realistic goal. It's one that you can not only say you will definitely be able to reach but it's also one that you should be able to reach quite quickly. If you think that isn't a big improvement then you are approaching it with the wrong attitude. A 5bpm improvement has just moved the boundary. Do this ten times over a period of time and you have a 50bpm increase in speed.

When you are concentrating all of your efforts in these smaller increments it becomes a lot easier to spot flaws in your guitar technique. Most of the things that prevent a guitarist from being able to play fast are often small details causing bottlenecks. It might be that three fingers are working efficiently but the pinkie is holding everything else up. A common problem is also with synchronisation between the left and right hand. All of these things are much easier to correct at slower speeds, which allow you to home in and work on those specific problems.

Here's something to think about. There are thousands of amateur guitarists who already have the left and right hands well practiced and capable of a large speed increase. The only thing that's preventing this from happening is poor synchronisation. Yet, the only thing they have NOT spent any time focusing their attention on is synchronisation!

Free Rock and Blues Guitar Lessons

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Nicholas

Music (Murmurs) of The Heart - Pleasant to Hear and Nothing To Fear

By J. Deane Waldman

Summary
A heart murmur is not a disease or condition: it is simply a noise. Most heart murmurs in children are innocent (nothing at all) or are minor problems that do not require surgery. Think of your child's murmur like music of the heart: pleasant to hear and nothing to fear.

Text
How should you react if your child's doctor finds a murmur on physical examination? First, do not panic. This is NOT a reason to cry or even to start worrying. If the doctor is worried that the heart problem could be life threatening, she will tell you. Second and most important, heart murmurs in children are usually benign - nothing at all. Finally, in those rare cases when it is something, your child likely has a very minor problem that does not require surgery.

As a pediatric cardiologist, I often hear the following:

• How serious is my child's heart murmur?
• Will he outgrow it?
• They had to operate on my neighbor's murmur, and he died.

A murmur is not a hole in the heart or a leaky valve. It is a noise, not a genetic disorder, a disease, a condition or even a problem. Think of the "murmuring brook" common in storybooks. We murmur sweet nothings in our loved one's ear.

A murmur is caused by blood that does not flow smoothly, what is called turbulence. Imagine the sound of water going over a waterfall: Niagara Falls is very loud. In our minds, we connect these sounds with heart problems because flow through a hole in the heart or through a narrow valve is turbulent and therefore makes noise.

Most children have noises with absolutely nothing wrong with the heart. These are called innocent, benign, or flow murmurs. They can come and go: half of all children will at some time during childhood have an innocent murmur. The sound has a characteristic quality that can be identified by a well-trained pediatric cardiologist. Most of the time, an experienced cardiologist can determine if it is innocent simply by listening. Occasionally, a child will need an echocardiogram, which is the test to take pictures of the heart using sound waves.

Echocardiograms are totally safe. Why don't we do one in every child with a murmur? The simple answer is money. The cost is around $200 per test. The charge is over $1500 and actual payments vary from $75 (a money-loser) to $450 (a profit center).

Your child might have serious heart disease and have no murmur. If the hole in the heart is big enough, there is no turbulence and therefore, no noise. Thus, the doctor cannot use the presence or absence of a murmur alone to determine the presence or absence of heart disease.

This does not mean that listening is useless - quite the opposite. What the doctor hears, in combination with other physical findings, is very helpful in deciding if the child might have a significant problem and might need an echocardiogram or even a heart cath.

Think of your child's murmur like music of the heart: pleasant to hear and nothing to fear.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._Deane_Waldman

The Top 8 Things The Music, Television, Movie And Consumer Electronics Industries Should Do

By Scott Consolatti

The music, television, movie and consumer electronics industries (hereafter collectively referred to as the industry) have been struggling with the rapid advance of technology and the new virtuality of content. Here are the top eight things the industry should do to harness the technology and recapture the simple tenet of giving the customer what they want.

1. Offer three consumption models.

a. Offer all content free with ads.
All content should be available on demand all the time free with ads. The best examples of this so far are music videos at mtv.com and music.yahoo.com and TV shows at in2tv.aol.com. The worst examples of this are the television networks who still insist on having their content time expire after only a short period of availability. Networks should use the ad model to make their entire catalog of shows, current and past, available for free all the time. All media stores, such as iTunes, should also introduce the option of listening to or watching a brief ad per 10 minutes of content or so in order to enjoy the entire content rather than just short preview clips.

b. Rent all content without ads for a fee.
This is the same as 1a only without the ads for a fee. The best examples of this so far are Netflix and Yahoo! Music Unlimited. With the former, for as low as $8.99 per month, you can rent any movie in the store, and that now includes some that can be watched directly online. With the latter, for as low as $5.99 per month, you can listen to every song in the store as many times as you want with no ads. All media stores and sites should offer this option.

c. Sell all content Digital Rights Management(DRM, or copy protection)-free.
There will still always be a market for owning content outright, such as for those times where you just don't have an Internet connection or don't want to be tethered to a server. In these cases, for both online virtual formats and offline physical formats, DRM simply should go. It has proven to hamper sales significantly due to treating everyday paying customers as if they are pirates, restricting them to play back the content on too few devices, giving them the chore of backing up and managing licenses on their computer and violating their fair use rights. DRM will always be defeatable and the industry simply needs to stop investing an inordinate amount of time and money into something that has a negative impact on their bottom line. The industry should abandon it and get back to the basic premise of allowing the customer the joy of experiencing the content they paid for without any strings attached. The best example of this so far is EMI which is now allowing media stores to sell DRM-free songs.

2. Wireless Internet-enable all devices.
The computer cannot be the only access point. TVs, cable boxes, disc players, DVRs, game consoles, portables, boom boxes, phones, car head units - in short all playback devices - should come with built-in wireless connection to the Internet for access to content servers. The best examples of this so far are the Playstation 3 and the iPhone/iPod touch Wi-Fi Music Store.

3. End format wars.
When a new format is needed to advance the industry to the next level, there should be one and only one format that goes to market and becomes the standard. Like 1c, this applies to both online virtual formats and offline physical formats.

The current example in physical formats is Blu-ray vs. HD DVD. Two formats were necessary at first to spur competition, but the differences between them at this point are so negligible that ultimately one has to win for either to succeed. A standards body needs to exist to allow competition at first and to oversee a limited beta period to ensure customer opinions are factored in, but then to ultimately pick a winner before full-scale market launch. Companies should be required to register candidate formats in the early stages. The standards body should track investment and invention level of each candidate along the way. Then a winner should be chosen with a percentage of the licensing revenue going to all of the candidates commensurate with their investment and invention level. The candidates either agree to these terms from the get-go or they do not participate in determining and profiting from the next generation format.

The current example in virtual formats is mp3 vs. AAC vs. WMA vs. yet others for audio, and mpeg-4 (H.264) vs. WMV (VC-1) vs. yet others for video. Coupled with 1c, the industry should have standardized on mp3 and mpeg-4 a long time ago to ensure that all content will be universally playable on every device.

Correcting this immediately is essential. The industry should get a standards body in place as soon as possible and declare much overdue industry standards, such as Blu-ray, mp3 and mpeg-4. The marketplace will rejoice, sales will skyrocket and the floodgates will open on the dam the industry itself has been one of the largest contributors to building.

4. Allow playlists to be defined and stored on the servers.
What 1a and 1b do is move us away from the need to store and manage our own copies of the content on our client devices (or on our shelves). Moving playlists off of the clients is a natural extension of that. When we can dial up all content including our favorite playlists on demand all the time anywhere we have an Internet connection, the convenience of not having to permanently store and backup our own copies of the data will start to prevail. The best example of this so far is Yahoo! Music Jukebox.

5. Offer movies by the chapter in addition to whole.
Just as the norm is now to be able to buy individual songs rather than just whole albums, the same option should be available for buying the individual chapters of movies. Doing so would offer the same advantages as individual song sales - the ability to collect favorite chapters at lower cost and storage use, the ability to direct-access chapters on playback and the ability to arrange favorite chapters from various movies into playlists. Note that this would require players to pre-cache the next chapter to ensure gapless chapter-to-chapter playback, but that is certainly doable.

6. Offer a choice of bitrates.
Highly compressed bitrates were fine at first, but there is no doubt that even with today's bandwidth and storage (which will only grow with time), those who want to enjoy higher bitrates should have the option. With 1a and 1b, bandwidth is the primary factor, and clearly higher bitrates are possible even today. With 1c online formats, storage is also a factor, but even with today's capacities some may choose quality over quantity for must-have content.

7. Piggyback audio on video for physical formats.

The industry moving to a new physical format is a big undertaking. Assuming a new HD format succeeds for video, then audio should just piggyback on that success. The video format will obviously have enough capacity for audio, and consumers will not have to buy additional players.
Previous HD audio attempts of DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD failed for several reasons - separate audio-only players, no single digital connection such as HDMI, format war, etc. - all of which can be avoided once either Blu-ray or HD DVD is declared the standard. Albums in uncompressed PCM, both 2-channel stereo and multi-channel surround, with HD extras such as music videos, live concert footage and still photos all played through an existing player with single HDMI connection would be very compelling. With lossless compression such as Dolby TrueHD, perhaps entire album box sets could fit on one disc. These are exciting new possibilities.

8. Leverage viral marketing.

This is an extension of 1a. Provide url-addressability to free ad-coupled content that sites anywhere can provide links to - it essentially equates to free marketing for you. It doesn't matter from where the eyeballs found the content, just that they found it. More eyeballs means more ad revenue in your pocket and more exposure that will lead to the eventual purchase of the content and related merchandise such as concert tickets, t-shirts, posters, action figures, toys, etc. A free ad-supported lure has always been necessary (radio and TV) for widespread exposure. The best examples of this so far are music videos at mtv.com and music.yahoo.com and TV shows at in2tv.aol.com. Music, movies and all TV programs should get on board and realize the massive new source of constant ad revenue never before possible without the new technology.

These eight things would take the industry out of its current slump and carry it into unprecedented growth territory.

Scott Consolatti is founder and president of Megacollage, a pioneer in online media compilations including music and video playlists, custom photo collages and text compilations. See for yourself how Megacollage combines the best of what today's online content world has to offer by visiting http://www.megacollage.com/index.html

Mp3 Sports - Walking, Running, Cycling And Listening To Music- All The Time And Everywhere

By Robert Riles

Mp3 players and sports go hand in hand because of how interlinked they are. Sports players find the invention of mp3 players the most beneficial and worth while product available in the market. And the companies that have come up with the ingenious idea of a portable music player need to be given an award. Mp3 sports players are today a rage and every individual has one, in different colours and with varied memory spaces. The main purpose of a mp3 sports player is to provide music while on the move. And this exactly what all the players in the market do and some have a couple of additional features in them as well. Apple for example has created a revolution with their mp3 players, the iPod which today has become a household product. The first model to come out was a iPod mini, that had a low memory but was sleek and something new that many were not aware of. Following this they came up with many other variations and today one can listen to music, watch movies and play games on this tiny device.

All this makes us wonder what more is in store for us music crazy people. For sports persons, and players, they would love to sport one of these mp3 players. As they are on the move most of the time, they can be plugged into the player and listen to music or a show or speech of their choice. Since there is no restriction on what one can load in the player, they have the choice and space to do it. There are times when a player needs some private space and at such times he can take refuge in his mp3 player and tune out the rest of the world. This is a good way to unwind and relax oneself. One can choose a portable player depending on their preference, budget and color choice. Since most of the players come with battery that can be charged using a cable or the USB port, there is no worry of replacing batteries. Also the life of these players is anywhere from 3-5years, depending on wear and tear. And every year there are newer models coming into the market so one can always trade theirs in for something better and bigger.

Mp3 sports devices are a boon to many who were wondering what to do while going on long tours. Some players are known to record motivational speeches or words of advice from their mentors on their players and listen to them when they feel the need for a pep talk. While others simply store music of their choice or listen to the radio channels and keep abreast of the latest happenings around the world. Whatever be the content, it is a handy device to have to beat boredom and spend some quiet moments by oneself. With further advances happening in technology, am sure there are many more newer mp3 sports players models to come about.

Article written by Robert Riles, co- owner of http://www.skyfireproducts.com. Please check out these links MP3 Sports Helmet & Sports Page

Music Exams - Controlling Performance Nerves

By Antony Copus

It happens to the best of us: everything sounded fine when we were practicing last night, our teacher has assured us that we are ready for the exam but now. Standing in front of the examiner our hands have started to sweat, our breathing has got faster, we're feeling sick and frankly would rather be anywhere else in the world than about to try to play music beautifully and go through the mental agility course necessary to remember a raft of scales and arpeggios.
If this situation sounds even vaguely familiar to you then read on...

No matter what people tell you, everyone suffers from some sort of nervousness or performance anxiety. It is, after all, a completely natural reaction to any stressful situation. Long ago in our evolutionary past our ancestors, facing a large-clawed animal would have had a simple choice:

they could either stand their ground and fight or they could turn tail and run for safety.
Whichever option they chose their bodies had to prepare for some sort of emergency action.
Psychologists call this state the Fight or Flight response and, unfortunately for us, its physiological effects are still with us today.

Sweaty hands, a dry mouth, nervous tremors and an upset stomach are all symptoms caused by the body’s release of adrenalin. Blood is routed away from the extremities and the stomach (this is what causes ‘butterflies in the stomach’), and towards the muscles needed for fighting or running. In order to power these muscles breathing quickens to increase the oxygen supply and the result is a body tense and poised for action. All this is great if you need to run away from a tiger but is sadly rather less useful if you are trying to play a Mozart violin concerto.

The sabre-toothed examiner
Of course nowadays we rarely encounter dangerous animals but there are still plenty of other stressful situations to deal with. For many people performing in front of an audience (whether it is playing an instrument or making a speech) can be a real cause for concern. So we have swapped big cats for grade 6 but the feelings of stress remain very much the same, so what can we do about it?

1. Prepare thoroughly:
   There are few things more unnerving than performing in front of an audience when you are not completely sure what you are doing! In an exam, for example, the nagging worry that you haven't properly practised your scales can really affect your performance in your pieces as well. Being thoroughly prepared can give you real a confidence that can be an incredibly calming influence. Your nerves are much less likely to get out of control if you are really comfortable with all the material you have to play.
2. Visualize success:
   This is a technique used by top athletes and musicians alike. A week or so before your exam, when you start your daily practice, spend a couple of minutes visualizing yourself begin successful. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the exam giving a confident and successful performance. Try to make the image as clear and as detailed as you can. ‘See’ yourself playing all the scales you are asked easily, giving musical performances of your pieces and coping effortlessly with your sight reading, etc. This technique can be incredibly powerful. Try it, you may be surprised at the results!
3. Block negative thoughts:
   In the build up to your exam it is only natural to have the occasional worry and feel a little apprehensive. It is important though to keep these thoughts in perspective. If you catch yourself thinking things like ‘I know I am going to make a mistake’ or ‘what if I muck up my scales?’ do not give them lots of attention. Instead just smile and visualize yourself performing successfully (see tip 2).
4. Use your nervousness to energize your performance:
   There is a great similarity between the nervous excitement you feel climbing a big slope on a roller coaster and the nervousness you might experience when you are taking an exam. The difference between them lies only in the way you perceive and treat your feelings. You feel excited because you anticipate something good happening. When you are nervous, in contrast, it is, perhaps, because you fear something going wrong. Most experienced performers will tell you that they would not want to lose their nerves. Instead they use the nervous energy to build a sense of excitement for their performance.
5. Perform in front of friends and family:
   Once you are comfortable playing your pieces and scales to yourself, ask members of your family or friends to listen. Even a small and supportive audience is enough to make most people feel a little on edge so this is a really good tip to practise what it feels like to be nervous. The logic goes something like this: if you get used to what it feels like to be nervous in a controlled and friendly environment, you will cope better with the real thing, even if little things go wrong.
6. Smile:
   When you walk into the exam room, smile. You’ll be amazed at how much better this can make you feel. The act of smiling, even if you really don’t feel like it, encourages the release of endorphins (the body’s feel-good chemicals). These endorphins can really improve your state of mind and make you feel much more relaxed.
7. Get a good night’s rest:
   Never underestimate the effect tiredness can have on your ability to perform. You might feel as if you can cope easily with little sleep but countless scientific studies have show that a tired mind just does not function as efficiently. Being tired will have the effect of making you feel less sure of yourself and this is a certain route to increasing nervousness. Get to bed on time!
8. Control your breathing:
   A common symptom of nervousness is a quickening of the breathing. One of the quickest ways you can make yourself feel more relaxed is to get control of your breathing. Breathe in gently through your nose to a count of 5, and then let the air out slowly through your mouth, again to a count of 5. Don’t be tempted to gulp air in as this will only make you more tense.
9. Concentrate on the music:
   In an exam room it is all too easy to forget why you started playing or singing in the first place. Hopefully, though, you will have arrived at your exam with some pieces which you enjoy playing so try to concentrate on communicating this enjoyment to your audience. After all this, really, is what music performance is all about: sharing your feelings about a piece with other people. That should be as true in an exam room as in any other performance environment.
10. Don’t worry about mistakes:
    Everyone, but everyone makes mistakes. They are a normal part of live performance and it is important to remember that nobody really minds hearing the odd glitch. It is much more important to enjoy your performance, to make it involving and exciting, than it is to get hung up on trying to be perfect. Concentrating on not making mistakes will only make your music-making sterile and boring.

And finally remember: examiners are musicians just like you. They want you to succeed and they want to enjoy listening to you play. They are certainly not just on the lookout for mistakes or bad points, …and they don’t really have sabre-teeth – well at least not most of them!

Antony Copus has performed with most of the United Kingdom's great orchestras: the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Halle and the BBC Symphony amongst many others. He was Director of Music at Bradfield College, near London, for some years before starting http://www.opuscopus.com a company dedicated to providing fun and innovative resources for young and experienced musicians alike. Visit http://www.opuscopus.com for hundreds of high quality mp3 accompaniments, exciting new books to help learning scales and improve rhythm, free resources and much more.

What Type Of Music Helps You To Relax?

By Hong Yie Chong

As mentioned before, music can release stress. Some may ask what type of music that helps in relaxation. Although there are music CD that so call can help to relax, but you don't have to stick to music that is designed specifically as relaxation music. As mentioned, I feel comfortable and relaxing when listening to my favourite artist sings. If you feel more comfortable with pop songs then classical music, it is perfectly alright, it need not be only classical music that can help to relax as many people might think.

To many peoples, it is unlikely that heavy metal can calm one down but surprisingly there are still peoples who are responded positively to heavy metal. Conversely, the relaxation music you use should be composed in a way that makes it easy to listen to and moderately upbeat. It shouldn't just be background music; it should also catch your attention and the focus of your mind.

There is no specific requirement for a location to enjoy relaxing music. However, you will feel more comfortable physiologically if you are at your own premises, in a darkened room, with some aroma from the burning of therapy oil. Make sure the music volume is not too loud; the sound level should be just nice to overwhelm the external noise. In this respect, a headphone can be very useful. Most importantly, you have to feel comfortable.

But one must bear in mind that relaxation is not something that comes naturally to many of us. Pressure in life means that we are robotically finish our office work and go home, then start to worry about tomorrow. This causes anxiety and hence lack of sleep in many cases. These are unlikely to be cured by occasionally listening to just a few minutes of music. Relaxation music has the greatest effect when you listen to it for at least 30 minutes each session.

Great Music, Good Life!

Chong is music enthusiastic. He loves composing and wants to share his view and knowledge with other music lovers in the cyber community. Do drop by http://www.newsongstore.com for more info.

http://www.NewSongStore.com

An Analysis of HBO Performance Music Specials - Britney vs Justin

By Kathleen Patalsky

Justin Timberlake's HBO Special “FutureSex/LoveSounds” ran for the first time on HBO last night, Labor Day 2007. In the show Justin proceeded to perform hits from his first two solo albums. The music portion of the show was on par. However, the performance also included two finger flip off’'s directly to the camera from Justin, about four or five lingerie prancing dancers in his song "Damn Girl", a segment where Justin proceeds to do a round of hard alcohol shots with his performers and the audience, one shot of a slimy sucked-on finger and more than a handful of F-word quotes. Yet, today in the news all I can seem to find are rave reviews of Justin's artistic skills as a musician. Oh, and one article blasting Britney Spears for using the F-word in a few of her leaked songs.This is a double standard. Is it fair for Justin to go unpunished while Britney's already highly stressed image is torn to tattered pieces by smiling news anchors reading day-old copy of news stories only written to get ratings. Is the music industry plagued with bias?

First off, the sex issue. I don't mean gender, I mean sex, as in sexual references used by musicians. Ever since Britney was in her teens, the media has been telling us that she is too sexy. Posing in her bra and boxers for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine at age sixteen, she made headlines for this “inappropriate” behavior. But the fact is, there is more damage done in Justin's demeaning of women that Britney. Britney is the headliner, she can wear whatever she wants-it is her gamble to take. She loses if the tickets don't sell. But Justin chooses to use his sidekick dancers to pump up the sex appeal. There's nothing like a few scantly clad dancers crawling on the floor to get peoples attention.

Now the cursing. The facts are that Justin said F-**k many times in his show and it goes unnoticed. Britney's new song leaked this week has the same curse words, yet is written up as headline news by FOX in an article titled, Britney Uses F-word on New Track. There is no clearer example of a double standard for Britney, and perhaps all female musicians. Perhaps we should take a deeper look at the gender bias in the music industry before we judge performers by their on-stage acts.

For more analysis of the gender bias in the music industry visit the unofficial Britney Spears comeback website at www.britneyscomeback.com

www.britneyscomeback.com

How To Download Music To Your PSP In 3 Easy Steps

By Henry Vee

So, you want to listen to your tunes on your PSP? Well, the good news is you can. The really good news is that you don't have to be very tech savvy to do it. This tutorial on downloading music to your PSP will have you up and dancing to your tunes in no time.

1. Speak the right language
The first thing you should do is convert the songs you want to download to your PSP into MP3 format. This is the format that the PSP uses. WMA & WMV files will not work. You can use something like iTunes or Sony's Image Converter to convert your music to MP3 format.

2. Get connected

1. Connect your PSP to your computer with a USB 2.0 cable.
2. Press the home button on the PSP.
3. Use the left and right directional buttons on the PSP to select "settings".
4. Use the up and down directional buttons on the PSP to select "USB Connection".
5. Press the "X" button on the PSP to display "USB Connection".
6. In a few seconds your computer should recognize the connected PSP and it will show up as a new hard drive (usually E: or F:)

3. Download music to PSP

1. On your computer select the letter of the connected drive.
2. Create a new folder on the selected drive and name it PSP.
3. Inside this new PSP folder create a new folder called "Music".
4. Copy the MP3 files you want into this music folder.
5. When you have downloaded your music to the PSP, press the "O" button on the PSP to exit "USB Connect" mode.

Now, rock on!

You can find out more PSP tips at pspprofessor.blog.com

Starting A Rock Band - 10 Tips To Launch Your Music Career

By Brian Woeller

Starting A Rock Band - 10 Tips To Launch Your Music Career

There are few things more thrilling then standing on a stage playing an instrument or singing your heart out, while watching the fans below having a great time -- especially if a lot of them are of the opposite sex!

Yes, starting a rock band can be a lot of fun AND it can be profitable, if you follow a few easy steps while getting started.

1. The first part is getting together a group of like-minded people who want to play music together. Make sure the other people have similar interests, morals and don't smell too bad. You will be spending a lot of time with them, so you should get a long well with each other or you'll be spending more time looking for replacements than you will playing music.

2. Once you have the people in place, you need to agree on a style of music to play. If you have a songwriter in the group, you'll want to play those "originals." These are songs you will own, record and sell. If no-one in the group is a songwriter, you'll be playing "covers". When starting a rock band this is how most begin. Covers are other people's music that you like on the radio or from a certain era, or genre. (80s, 90s, or Classic Rock, etc.) While you can have a lot of fun and make a good living just playing covers, the real money and "rock stardom" come from playing originals.

3. Next, you'll need to think about where you want to play. Wedding bands are mostly cover bands with a very wide variety of music styles. Since the band is not the star of the show (the bride is) they tend to be a little more subdued. If you want to play a lot of loud music with lots of stage antics, you'll be playing at clubs and theaters. Corporate gigs are great, since they can pay a lot of money, but they tend to best suited for established "show" bands, usually with a female singer or two.

4. OK, so you've got the band together, you've learned the songs, now you're ready to go right? Wrong! Now is when you get ready to cash in on all the long hours you've spent learning your instrument and rehearsing with the band. This is where the band marketing and promotions come in. Think about the marketing of your band just like you would any other aspect of it. You wouldn't go on stage without your instruments, or a sound system, right? Well don't forget the marketing either.

Marketing Items You'll Need: Band Name Banner Promo Kit (Online) Web Site Auto Responder
5. Your band name will set the tone for your image. For example, if you are a heavy metal band, you'll probably want a name more like "The Devil Demons" rather than "The Cute, Fluffy Bunnies." Make sure your band looks and acts like your name name implies and relates to the music you play.

6. Get a banner made up at any local sign shop that you can hang up behind you wherever you play. I can't tell you how many bands I have seen and have no clue who they were because they didn't have a banner.

7. Next you'll need an online Promo Kit where you can store your band photos, demo music video of you playing, contact numbers etc.

8. Your web site should have info about the band, some sample photos, music demos, videos, etc. Be sure your phone number is there where someone can easily find it. VERY IMPORTANT - Be sue you have a place where someone can sign-up to be on your mailing list.

9. Which leads us to the Auto Responder. An Auto Responder creates a form on your web site so you can capture email addresses. It then stores them for you so you can automatically send out messages, or send them out whenever you want. This way your fans will know when and where you are playing. You can also send them notices of new music and merchandise you have for sale.

10. Be sure whenever/wherever you play that you have someone with a sign-up sheet getting people's email addresses. You will then enter them into your mailing list. I can't stress enough how important it is that you create this fan base. This list of people will be who you market your shows and recorded music to for a long as you want to make money with your music. Every show you do without getting these emails could be the difference between you becoming a hugely successful, professional musician, or just having a fun hobby.

Most aspiring musicians fail to succeed, not due to a lack of talent, but from a lack of knowing what to do. The difference between supporting yourself as a musician or having to live off macaroni and cheese is simply having the information you need, and then acting on it. You can get this information that wipes out years of "learning curve" and puts your music career on the fast track, by joining my music marketing newsletter at:
http://www.HowToPromoteYourBand.com

A hack guitarist himself, Brian Woeller now prefers to work behind the scenes, helping to promote musicians with "real" talent. His eBook, "How To Promote Your Band To Rock Star Status" (http://www.HowToPromoteYourBand.com) will jumpstart Your music and get you in the spotlight, fast.

Music Downloads-Downloads and Site Reviews

By Jeffrey Stratton

There are millions of online music lovers out there. An estimated 60 million people who love downloading their favorite music are searching right now for ways to get free unlimited MP3 music downloads for not only their computers but their MP3 players as well.

Many sites out there can charge up to $1.00 per music download. Obviously, this can become very expensive. I recommend you find a site that offers a one-time membership fee. In most cases, these sites often times have unlimited downloads for life with a premium membership.
While there are many sites out there to choose from; my most recommended music downloads site(s) have been listed on my music downloads review site.

With over 15 billion MP3’s online to choose from and the highest quality MP3 music formats; you are going to love this 100% iPod/MP3 player compatible software as much as I do! I could not wait to look over the huge selection of free tools and utilities available; including a media player, antivirus software, firewall and more; many of which are from some very reputable manufacturers. This alone puts this site a step ahead of most of the competition!

One of the coolest things that our highly recommended site provides after the lifetime membership fee is unlimited music downloads with no additional download fees. You can also download full albums with just a simple click and the CD covers to boot! This is a great value folks!

I found that they provide friendly customer/technical support and easy registration which took me no more then two minutes! They also provide you with easy to read user manuals and quick start guides and an idiot proof guide on finding, downloading, playing and burning your favorite music AND getting the most from your membership.

A word of advice; if you are into movies, then you may want to consider taking advantage of the movie download package upgrade! I personally recommend the upgrade. You will be able to download, play and burn your favorite DVD quality movies all for less than the cost of a single DVD!

As you embark on your MP3 music download adventure and venture into the movie realm, I hope you enjoy all the features my recommendations provide. Remember to make the most it! As new features develop, I will continue to keep you in the loop so you are always kept up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the music download industry!

For more information please go to Music Downloads

The Subconscious Mind & Music

By Marenda Hughes Taylor

Recording artists often use music as a means for self-expression and people listen to music because they usually can identify with what is being expressed.

There is a song that fits any situation, circumstance, and emotion. Music can soothe, calm, and relax. Music can also, depress, anger, and agitate. It all depends on what you’re listening to.
Music strikes a chord within us that taps into our emotions. The melody, rhythm, beat, and lyrics create an experience in which we channel our feelings.

The repetition and reiteration of key words and phrases in music helps us to remember songs so that we can sing along, but at the same time it also invokes the power of suggestion, arousing our subconscious mind.

For so many people music is like medicine. A friend of mine refers to music as her “Drug of choice.”

A proper dose of music can be just what the doctor ordered, but it’s important that we take the time to identify the best prescription and dosage for our particular state of mind.

Unlike medicine or prescription drugs, music does not come with direction labels or instructions. We take in music by choice and at our own risk.

Bob was an alcoholic, with low self-esteem, and he was always depressed. His greatest fear was that his wife would leave him and he would be alone. His music prescription of choice was the blues. Bob got drunk every day and sang the blues. If it wasn’t blues he didn’t want to hear it. One day Bob came home and found he was actually living out his favorite blues songs. His “baby” left him.

Angie lacked self-confidence, she thought that she was over weight and felt unattractive. She loved listening to R&B and Pop. She listened to India Arie and Christina Aguilera every day. The more she listened to her favorite songs “Beautiful” and “Video” the more she became comfortable in her own skin. Angie now feels good about her self and as a result she is doing well in every area of her life.

While we cannot blame music for the circumstances of our lives we can blame ourselves for not listening to music that inspires us to greatness, encourages our heart, or plants meaningful seeds in our subconscious minds.

When we sing along with songs and repeat lyrics over and over, those words have power and become affirmations. Spoken words including singing are powerful. Our words whether we’re speaking, singing, or repeating reinforce universal laws such as the law of attraction.

You’ve heard the saying “you are what you eat.” I think the same can be said about music. You are what you listen to.

What a scary thought if your favorite song is “I’m a Flirt” by R. Kelly; there’s hope if it’s “Everyone Cared” by Nickelback.

If music is like medicine to you, or if it’s your drug of choice make sure you are taking the right prescription and the proper dosage.

I take a daily dosage of “Never Give Up” by Tommy Lockhart.

About the author: Marenda Hughes Taylor is Chief Operating Officer of 1st Love Records, a living life abundantly Motivator, and an Internet Business Owner. To contact Marenda or for more information visit: http://myspace.com/marenda