Article Time

The Apple iPhone is able to draw the attention of the shoppers in the mobile phone market very easily. One of the appealing features of this smart phone is its slim design and its exceptionally smart interface. The reliance of the user on its 3.5 inches touch sensitive screen whose resolution is (320x 480) pixels is impressive and it does work evenly.

The Apple iPhone comes in two versions of memory storage capacity, one is of 4 GB and the other is of 8 GB. When you get the battery of the iPhone completely charged, it can deliver you about 5 hrs. of talktime that includes video time, internet browsing time and call time. Moreover, it delivers approaching 16 hrs. of music playback. In case, its fully charged battery is left idle, its life can last for about 250 hrs. As it is compatible with Quad band technology which is capable of covering GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 frequencies,you can get its network coverage from many parts of this planet.

This electronic device is also loaded with the required connectivity technologies like the EDGE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the USB to give the user a complete connectivity experience. With the EDGE technology, a user can undergo faster connectivity and the Bluetooth enables the user to go wireless and be hassle free. The user can view any kind of internet websites on this device and the user can have access to the Safari internet browser along with zoom facility. This facility can be activated by the help of the touch sensitive screen. This safari browser is available with the internet search, Yahoo and Google functions.

The Google map is an important function on this device that allows the user to view satellite images and maps on its screen. And, while on the move, a user can utilise its function to get the right directions and traffic information.

The Apple iPhone has a 2 megapixels digital camera with exhaustive camera capabilities like camera settings and video capabilities like recording and playing. Its screen functions as a viewfinder and the user can take its help to get the proper angle for the photographs. Its features help the user get the perfect effect and finish to every photograph captured. Its advance photo management application helps the user with everything he needs to get the perfect finish to every photograph captured by its camera. The touch sensitive video controls on its screen is very user friendly which help the user to pause, play, rewind chapter, control the volume and chapter fast forward. The user can also watch his favourite movies and TV shows on this device. Therefore, this smart phone has proved to be an ideal companion of the user during leisure.

The typical communication services like the SMS, MMS, e-mail etc. can also be availed of on the Apple iPhone. These services function as the alternative to the calls being made via this handset. To have more fun out of this gadget the user can also play games on this widget during leisure and if required games can also be downloaded on this device. All these features prove that the Apple iPhone is a smart infotainment device.

About the Author
Shan Polluk is an expert mobile phones consultant, writes about : Christmas Phones or O2 Mobile Phones

A short article about how to accurately qualify the piano in to its proper instrument category.

As many who read my articles may already know about I am what could be called a true opera fan, as not only do I attend performances on a regular basis but have even written a book about the subject called “New York’s Opera Society”. A lot of my knowledge however about the subject started when I was a student at New York’s Hunter College, it was there were I learned many things about music such as the four kinds of instruments, with the first being the human voice. In other words singing which all those who hear me know I have absolutely no talent for but yet it was this which came to be man’s and woman’s first instrument.

It was after the voice was discovered for the purpose of making sounds of harmonies beauty that other instrumented followed suit to imitate it, such as those that contain strings which came in form of guitars, violins but basically any which we stroke the strings with either our fingers or a vow; as the case is with the violin. I mention strings second, when in reality it might have been the kind of instrument known as percussion which followed directly after the human voice.

Percussion being those that can be just about anything and everything from a table which we tap to a beat we hear to a set of drums as the kind that is played in most rock bands. As an added factor we could say that percussion instruments for the most part do not have notes to go along with the instrument as they limit themselves to setting the rhythm and tempo.

The last and fourth kind of instrument man or better put humanity came up with was winds, meaning those instruments that require us to blow in to, such as the saxophone, (an instrument which I once saw Bill Clinton play on a late night show), trumpet, clarinet and others. It is now after having explained so much that I will ask in to which category would one place the piano?

I once put this question to a tenor, I met in Poland who told me that the piano was what could be considered as a percussion instrument, though many a piano player detest the idea of being referred to as a percussionist even if that is what they are. This due to the fact that one does not actually stroke the strings on the piano but tap them through a key which one strikes which makes a pad do like wise to the strings. Actually, one has to corner a piano player specially classical trained ones, to admit to being those who play an instrument of percussion as I did once to a pianist lady friend of mine. This by saying, in the piano; there is no singing, no blowing but strings which are being hit.

Of course, my lovely young friend eventually confessed to being a percussionist but she did wish to make clear that her instrument unlike other percussion instruments required its players to learn to read music, since it is the only percussion instrument that actually offers them.
My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. I am also the author of the book “New York’s Opera Society” now Available on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Yorks-Opera-Society-Gianni-Truvianni/dp/0595500161/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226836030&sr=8-2

Here is some tips for restoring your brass instrument.
On a new instrument the valves are greased by the manufacturer.This grease must be removed and the valves has to be oiled with valve oil.Often it is

sufficient to dry the valves with a cloth and lubricate the valves well with valve oil.This should be done several times in the first few days.
To secure smooth movement in the valves,it is important to press straight down.If you press sideways it will entail wear and the valves will rapidly become

slow and kan be stuck.Make sure the valves always are lubricated. NB! Instruments with rotating valves requires a special oil.Do not use regular valve

oil.
Brass instruments are vulnerable against pushes og blows.Put the instrument in the original casing when you are not playing it.It is awful aggravating to

have a dent(even if the instrument is old).If you should be unlucky and loose your instrument,or one way or another cause it a dent,it does not have to mean

anything for the instruments functionality.If you are really unlucky and damage the valve system, it usually have to be rapaired by an instrument maker.

Brass instruments needs regularly cleaning and maintenance.Be careful when you wash your instruments so you do not cause it pushes and blows.Remove all

valves,bottom pads,springs and hoops.(NB! Rotating valves must not be disassembled)Do not use raw force.The parts should easily come apart,without using

plyers and such.Put the instrument and the parts into tepid and mild soap water.The valves must be washed under running water.(The valves are hollow so they

can be easyily cleaned).Use a flexibel brush(special brush) to clean the instrument and hoops inside.In the valve house use a valve brush.Instrument and

parts is cleaned outside with a soft cloth.Wash well in tepid water to remove all remainings of soap.Dry off outside with a soft cloth to avoid discolor.You

may have to turn and twist it few times to remove all water remains.Let the instrument dry well inside.

Before you assemble the instrument grease all hoops

with hoop grease, and the valves with valve oil.(Make sure everything are in the right place)
Silver coated instruments are washed in hot water.The water must not be warmer than you can put your hands into it.Do use a mild dishwash soap.(If you use

too strong dishwash soap it will remove all grease and damage the soldering of the instrument).
Fernissed instruments have a thin layer of lacquer to keep the gloss in the instrument.(The lacquer has no significance to the sound).If one use too high

temperature and/or too strong soap in the water when cleaning, the lacquer might damage.Use mild soap water.Some types acids/bases will also damage the

lacquer.
The mouthpiece is important to have a good sound in the instrument.It will always be condens in the mouthpiece when playing.If it is remains of food and

drink,this will corrode on the mouthpiece. Coating og rust leads to decreased quality sound of the instrument.Put the mouthpiece into tepid soap water.Clean

it with a mouthpiece brush and wash well afterwords.Always lubricate the valve system before you start to play.

Harald Hoel,expert on brass instruments
Buying brass instruments online

Roland Keyboards
Keyboards instrument typically contain a set of levers and keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the interval of an octave. Most known keyboard instrument is the set of levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano.
Roland Corporation was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with $33 million in capital. It has built factories in Japan, the United States, Italy, and Taiwan. It is one of the oldest still-operating manufacturers of musical electronics, and has survived changes in technology to become one of the most noteworthy and widely-used brands in electronic music and production today.
Generally speaking, Roland involves in the development, manufacture and sale of electronic musical instruments including keyboards and synthesizers, guitar products, electronic percussion kits, digital recording equipment, amplifiers and more. It is a full range of keyboards and synthesizers that lead the industry in performance, features, and ease of use. Users covers from the beginner to the professional. Roland keyboards and synths are among the most popular in the world Now.

Roland Keyborads include:
Synths & Samplers: Professional keyboards, synthesizers and music workstations.
Arrangers: A wide range of arranger-style keyboards for playing or composing with ease.
Controllers: MIDI controller keyboards and pedalboards.
Sound Modules: Professional tabletop and rackmount synthesizer modules.
Accordions: Roland is pleased to introduce a revolutionary new family of instruments — the V-Accordions.
VIMA: Video Interactive keyboard products for Recreational Music Making.
Amplifiers: The ultimate compliment to any performance or studio keyboard.
MIDI Interfaces: Devices for connecting your MIDI instrument(s) to a computer.

Timeline of noteworthy products
1973 – Roland SH-1000: Claimed by Roland to be Japan`s first commercial keyboard synthesizer.
1988 – Roland E-20: Roland`s first entry into the auto-accompaniment keyboard market, going head to head with Yamaha and Casio. The E-20`s descendants include the E-70, E-86, G-800, G-1000, G-70 and the current E-80.
1989 – Roland W-30: A sampling workstation keyboard
1992 – Roland DJ-70: A DJ sampling music workstation and synthesizer keyboard that featured the first scratch wheel pad.
1996 – Roland DJ-70mkII: Successor to the DJ-70, with more powerful features, including a DJ sampling music workstation, which featured a scratch wheel pad. It is essentially an S-760 sampler with a keyboard.

The author loves music playing and recording, and now working for Gigasonic as a copywriter. You can learn more about Roland Keyborads at Gigasonic.com, and Roland authorized dealer.

A brief introduce of Roland keyboards

The top graded web hosting service provider sees to it that as a customer you are given a clear picture of the range of technologies used for a performance oriented, mission driven deliverance. And as such we are proud to inform you that we will strengthen your website with all such powerful features that will help your business expand and profits soar. It is because we make it a point to arm ourselves too with a range of powerful web hosting instruments (read a host of cutting edge portal supporting software).

Do you know what the best advantage of working with an efficient web host is?
Well, they provide you with an easy to operate web control panel that enables you to have full control over your website with just a few clicks of your mouse button. And one aspect of control is an easy access to different kinds of scripts such as interactivity scripts, content development scripts and so on.

So far managing an interactive, content rich online community is concerned, you will need the help of such cutting edge software as PHP-Nuke and we make use of just that to support a dynamic content driven site. In fact we can not do without it to provide you the best services! Why? Let’s explain.

How a web host turns the PHP-Nuke into a powerful instrument in their web-hosting operations?

• First of all, the PHP-Nuke is used to support an automated web site to distribute contents to users systems. From users’ side, each user is allowed to submit his/ her news and views.

• Once powered by PHP- Nuke, the users have the options to edit or delete stories. The editor has the option to delete comments.

• If you want to make your online community more visible in the web, the PHP-Nuke makes it possible through Comments option in Polls. It also supports review system and PHP BB forums.

• No matter if you are considering a website in a language other than English, for a PHP-Nuke supports multi lingual content management; as a matter of fact the software supports 33 languages and 9 database servers and Web directory like Yahoo.

• If you want to work on the look and feel of the website, the PHP-Nuke theme manager is there to help you in your customization.

Beyond content management
Do you know what is the difference between trusting an ordinary web host and hiring a top notch in the industry?

While the former will wash their hands by just providing a space in their server, the latter will take care of all aspects of dealing with a large informative portal.

As such, these software like PHP-Nuke become the instruments in the hands of efficient web hosts for the installation of greater numbers of modules developed from third parties. Thus it becomes the instrument in the hands of web host for managing other areas of internet business such as:
• Intranet business
• E-commerce systems and online companies
• Corporate portals
• Public agencies
• News agencies
• E-learning systems

When a web host is empowered with such versatile software like PHP-Nuke, you can expect only the best result in the industry. Let PHP Nuke do other things of portal management while you are busy preparing for the influx that awaits your business in the near future.

Fat Jack Hosting is the Internet Marketer’s Dream when it comes to hosting.
Not only do we have great ongoing 24/7 support, but we understand the small business owner,
entrepreneur and internet marketer because we are owned and operated by an extremely successful one.
That’s why you get great customer service, tips, strategies and support. Go here right now to get
your hosting account—>> http://www.fatjackhosting.com

Womex (World Music Expo) Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2002 and Grammy in 2007 nominated Djivan Gasparyan as an Armenian national hero, created cross-cultural collaborations with many legendary musicians and composers. By him Armenian Symbolic Musical Instrument obtained worldwide popularity in Show-Business.
One of the wholly Armenian oldest and traditional musical instruments in the world, its redolent, colorful character and warm sound that bring just enjoyment or sadness is Armenian wood-wind musical instrument – duduk! All over the centuries, the Armenian duduk has passed through to many adjoining countries and today different variants of the Armenian duduk can be found in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Persia, also named differently.
Magical Armenian duduk has been particularly developed to bring a warm, flexible character. Over the years the unique way of duduk making is an apricot tree wood material applying, while other countries use other trees as a material. The Armenian duduk is perpetually played with addition of a second duduk-“dum”, which gives the music a force and stimulant atmosphere, harmoniously with the principal duduk. The duduk is also typically being an adjunct with “dhol”. The dhol is known as its positive Armenian dance rhythms. However, even when the duduk plays lament, the gentle touch of the dhol provides a suitable background.
Armenian duduk has truly become a part of daily life in Armenia. In fact, it would not be an overstatement to say that no wedding ceremony, festive occasion, or family gathering would be complete without a duduk player. The duduk has been used in many western-made films; particularly it has been used in film soundtracks for “The Last Temptation of Christ”, “The Crow”, “Gladiator”, “Titanic” and “Ronin”.
Only one oldest musical instrument in the world can talk with you, entertain and amuse you, can also get you into deep meditation – ARMENIAN MAGIC DUDUK!

Scales are one of the most common instruments used in a wide variety of industrial situations. They are used to weigh incoming shipments to assure that the proper amount in being received. They are used to weigh outgoing shipments for purposes of accuracy and cost control. Scales are also used within a manufacturing process. Filling operations weigh the material going into a package so that neither too little or too much is filled. There may be a number of different ingredients that need to be blended or mixed to reach a desired result.

It is often important to collect data from the scales. In the simplest case, an operator may enter weight information into a form or onto a label. The scale can be equipped with a printer port, and send the information directly to an inkjet, dot matrix or thermal printer. Labels can be printed locally, or a data recorded on a printed form.

Another alternative for collecting data is to send the data to a local PC. With the computer being the target for this data, it could provide printouts in almost any format, or could simply collect the data in database or spreadsheet format. There are a number of different communication alternatives. An older, widespread standard is an RS-232 port. This provides a serial data path between the scale and the PC. For many years, most PCs included RS-232 ports. But more recently, this older method has not been included on most computers. The replacement has most often been the USB (Universal Serial Bus). This has seen widespread use in a very wide variety of computer peripherals, including printers, keyboards, the mouse, and audio equipment. While this has not yet become widely available in scales, some of the more advanced units, such as the Arlyn brand scales, do offer USB as an option.

Generally, Ethernet would be considered to be the best method for communicating between a computer system and another instrument. It is certainly an industry standard. It is very robust, and has been used for many years. Most industrial facilities already include an Ethernet infrastructure, so wiring is already in place. It is also widely understood and supported. When properly set up, it can also be possible to communicate outside of the Local Area Network onto the Internet. This gives the added functionality of being able to collect data anywhere.

Some high quality weighing scales do offer Ethernet capability. Arlyn Scales offers this option throughout most of its line of equipment, including bench scales, platform scales, floor scales, tank and cylinder scales and parts counting scales. Arlyn includes a software utility which allows the capture of data into an Excel spreadsheet or an Access database table.

There are a number of pieces of information that must be setup in order to use the Ethernet port. One of the most important is the ability to assign an IP address. This gives the scale a unique designation, and allows communication between other computers and the scale. Other setup parameters may also be used to give a name, or identification to the scale, and some other alternatives.

Arlyn has also developed a method for allowing the scales to report data outside of the local area network, when this has been authorized by the user. This has often been a difficult task, as the local network is often protected by “firewalls” and other protective systems. In order to preserve security, the scale must initiate the communication from within the network. Only then can an outside device connect to it.

Once the data has been received by a computer, it may be organized to provide the required information. This may take the form of tables, or bar charts or pie charts. This can be especially useful in looking at the weight data over a period of time.

It is also an ideal way to monitor the weight on the scale from a remote site. There are many applications where a drum of chemicals, or liquefied gases, must be monitored to see if it must be re-filled. Remote monitoring can save the effort of having to visit the actual location to determine the amount of material remaining. This can result in very considerable cost savings.

Arlyn Scales`s goal is to provide clients with superiority in equipment and service unrivaled in the scale industry. For almost 30 years Arlyn has manufactured top of the line industrial weighing equipment with an accent on quality, accuracy, advanced technology and durability. From Platform scales to high precision scales and everything in between, Arlyn Scales has it all.

Minuscule traces of cells can be detected in a mineral likely present on Mars, a new study shows. The results, obtained using a technique developed at the U.S. Department of Energy`s Idaho National Laboratory, could help mission scientists choose Martian surface samples with the most promise for yielding signs of life.

INL`s instrument blasts off tiny bits of mineral and looks for chemical signatures of molecules commonly found in cells. While other methods require extensive sample handling, this analysis relies on a “point-and-shoot” laser technique that preserves more of the rock and reduces contamination risk. In the current online issue of the peer-reviewed Geomicrobiology Journal, the researchers report they could detect biomolecules at concentrations as low as 3 parts per trillion.

High sensitivity is crucial for NASA`s search for life on Mars, says INL scientist Jill Scott, whose team collaborated with researchers at the University of Montana-Missoula on the study.

“The worst-case scenario is a false negative,” Scott says. “If you`re just missing stuff, that would be devastating.”

While other techniques also have achieved parts-per-trillion sensitivity, they often require scientists to first extract the organic cell remnants from the mineral. This type of preparation can use up large amounts of sample and potentially introduce contamination.

INL`s method is based on a technique called laser desorption mass spectroscopy. By focusing a laser beam on a spot less than one-hundredth the width of a pencil point, the researchers can knock microscopic fragments off the mineral. Those fragments react with organic molecules to form detectable charged particles called ions. The team can then study the ion patterns for signatures that might be specific to biomolecules.

Typically, this method would require the organic molecules to be embedded in a synthetic matrix that encourages ion formation. But the INL team simply relies on the rock to act as the matrix, eliminating the need for sample preparation.

“We thought, what can the rock do for you?” Scott says. “You don`t want to damage the sample more than you have to. You`d like to just shoot it directly.”

With funding from NASA`s Astrobiology program, the researchers have done previous studies showing that minerals like halite and jarosite yield distinct ion patterns when organic molecules are present. This time, they tried thenardite, a compound thought to be part of the Martian surface. Because thenardite is left behind when lakes dry up, its presence could signify the past existence of water — and hence life.

The team tested thenardite samples taken from the evaporated Searles Lake bed in California. They also created artificial thenardite samples that contained traces of stearic acid, which is left behind by dead cells, and glycine, the simplest amino acid used by organisms on Earth. In all cases, the researchers found a distinct ion pattern that did not appear for thenardite alone, suggesting they had detected a signature for the biomolecules.

The team also measured the sensitivity of its instrument for the first time. By testing more and more dilute artificial samples, they found they could detect the stearic acid signature at levels as low as 3 parts per trillion. In fact, the signatures became even more distinct as concentration dropped, presumably because more ion-producing matrix surrounded each biomolecule.

While the instrument is too big to send into space, it could potentially be used for analysis if NASA brings Martian samples back to Earth. The INL study also could help determine which samples should be collected, based on how likely they are to show signs of life. Thenardite and jarosite look the most promising, Scott says, while hematite — an iron-based compound common on the Martian surface — has yielded poor results so far.

“The wider the variety of minerals we test, the larger the suite we can target on Mars,” says collaborator Nancy Hinman, a geochemist at the University of Montana-Missoula.

The team`s next step is to improve the laser on its machine. Right now, the instrument is ionizing only about 10 percent of the available biomolecules in the sample. If the remaining biomolecules could be ionized with a better laser, Scott says, the detection level could increase tenfold.

Freelance writer working for Dragonlasers – No 1 online store for green laser pointers & high power lasers

Click here for laser safety glasses & goggles

When selecting a telephone there is so much alternative when it comes to features, model, sound, price and warranty that there is something for everyone. Today many telephones are very popular like caller id phones, corded phones, cordless phones and today almost everyone is purchasing caller id and cordless phones. Have a look below some telephones details available:

(1). Uniden Dual Cordless Telephone

Features:

5.8 Ghz Extended Range Technology, Corded/Cordless Telephone system
Make and receive calls during a power failure, Integrated Answering device
Caller ID and Caller ID on Waiting, 50 Caller ID Features
Dual keypad and LCD at base, 10 number memory dialing in the base and headset
Trilingual display options and voice prompts (English, Hindi, Spanish)
Intercom between Handset and base, Mute and hold Features
Do Not Disturb (DND) feature, Clock Display
Base Speaker Phone, Auto Talk and Auto Standby
Digital Security Codes

Accessories:

1 Cordless Handset, 1 Base unit for cordless handset
1 Base unit (Corded Phone), 1 Receiver/transmitter for the base unit
1 Adapter for Base unit as well as for the handset base unit each
1 Extra Phone line for interconnectivity between the Base unit and the Handset Base unit
1 3.6V DC battery for the cordless handset
1 wire for connectivity between the base unit and the Receiver/transmitter for the base unit, 1 Instruction manual

(2). New Caller ID Speaker Phone with Blue Back Light

Features:

16 Digits jumbo LCD display with blue color back light FSK/DTMF dual caller ID system
Calculator function, Hand free speaker phone with volume control
Fast check and redial from caller ID list, LCD contrast adjustable
IDD lock, Image is indicative, model may differ but will be of same functions

(3). iNFINITY X1 Cordless Phone

Features:

Unique cylindrical design, Phone book stores 50 Names and Numbers
Stunning white backlit inverse display, Speakerphone: Talk hands-free
6 Selectable ringer melodies, Caller display: Identify your call before answering
Last 10 number redial, Call Timer
Microphone Mute Function, Call Barring, Out of range indicator
Battery Low Indicator, Baby Call System
Emergency Number, Page Function
Real Time Clock, Base Ringer, Dialing restrictions
Talk time: Up to 8 hours

Author suggests you to buy caller id phones from homeshop18.com and get maximum discount.

Brendon Long offers you the latest and best information to buy portable players and flat tv.

Bad Practice habits can impair your ability to learn on your instrument. Try these ideas to improve quickly.
______________________
Believe it or not, the biggest reason why some students make such slow progress on their instrument is not that they aren`t practicing enough; it`s that they aren`t practicing correctly. Many students waste valuable time trying to get their music to sound right, but often feel that their progress doesn`t reflect the time they`ve put into it.

Bad practicing doesn`t just mean that you are not solving your problems, it often means that you are reinforcing errors, and actually making it more likely that you`ll make those errors again. In that regard, you might actually be worse off after a bad “practicing session” than if you were to keep the instrument closed and in its case.
The main culprit with bad practicing is the reinforcing of errors. It happens this way: the student plays through the music until a mistake is made. He stops because he hears something wrong. He then fixes that note, and continues on from that spot. And that is the error!

This is what`s really happening: when a mistake is made, the error really happened on the note or two before the mistake. Our brains are always thinking ahead, usually by three or four notes. So if you make a mistake, whatever your brain told you regarding getting to that note was the actual error. When you make a mistake, you need to go back several notes, slow things way down, and program into your fingers how to get to the next note.

When you fix errors in this way, it will sometimes surprise you how far back you need to go to solve it. But if all you do is fix the note that you heard being played incorrectly and then move on, you are only reinforcing the error, and actually making things worse. Students with bad practicing technique actually spend more time trying to undo mistakes caused by bad practicing technique than they do any other kind of mistake.

So here`s a summing-up of what you should be doing, as well as some other hints that will allow you to use your time more efficiently:

1- Don`t just “play through” your music. When you make a mistake, go back a few notes, and play through the trouble-spot at half the tempo. Do this several times, deliberately and slowly placing the fingers until the trouble is worked out. Then slowly increase tempo.
2- Do some silent practice. Do the fingerings while singing through the music, especially if you play a brass instrument, where constant playing can be tiring.
3- Use a metronome. A metronome will not result in an unmusical performance. The metronome will keep your tempo steady, and will greatly discipline your use of practice time.
4- Play your instrument every day. You will begin to lose the fine muscle-control you`ve been developing by skipping days. Once in a while, you need a break, but try to practice six out of every seven days.

There is another aspect of music performance that holds musicians back, and that is the inability to hear oneself objectively. If your practicing technique seems fine, but you just don`t seem to be improving, it`s usually because you are not really aware of how you really sound. The best way to hear yourself the way you truly sound is to record yourself. Get a digital or tape recorder, set up a good microphone, and play.
The first time you hear yourself playing on tape is usually a negative experience, but don`t let it discourage you! Try to listen critically but constructively. Instead of getting down on yourself, think of the ways you want to improve, and then go back to practicing. Diligence is the key. Practice every day, and record and listen to yourself at least once a week. You`ll reap the benefits almost right away.

=====================
Gary Ewer is a veteran music teacher, clinician, composer and arranger. He is most well known as the author of The Essential Secrets of Songwriting and Gary Ewer`s Easy Music Theory

Gary has taught music to students of every age group, from five-year-olds in elementary school, through to university-level musicians. This enormously wide-ranging scope has given him a unique perspective on how people learn. Teaching is his passion.
He is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, conductor and composer. His music has been commissioned and performed by ensembles from amateur level through to professional, including the world-renowned Elmer Isler Singers, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Symphony Nova Scotia, and others.

He currently teaches orchestration, theory, ear training and choral conducting at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.