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iTunes - Sound Quality and Music File Formats
By Simon Dawson

If you care about the sound quality or transferability of you music archive, you’ll want to investigate the various import options. These allow you to weigh up the size of the imported music files against the fidelity of the sound and the degree to which they’ll be compatible with software and hardware other than iTunes and the iPod. This article focuses on importing from CD, but the advice applies equally to files you’ve downloaded or created yourself.

Importing Options

To access the iTunes’ Importing options, open Preferences (from the iTunes menu on Mac; from the Edit menu on PC) and click on the Importing tab at the top. The two most important options are those in drop downs. They allow you to choose which file format/compression type to use, and the bitrate. If you’re not sure what a file or bitrate is, read on.

Which Format

iTunes currently offers five file-format import options: AAC, MP3, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV. If any of these don’t appear in your list of options, you’re probably running an old version of iTunes. Download and install the latest version.

In brief, AAC is best for day to day iPod and computer use; MP3 is slightly worse at the bitrate, but can be played on any digital music player or computer (and burned onto MP3 CD); Apple Lossless is for fidelity fanatics; and AIFF and WAV are only really for importing tracks with the aim of burning CDs.

Note that all file formats can be burned to audio CDs and played back in normal hi-fis - it’s only when sharing actual music files with non-iTunes or non-iPod equipment that compatibility becomes an issue.

Which Bitrate?

The bitrate is the amount of data that each second of sound is reduced to. The higher the bitrate, the higher the sound quality, but also the more disk space the track takes up. The relationship between file size and bitrate is basically proportional, but the same isn’t true of sound quality, so a 128 Kbps track takes half as much space as the same track recorded at 256 Kbps, but the sound will be only very marginally different. Still, marginal differences are what being a hi-fi obsessive is all about.

The default import setting in recent versions of iTunes, listed as “high quality”, is AAC at 128 Kbps. Most people will be perfectly satisfied with this combination (which is usually said to be roughly equivalent to MP3 at 160 Kbps), but if you’re into your sound in a serious way it may not be quite good enough. Particularly if you listen to high-fidelity recordings of acoustic instruments, such as well recorded classical music, and if you connect your iPod or computer to a decent home stereo, you may find AAC 128 Kbps leads to a distinct lack of presence and brightness in your favourite recordings. If so, either opt for the Apple Lossless Encoder or stick with AAC and up the bitrate. The best thing to do is to run a comparative experiment with a suitably well-recorded track.

Simon has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his latest website at http://1cupcoffeemaker.info/commercial-espresso-machines/ which helps people find the best information on commercial espresso machines.

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4 Tips to Read Music Notes Fast
By Marcus JZ Wong

Note reading is very important for being able to read music notes fast, and improve sight reading in exams. There are four easy to learn tips that can help you memorize them easily:

In music notation, there are two staves (or called staffs in US)- one for the treble clef, which is usually played by the right hand; and one for the bass clef, usually played by the left hand. Once you can recall any note on the stave, you will know you have mastered note reading!

To remember the treble clef notes quickly, remember that the treble clef notes in the spaces (starting from the bottom) are F, A, C, E. This is easy to remember, as is spells FACE.

Remembering the treble clef notes in the lines: E, G, B, D, F. You can remember it by the mnemonic Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit (sounds corny, but it works!).

The bass clef notes in the spaces (also starting from the bottom) are A, C, E, G. You can remember this by All Cows Eat Grass.

The bass clef notes in the lines are G, B, D, F, A- so remember that Great Big Dogs Fight Animals!

Test yourself regularly by making flashcards- print off a music stave and write a letter on each flash card; just flip the cards face down and one-by-one, go through each letter, placing where you think the note is on the stave. After, just check with a reliable source.

Those are the four tips to remember the lines and spaces of each clef quickly, and therefore helps you to read music notes fast. Good luck on your music journey!

For more information on the latest music news, videos, and Q&A, visit the ultimate source for everything music: http://www.everythingonmusic.com

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Music and the Brain
By Kyle Majors

Music is an art where sound is the medium. It has been around since the evolution of man. From tribal rhythmic drum beating, alternating hand clapping and foot stamping to solemn chants.

Music is a personal experience, wherein its definition varies from one person to another. Music is a major part of society, culture and one’s individuality.

Listening to music activates different parts of the brain, having a rush of both serotonin and dopamine, responsible for causing pleasurable feelings such as eating chocolates, having orgasms, and even taking drugs for drug addicts.

Music influences humans in both good and bad ways. Music has that ability to take you back in time, which makes it a great tool for studying and learning. Listening to music in a foreign language that you are trying to learn has double benefits!

Over the course of time, music has evolved. People’s taste in music varies and no same people can feel the exact same feeling from hearing one particular music.

Based on surveys and research, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven’s classical masterpieces are found to be relaxing, yet stimulating at the same time. Before a group of participants were asked to listen to classical music, their electroencephalograph (EEG) was taken. Afterwards, they were exposed to classical music and their EEG results revealed that there was a relaxing effect. A drop in blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature were significantly noted, making the subjects more alert and even more concentrated all throughout their day.

Baroque music. The term baroque in art is defined as “grandiose, massive, detailed but baroque music often seems to have very little of these characteristics. A similar test was also done to another set of participants, only this time they were asked to listen to baroque. A drop in blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature was also noted. In their EEG, it was found out that the music activates their left and right hemispheres. This simultaneous left and right brain action resulted in maximization of learning and improved information retention. Studying activates the left cerebral hemisphere, while listening to music activates the right cerebral hemisphere. Study while tuned in to Bach or Mozart and you might get that ideal grade!

Music is music, while noise is something else. Noise is an audible result of aperiodic vibrations. According to information theory, anything which interferes with transmissions of messages as well as any diverting, confusing element in what they perceive. Modern music seems faster nowadays and it was found out that listening to fast, upbeat music speeds up pulse rate, breathing and increases temperature and blood pressure as well. Pupil constriction was also noted. It is true that this kind of music can jump start your day and can even motivate you to hit the gym!

Music has a lot of brain benefits.

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How Rock ‘n’ Roll Music Can Improve Learning and Reading
By Vince Welsh

Some educators do not realize that they can use music to their advantage in the classroom. For example, music can help improve their students reading level. Educators can also use music as one of the teaching strategies for reading. Students can use music as an interesting way to strengthen their reading comprehension skills while also having fun. Professional learning communities can help monitor students learning by using music as a way to get them to focus on the lessons each day. Learning to read music can be helpful in teaching students to understand reading other materials as well. Members of professional learning communities use “results-oriented” action to determine what each student’s weakest areas are and continuously use this method to see what improvements need to be made. This can prove to be a very effective method for many students, parents, and educators in the community.

Because professional learning communities are a great way to create a collaborative environment and encourage participation, music can be a tool to unite all students in this way. It’s also important to remember that reading can be difficult to teach especially because each student has different difficulties and strengths with reading. Learning how to read music and understand the different notes can be a helpful way to get certain students on the same reading level as other students because some people have very different learning styles than others.

There are few teaching strategies for reading that are as fun for children as rock ‘n’ roll music can be. Teachers can incorporate parts of rock ‘n’ roll history, culture, business, and research as part of their lesson plans. This can also lead to greater participation throughout all professional learning communities. If students are reading about the history of rock ‘n’ roll music it can get them interested in reading overall. Reading about the people, events, and places of rock ‘n’ roll music history will help students practice their reading skills while also teaching them about an important era of American history and culture. Students should know how their lives have been developed and influenced by rock ‘n’ roll music.

Professional learning communities pay attention to each person’s own personal learning style and teaching strategies for reading can be customized to fit each learner’s needs. Teachers can improve comprehension throughout the curriculum by using these strategies. Students need to understand non-fiction, informational, and narrative text as well as develop vocabulary. Professional learning communities can help teachers gain the reflective strategies, writing strategies, and assessments needed to evaluate their student’s performance and to see if they are grasping the material.

Rock ‘n’ roll music can be a useful way to help with strategic lesson planning. Because reading is such a complex process, teachers should understand the stages of reading development and the literacy demands of the real-world. It’s important for educators to not only understand the reading process, but to also research the best practices and methods available for teaching strategies for reading. Lastly, remember that it can always be valuable to teach reading through collaboration, cooperation, and participation by everyone in the learning community.

Vince Welsh is CEO of Teacher Education Institute. TEI offers rigorous, graduate-level professional development courses for K-12 classroom teachers. For more about TEI, teaching strategies for reading and professional learning communities visit http://www.teachereducation.com

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Increase Your Value - Get a Reliable Music Marketing Plan
By Eugene Sturdivant

Alright, here’s the deal. You want to get in the music marketing industry and work behind the scenes. You do not care to be an artist, but you would rather work behind all the glitz and glamour to make really honest, or really commercial, music. You will do anything and everything just to land a job at any of the popular record labels in the country. The question is: would they hire you?

The answer is: it depends. Everything depends on what you bring to the table. People like to think that the music marketing industry is all fun and games. You get to work with the most creative people; the most powerful artists; the best of the best. However, most people do not realize how much hard work goes into every single song. People do not realize that every move in the music industry is calculated. Unfortunately, even the task of hiring an employee is calculated. Why? Because, whether we accept it or not, music is a business, and everybody is broken down into an investment. What does this mean? It means, if you do not bring anything to the table, then you are not a good investment.

This is why you should start training yourself about everything there is to learn in the music industry. You must learn how to create music marketing plans, produce songs, advertise materials, create marketing tools, hype up your artists, find the right man for the job, and many other tasks. Basically, you must know ALL the ins-and-outs of the music industry. Most people think that just because they went to school and studied about music they will get hired automatically. Unfortunately, record companies need people who not only bring good music and good talent with them; they need people who are business minded and have excellent music marketing plan with them. They need people who understand that records need to sell because bills and people need to be paid and kept alive. They need people who know how to create a complete music marketing plan on one side, and then create the most beautiful song on the other. So if school does not do it for record labels, what does?

You would probably be surprised to know that internship or any previous real world experience is what record labels are looking for. In fact, this is not only true for record labels, as this is the trend across all industries in the world. Record labels will not waste time training a person who is fresh out of music school and has all the right knowledge but lacks a pulse for the business and street-smarts that applies to the industry. What they want is somebody who has real world experience; somebody who has actually gone through the rounds, who actually made transactions within the music industry. They want somebody who understand what it takes to produce music and marketing plan, somebody who has an eye for talent, somebody who can tell which person is the best fit for a job, a person who knows how to steer a musical direction, a person who knows how to facilitate the making of a music marketing plan, or a person who can sell an artist to radio stations.

Although these are taught in school, they are taught in theory. We all know that there things that cannot be taught by words or by theory and must be experienced in the real world. This is why record labels choose to invest in people who have already done it all. So again, here is the deal: until you have had some real world experience, you will not land a job. How do you find “real world” experience, search the net for sites that will team you up with other like-minded people and give you an opportunity to learn hands-on, and whip up a very good solid music marketing plan for yourself.

Eugene Sturdivant is the CEO of www.StreetDreamerZ.com, an online project oriented entrepreneurship program that gives everyone a chance in training and real-world experience in the music industry. This site offers a project-based curriculum that teaches you on starting up your own music business and making it big in the long run. This company will help you come up with the best music marketing plan that suits you and your needs.

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