Every people have their own choice if the movie of your choice and in your native language is not available in the market then simply take it from the internet. Where all the new releases and old movies available. There are many websites which provide the facility of full movie download. Simply you have to select the category which type of movie you want then download it. If the movie is in other format then you can easily convert it into your understandable language. Watch the movie online is also a good experience. Where no need to download the full movie.
Sonic One of the best way to save your memories is to keep photo in a digital picture frame .The photo frames have lot of beinfits as they shows our lot of pictures in slideshow and with music also.They have a memory card in them to store pictures and are very easy to use just by usb etc and a power input to show the pictures in the bright screen.All the movies are not time pass but some movies were giving us knowledge. So we can say that movies play the role of entertainment in the human life. Some people were interesting in watching horror movies some one interesting in cartoons and crime movies. So you can watch the movie according to your choice through internet. You have to just select the category global tranz michael leto and then choice is yours whatever you want to do download it or watch online that movie through the internet.

At Music Minus One, we believe that practicing an instrument can be made fun and more fruitful by offering the thrill of a full orchestra in your own home. Since 1950, Music Minus One has given musicians a great way to play their instrument, whether practicing or performing, with the motivation of an ensemble surrounding them as they play. Great masters of music, including musicians from the great orchestras of the world, have contributed master-class experiences to the MMO library, experiences that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. We sell accompaniment CDs for any type of musician, covering classical, pop and jazz styles in nearly every genre and skill level. Whether you are looking for Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Gershwin, Bacharach or Strauss, Music Minus One’s mission is to go beyond standard sheet music by make playing and practicing music as enjoyable as possible, allowing musicians to perform all types of music as the composer intended, with the original instrumentation and full accompaniment. For sixty years we’ve worked hard to offer you a comprehensive array of choices that provide accompaniment for all types of musicians in any setting, without the cost of hiring an accompanist or ensemble, which in many cases would be out of reach for virtually all musicians.

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We stock a wide array of sheet music for all instruments, including piano, guitar, violin, as well as any vocal range. Music Minus One is dedicated to giving every type of musician the sheet music they need to get the most out of their instrument. Our store carries CD and sheet music for piano, electric bass, harmonica, clarinet, flute, trumpet, oboe, harp, mandolin and many more. Our vocal albums with both piano and full orchestral accompaniments range from opera to popular, for all ranges. Opera composers such as Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Strauss and operas such as La Boheme, I Pagliacci, Rigoletto, The Merry Widow, and many, many more. Practice and perform alongside world-class accompaniment in a variety of styles and skill levels. Whether you’re interested in bluegrass or baroque, film scores or folk, opera or pop, Music Minus One has the accompaniment editions, complete with CD and printed sheet music, that you desire.

Musicians from across the world can enjoy great piano accompaniment editions and more, complete with printed sheet music in every package, when they shop at the online Music Minus One store or stop by one of our many international retailers. The products we sell are well regarded as the premiere choice for sheet music and CDs and are carried by music stores throughout North America and beyond. If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for at a music dealer, simply stop by our official website and browse our entire catalog online. We offer frequent free shipping deals and a fully secure online ordering system to make purchasing sheet music for piano and more at the Music Minus One internet store a breeze.

Give the gift of music by purchasing a Music Minus One gift certificate for an upcoming special event in one of your loved one’s lives. We make it easy for you to shop for any musician’s taste by letting you give gift cards in various amounts. Recipients can redeem gift cards at our online store to purchase exactly what they want from our catalog.

Discover the joy of playing and practicing your instrument again by shopping for great CDs and sheet music for piano and other instruments. Music Minus One is fully stocked with the choices you want through a single, convenient resource.

For more information on Music Minus One and our complete array of piano sheet music and more, visit MusicMinusOne.

When it comes to downloading mp3 music it can be a difficult choice about which digital music provider to trust. You don’t want to be ripped off with low quality music or find yourself being hauled up for doing something illegal.

The best way to ensure good quality, up to the minute mp3 music would be to find a reputable company that does not promise anything illegal but will provide good, honest music at a reasonable price that you can comfortably download without fear of being caught doing something dodgy.

Napster is one such digital music company who have become known globally as a trusted source of mp3 music. They own one of the worlds most popular on demand music companies and this can be seen in the fact that they have reported an income of over 7 million from a competitive online subscription service.

For this subscription you will get access to an mp3 music store that is 50% larger than any other online digital music shop. They have the largest library of independent music and are compatible with any mp3 player or music phone, including iPod and iPhone.

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Of course these days, all new music comes in an mp3 music format but that hasn’t always been the case and it has taken time to convert backdated music for use on personal music players. However, Napster are pleased to announce that they are now able to offer the whole back catalogue of Abba music in mp3 music format. Abba were a top band in the Seventies but have enjoyed regular revivals of the type of music that seems to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Of course, there is a huge market for downloadable music and, not to be beaten, Richard Branson got in on the act. For a relatively small subscription, you can freely download a huge catalogue of mp3 music. Virgin’s new Music On Demand facility launched last year has proved immensely popular. Particularly among the Leona Lewis fans! Leona’s hit single Bleeding Love has hit the one million mark for downloads which sees her conquering another milestone.

Search the Google rankings for digital music and you don’t have to scroll down very far to find mbop megastore. This is another chart topping music provider who supply a plethora of downloadable music covering every genre from stuff for your granny to tunes for your teenager.

It’s been an amazingly quick leap from CD collections to downloading music that takes up no space whatsoever. The digital age is most definitely upon us and has taken over at lightening speed. Piracy was, and still is, a bit of an issue where people would download music and share it with others – file sharing . This is, in effect, stealing. This generates absolutely no revenue for the music industry and if not stopped, the industry would eventually close down and this would be a loss to us all. There will always be those people that find a way round any preventative measures that are put in place but in the main, it has been found that most people would prefer to legally download reasonably priced music than to risk being barred from their favourite sites.

As you know, the roots of jazz come from West African and Arab cultures.
The researcher Gunnar Lindgren wrote an article on this topic that was published on the Internet, (which Professor Andrew Shenton emailed to me). Lindgren mentions in his research that Blues come from the word “BLA” which meant “black” in old West African language. I also found that the roots from the word “blues” come from the Arabic language, because BALA AZRAQ in Arabic means dark blue which refers to what we might translate as sadness, catastrophe, or calamity.

I have heard here in our jazz course some of vocal melisma which commons in Arabic singing style practically in blues and cool jazz. In general the voice of the cool singing sounds like an Arabic sliding chant, especially the style of Ella Fitzgerald, or Chat Baker.
I noticed also that the instrumental performance included many ornamental tones, which the musician added to the skeleton of the main melody. The musicians enrich the melody when they articulate the tones in vibrato. They also add many protamento and glissando between the tones. e.g. Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillenspie and Charlie Parker.
The following are some of the similar elements:
1. In common cases the tone pitches in Arabic music are of unequal temperament, making the intervals between the tones inexact, theses intervals are measured approximately in cent units such as: the 1/2 tone equal approximately to 100 cent, and the whole tone 200 cent. And also 3/4 tone (which only exists in the Arabic Quarter Maqamat) is equal to approximately 150 cent.
2. There are many tonal ornaments in instrumental melodies and some vocal melisma in singing styles.
3. The musicians exaggerate their use of vibrato.
4. The musicians exaggerate the articulation of portamento and glissando.
5. If the musicians repeat one melody in unison or coupled octaves, you will hear features of heterophony— each melody will have different details of ornamentation and timing of trill.
6. The syncopation of rhythm and spontaneous improvisation are common in both jazz and Arabic music.
7. The contrabass plays always in pizzicato (plucked).
8. Many musical pieces (both instrumental and vocal) have no scores, which means that the music is performed directly from memory.
9. Sometime the Arabic singer improvise vocalize in pronounce-syllabic “Ya Liel & Ya Ein” which means in Arabic Night & Eyes. This vocal Improvisation called in Arabic “Mawwal”.

Instruments:
The ethnomusicologist Sven Berger maintains that many European musical instruments have been developed from Arabic predecessors, especially pizzicato and arco string instruments (pizzicato means plucked and arco means bow). These instruments reached Europe by way of Spain.

I personally believe that the guitar developed from the lute, and the zither from the Qanun, and the Violin from the Rebab which in Arabic is called “Rababa.”
Furthermore, I think we all know that the harp comes from ancient Egyptian civilization.
The traditional ensemble of Arabic music consists of small group called “Takht” (2 violins, the cello, nay, oud, qanun and the req . In traditional contemporary Egyptian music, most composers use chamber orchestra called “Ferqa” (which consists of bowed-string instruments (without viola)). There are often solos by the guitar, nay, saxophone, oud, (sometime trumpet), and percussion section (mainly daraboka and req)
Description of some Arabic Instruments:

is a plucked instrument with 6 doubled strings whose resonance box (called the “sound board”) is made of wood in an elliptical shape. (The strings are tuned from thicker to thinner strings in musical degrees: {C-1,F-1,A-1,D+1,G+1,C+2}. The player plucks the strings with a pick to produce a typical tremolo, a deep and mellow sound.
The Qanoun: is a plucked string instrument (like the typical zither) and is a descendent of the old Egyptian harp. It has 26 tripled nylon strings which are strung across a narrow trapezoidal sound board. The strings are tuned in about 3 and 1/2 octaves from G-2 up to D+2. The instrument is played flat on the lap of the musician. The strings are plucked with 2 picks attached to the index finger of each hand.
The Nay: dates back to ancient Egyptian civilization in the third century B.C. It is a simple wind instrument, made of a hollow bamboo pipe, with openings on two sides. The nay has 7 holes on the front and 1 on its underside. The player blows across the top opening of the pipe to make a sentimental and melancholic sound. The nay is made of several pipe-lengths to cover different ranges. A highly skilled nayist can reach as many as 3 octaves.

The Arabic Violin: is the same as the western violin but its strings are tuned to G-1, D+1, G+1, D+2. The technique, however, is completely different from western articulation, especially in the ornamentation, trill, portamento (which refers to sliding “glissando”), vibrato, and flageolet.
The Req: is the most common hand percussion instrument in traditional Arabic music. It is a typical tambourine, but the frame is covered on one side with a goat or fish skin. Pairs of metal discs are set into the frame to produce the “jingle” when the struck by the hand. The sound of the Req sets the rhythm of classical Arabic music.
Darabokka “tabla”: is a membranophone of goat or fish skin stretched over a vase-shaped container with a narrow neck, usually made of clay. The player places the “tabla” under the left arm and strikes the middle to produce strong beats (“Dum”) and on the edge for sharp-weak beats: (“Tak”).
Technical Terms presented in order of appearance in the text:
Arabic Musical Terms:
Arabic Music: Music that uses special musical scales which in Arabic are called Maqamat, (singular of Maqamat is Maqam).
Dum & Tak: Strong & weak beats in percussion, especially used by the Darabokka and Req.
Maqam: Arabic scale. (Maqamat is the plural of Maqam).
Gens: Tetrachord. (Agnas is plural of Gens).
Quarter Maqamat: Maqamat which involves 3/4 tones between some of its intervals.
Quarter tone: An interval between 2 semitones which moves up or down around 50 cent.
Three Quarter tone: An interval equal to about 150 cent.
Mawwal: Solo vocal improvisation (called in instrumental improvisation “Taqasiem”).
Takht: Ensemble consisting of 1 oriental violin, 1 oud, 1 nay,1 qanoun, 1 req and 1 singer.
Ferqa: Chamber orchestra consisting of about 15 players (generally the takht + chorus + String group without viola).

Western Musical Terms related to Arabic music:
Interval: The difference in pitch between 2 tones, measured in cent units. The temperate half-tone is equal to 100 cent; and the octave includes 12 half-tones equal to 1200 cent in total. Intervals are regularly counted from the lower tone to the higher. In Arabic music the microtonal interval is used commonly, the most important interval is the 3/4 tone which equals 150 cent approximately. Each interval has 3 parameters—1) movement up or down, 2) the degree (from the first to the eighth), and 3) the type of interval: major-minor-perfect-diminished and augmented. Tetrachord: The 4 scale-tones which contain the interval of a perfect fourth. (In Arabic music, this Perfect fourth could be a diminished “Saba” or an augmented pentachord-”Eqd”.

Melisma: Vocal ornamental tones added to the main melody of the song (common in Arabic vocal music).
Ornaments: Grace notes added to the main skeleton of the melody. In Arabic music this is usually not notated in the musical score.
Portamento: A smooth gliding from tone to another, primarily in string instruments with the exception the harp.
Glissando: The exaggeration of slower portamento—easy for strings, difficult for wind, impossible for acoustic keyboard instruments.
Vibrato: A sort of shaking of the pitch which makes the tone more beautiful, deep, warm and magnified; common for string and wind instruments, impossible for acoustic keyboard instruments.
Pitch: The perceived fundamental frequency of the musical tones. Each musical tone has a specific pitch which is measured in Hertz units. The tone A+1 is considered the standard tone for the orchestra. In the US the standard A+1 equal 440 Hz. In Arabic music it is a little lower, around 425 Hz.
Temperament tones: In western music the octave is divided equally into 12 half-tones. This means that all sharp & flat tones have the same pitch, like the equivalence of a C sharp and D flat in keyboard instruments. This system is called “equal temperament”. The 48 fugues of Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is considered the pioneer of the temperament system. In Arabic music the octave is divided into unequal 24 quarter-tones. This means that the sharp & flat tones do not have the same pitch. For example the C sharp is a slightly higher than the D flat and vice-versa. This means that the system of Arabic Maqamat is of unequal temperament. Therefore the tempered keyboard instrument like the Piano is not convenient to perform Arabic music practically the quarter tones Maqamat . The string & wind instruments can perform clearly the fine differences between the unequal intervals.
Cent: The unit used to measure the intervals. The half tone is equal to 100 cent, and the whole tone 200. In Arabic music the 1/4 tone is equal to approximately 50 cent and 3/4 tone is equal to approximately 150 cent. It is difficult for the human ear to recognize the fine difference in “intonation” between about (1- 10) cents, especially in very low & high registers.
Octave: The interval between one tone to another with half or double its frequency. The octave also exists on the 8th tone above or under any tone. In western

Having access to the royalty free music from the music libraries will turn out to be beneficial for you. You can save a great deal by paying nothing for repetitive use of the same track. If you have to make royalty payment for a score every time you are using it, then the cost will roll to an astounding amount. So, having access to royalty free music from any of the music libraries will come cheaper on one’s wallet as compared to shelling out continuous payment.

The royalty free music helps an individual who earns his bread and butter in the entertainment industry in two ways. If your project is broadcast repeatedly, you do not have to bear any extra cost. Moreover, you can use the same music purchased from the music libraries in more than one project in accordance with your requirements. The online collection of musical pieces or musical albums goes on swelling with the incessant addition of music files to the music libraries. The composers, film directors as well as film producers earn great benefit from the use of royalty free music on offer by the music libraries.

Musicians often seek samples prior to composing a tune. In the world full of mix and match , visiting the music libraries has become a necessity for them. Even the composers, who try hard to come up with original compositions, explore the libraries in quest of impressive stocks of music. Those who are willing to have their albums recorded also drop a visit to the music libraries. It saves them cost by a significant margin that would have been spent on hiring a choir or orchestra party. There is no need to fritter away time or money for rehearsal or recording or using a studio. Everything is managed within a very short time and a tight budget. The companies that provide music licensing for movies and act as a safeguard for the budding musicians also have a good rapport with the music libraries. The original compositions of the talented artists occupy a pride of place in these libraries.

Those who make documentaries can be greatly benefited from the royalty free music on offer at some of the music libraries. Documentaries are made on shoestring budget and so it will be of great help if the music directors of documentaries can avail the royalty free music facilities from the libraries. With so many music libraries popping up on the net, the composers do not need to put in extra effort to come up with a perfect score at minimal cost.

In order to build a career in the music industry, you need to have inborn talent,though you can achieve success if you put in a lot of hard-work. Majority of the talented artists enter the music industry with a dream to make it big. Many of them are not in the know of the benefits of license music. If a piece of music from the album of a budding artist is played in a public function and if it is not licensed, any listener can make use of it for his gain. Unlimited is the number of such cases where the original creation of one is recognized as the work of the other. This is one of the reasons why artists all over the world are rushing to license music.

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The license music is a kind of agreement between an artist and a licensing company. Possession of a music license basically means that the work of the artist is legally protected. If anyone uses any musical piece of the artist without his permission, they will be seriously penalized. This has helped several artists protect both of their creation and gain.

With the help of license music contract, artists can enjoy a stable income as well. There is no doubt that music is essential in the industry. If producers want to use in commercials, they have to pay royalties to the artist. Thus, this helps the artists to expose their work to more audience and also to earn a steady income. Since, the advertising field is a vast arena, different types of music are required to bring out the true meaning of advertisements. This is the main reason behind the popularity of music libraries websites in current times. These sites contain huge collections of music in all categories. From pop to jazz to hip-hop to any genre, you will certainly find it here.

The concept of music libraries has tremendously helped several upcoming artists to make a name for themselves in the music industry. Majority of these individuals post their musical creations on such sites. This is because whenever a brand requires a background music for its product advertisements , they search these music libraries for the appropriate musical piece. If the producers feel your creation is suitable for their use, they will immediately contact you and thereby helping you to take your musical career to the next level.

The music libraries not only help the upcoming artists but also assist the established ones to publish their creations in various fields. With the popularity of remix music among the current generation, the original musical piece has lost its importance. Since the music libraries contain original creations, it is also helpful for those who are searching for such musical pieces.

Generally the music is composed specifically for use in Film, TV, Radio, Multimedia and Business.

Since these libraries generally own all of the rights in the music they can licence it directly without the need to gain permission from composers or writers. It can therefore be licensed immediately with a clear cost to the end user.

The advantage of a production music library is that it can cater to a wide range of musical styles and themes with many libraries holding ten of thousands of music tracks and cuts.

Production music gives producers and directors a platform from which to choose music that is suitable for their project or brief. Libraries often have music relevant to current musical genres, styles, charts and culture. Many libraries will hold music across the entire spectrum of music history and include Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock n Roll, Dance and Reggae – amongst a host of contemporary collections or themes created for business or media applications.

The convenience factor means that anyone who needs production library music can choose from a huge range of styles, access the music from one place and know exactly how much it will cost. Most libraries have Rate Cards so producers can budget for the costs of a project in advance.

Their is also the peace of mind that many libraries will almost always have a piece of music suitable for the job and if not will help you to find some. Many will also offer custom music production services.

Typical music for production has been around since the days of silent cinema. In those days the music was supplied in written form and sent over to small orchestras and bands who would perform the music live in time with the film.

Since then many production music companies have built up sound and audio libraries. These include Boozy & Hawkes, Cavendish, Sonoton, Extreme Music, EMI, Sony BMG, KPM, De Wolfe and many others.

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Traditionally, music libraries sent out their music collections on CD. These days it is more likely to be accessed via the internet, file-downloading, hard drive or CD’s, CD-Rom, DVD-Rom

The Internet has enabled music for production to be distributed online via downloading. It has also given a platform for new companies and libraries to set up independently.

There are now many production music libraries online. The quality and price can vary enormously as can the actual license terms or use of the music. However production music downloads now seem to be the preferred method for many media professionals around the world.

Royalty free music varies slightly to the attributes of production music.

Production music has generally been licensed on a pay-per-use basis. That is you pay for every single use of the music – If you want to use music on a TV show then you license the rights for that. If you want to additionally use that music on an interactive CD-Rom then you would have to license those rights.

Royalty free music on the other hand offers customers a way of purchasing a CD of the music which can then be used as many times as you like without any further payments or fees.

However the Internet and other issues has meant that many royalty free music libraries now operate more like traditional production music libraries and vice versa.

This is most likely attributed to the growth of independent music libraries who can create their own license and finance models according to their own marketplace requirements.

A Production music company charges a fee for the licensing of their music. This is often referred to a ‘Synchronization Fee’ or ‘Dub Fee’. This is one of the main income streams for music libraries.

Performing Rights Organisations (PRO’s) protect, administer and collect performance royalties on behalf of its member composers, artists and publishers.

Performance royalties are generated when music is broadcast on TV or Radio or played in public places like restaurants and other business spaces.

Music that is publically performed or broadcast has to be licensed. For example a broadcaster such as the BBC or SKY has to pay to broadcast music as do restaurants, shops and users of music on hold systems and others.

These licenses are issued by PRO’s to music users whenever music is broadcast to the public. The revenues from these licenses is then collected and split up between all of the members of that particular PRO.

Most countries have their own PRO such as PRS (UK), ASCAP (USA), GEMA (Germany). Many countries have more than one.

See the FULL LIST of Performing Rights Organisations

Music libraries are generally also music publishers. Their musical works are published via a PRO and any broadcast or public performance of that music will accrue performance royalties.

Beatsuite.com is a music library that supplies production music uk to companies all over the world for all kinds of media, broadcast and advertising platforms. The library features over 10,000 music files ready for immediate Preview, Purchase and Download. To get access to production music online visit www.beatsuite.com now

We have written this article to be as accurate as possible at the time of publishing. This is not a legal document nor is it intended to be anything other than a reference document. For more information please see Wikipedia

There is a vast variety of guitar cases in musical instrument shops. If you own electric guitars or bass guitars, you can choose cases from these shops. Depending on your budget you can select the guitar cases. When you buy guitar, buy its case also to maintain the safety! You can buy electric guitars online even. Playing electric guitar may not be as easy as other guitars. There are few things to be taken into consideration before going to buy these guitars.

Firstly you should take a look at those strings. Bass guitars can come in four, five and six strings. Four strings bass guitars are meant for the beginners. Five and six strings in bass guitars are for professionals. It supports when you are playing solo. This is called as acoustic guitar and used for the same purpose. Musical instruments have their own set of regulations to be followed. If you follow them then they serve you the best. You need to be highly determined to learn these musical instruments. Sometimes you can play for self and have the divine joy!

Next step is to see the price. They vary from 0 onwards. Buy entry level musical instruments while learning. No need to go for the finest one in the beginning itself. No sense in spending high initially. Electric guitars are the most amazing musical instruments ever developed. These guitars make so melodious sounds; they touch our hearts and souls deeply. You get these at and guitars Australia. Some students face problem because of right hand and left hand. So many companies have come forward to designs especially for these music enthusiasts.

You get left handed as well as right handed guitars in bass guitars. Electric Guitars accompany singers on stage very well. Electric guitars from well known brands cost an arm. are quite good for those who do not have very high budget. It is designed for amateurs. It starts from 9. The sweet sound of these strings can catch any ear in the world. May be music mania is spreading like wild fire throughout the world because of the high stress at work station.

Australian country music has broad styles varying from bluegrass, yodelling, folk and to the most popular one.

The bush balladeers that write songs of bush tales and protest songs for the tyranny of the government started Australian country music in 1800. Slim Dusty in 1940 get on with Australian country musiccareer that last for more than fifty years with above 100 albums produced. There are also more artists that contribute to the Australian country music history including Smoky Dawson, Keith Urban, Sherrie Austin, etc. One of the best examples of quintessential Australian country song is the unofficial national anthem Waltzing Matilda. “Bush music” or “bush band music” is how the Australian country song with lyrics focusing on strictly Australian subjects.

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Tamworth, New South Wales is considered the country music capital of Australia wherein Tamworth Country Music Festival an annual country music festival is being held. Until today, Australian country music is dominating the music industry with a lot of innovations that makes it more unique.

The undeniable enjoyment of listening to Australian country music caused many to look for more related events. There are few entertainment places in Australia where country music is played and they are difficult to find. This scenario has been changed by the empowerment given by the online world to the people who love Australian country music very much.

There are websites wherein you can find schedules of gigs of Australian country music artists. Different events in relation to Australian country music are also provided by particular website. There are several different Australian country music artists that you can choose from depending on your preferences. In fact, you can find websites that focuses on alone wherein you can also listen while surfing. There are popular and new country music artists that can make your night more relaxing and exciting while enjoying best tasting foods and drinks.

The invigorating rhythm of country music is the reason why many are falling in love with it. That is why there have been mushrooming of clubs and entertainment places all over Sydney. What is important is that you know how to look for the best place to enjoy your night with friends, family or loved one. You can find reliable information regarding this matter which can lead you to an unforgettable event in your life by enjoying .

The word, “advocacy,” indicates helping an underdog. It places it in a category of sympathetic efforts toward something worthwhile in need of saving. Contemplate the term, “child advocate.” What pictures come to mind? Visual images of children in need pulling on your heart-strings of giving, right? We love them and want to do more for them, but invoking emotions of sympathy only reaches a few. Think of all the phrases that include the word, “advocate,” or “advocacy.” What is your instant emotion? pity? charity? sympathy? empathy? left-wing? righteous? desire to fight for the cause?

Why do we feel that way? It indicates a need to fight for the defenseless, vulnerable, needy. Who puts on the gloves and does the defending? The one’s closest to the underdog. Those with a deep compassion and emotion connected to the victim.

How do they fight for the victim? They work to bring the world’s attention to the problem. They paint graphic pictures through word and images that guilt people into giving. Those most passionate for the defenseless work tirelessly, attempting multiple methods to reach the masses, but only winning a few.

Music is not the underdog in reality, just in the education system, and in lack of funding. In our efforts to improve the perception and financial support, we sabotage the greater mission to revere and admire. Music is not something to sympathize, but to admire and seek to aspire to greatness. What if we turned sympathy into admiration?

People love winners. People love champions. People want to be part of the winning team. It inspires them to go after their dream and admire those who did and succeeded. For example, I’m not much of a sports fan, but when the local high school team begins advancing to the state playoffs, I’m there with the rest of the town. Everyone loves a winner. Sound familiar?

Now contemplate a contrasting picture-Shawn Johnson. Have you heard of her? A young girl from Iowa had a dream. With only the support of her family and coach, Shawn focused on the gold and passionately dedicated her time, energy and talent toward achieving excellence, and she did. Shawn obtained a gold and silver in the 2008 Olympics held in China-and hasn’t stopped yet.

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Before the Olympic season, only those within the gymnastics’ circle knew of Shawn Johnson. Similar to only those within the music circle are aware of the benefits of music instruction in a person’s life. Shawn Johnson is not a sympathetic picture. No one is a martyr for Shawn Johnson. No one needs to be or even wants to be. Shawn Johnson is one girl who had a dream with an action plan. She had a small support team of her family and a coach. Shawn did not recruit “advocacy” groups to help pull her along and represent her case. She did not see herself as an underdog. She was going for the gold-the Olympic gold.

Did she dedicate a percentage of her time reaching for sympathy votes and support groups? No. As she poured her heart into her work, she began to excel and as she began to win, the world clamored to see her, learn about this incredible success story, take pride in her as one of our own in the U.S. Everyone admired Shawn’s dedication and proudly claimed her as a representative of what is possible when you aspire for excellence in your craft. For Shawn Johnson that is gymnastics. For us, it is music.

Millions of kids take gymnastics, but it’s only the excellent ones that the world wants to watch. Many people are involved in music, but it’s only incredible musicians that draws the world’s attention.

The large majority of U.S. citizens never attend, or watch, or participate in gymnastic events, but in the summer of 2008, all U.S. eyes were watching Shawn, willing her to win and celebrating her victories. Google Shawn Johnson and you will find articles and video clips from around the globe. Fan clubs and web pages came into being. All of this from one girl with a dream that took the necessary action to make it happen.

People love a winner. People want to be apart of the winning team. People gravitate and seek out winners. They want to be part of that dream.

Music is a winner. We, musicians and music educators, know that. Anyone who sits in an audience and is moved to tears from the sheer beauty of the perfectly sung notes in a musical or opera, or the exquisite sounds of the instruments in an orchestra or band that cause people to rise to their feet in impulsive applause, understands. Music experienced at that level does not evoke sympathy, but awe. Everyone that experienced the incredible music shares it with enthusiasm to anyone who will listen. Like a virus, everyone clamors to experience the magical moment created through music. All eyes turn toward the source of the inspiration and want to experience it again.

We know that, but does society? We need to stop portraying music education as an underdog needing rescued and start exclaiming the opportunities for incredible experiences unlike any other. If our music programs inspire and excel as winners, all eyes will turn to us and want to be part of what we are doing. They’ll experience what we already know and music will be viewed as the hero it already is.

“Music advocacy?” I don’t think so. Within our music circle? Maybe, but only within our circle. We need to view it as something with wondrous awe that we are excited to share, not defend. Does music education need more support and help to keep it in existence? Absolutely. No question. But we are going about it the wrong way. Outside of the music world, the phrase, “music advocacy,” hurts the mission before it even starts. The term indicates a solicitation for sympathy votes before you even understand what they are about. They only really effect those who are already passionate about music and already see the problem. Music education will NEVER be elevated and perceived with respect with labels that indicate defenseless losers and illicit pity.

Pursue excellence in music with a single-focused passion and people will follow. Pursue excellence in music education with passion and people will rally and clamor to be part of the success of their kids-your students.

We treat music education like a needy child trying to compete in an olympic games out of sympathy votes. Only eyes of pity on that child-and then they are fleeting. Music education needs to be Shawn Johnson, and in many schools it is perceived with admiration and respect. Music performed with excellence already is admired and respected with wonder and awe by those who have the privilege to witness it. There are many examples from Paul Potts and Susan Boyle to Kristen Chenoweth, Bobby McFerrin, Yoyo Ma, etc. Pursue excellence in music education and the world will notice and be inspired.

How do we achieve this? Teach kids with passion. Practice with passion. Conduct with passion. Educate parents with the beneficial facts of music education and instruction, but not as a plea, but as an exciting opportunity to involve their kids in the best. We have something that is in desperate need-smarter, brighter and more creative citizens. Music education instills, develops and exercises those qualities. We have wonderful tools available for today’s children.

Teach with passion and the term, “music advocacy,” will become obsolete.