These days, gospel music around world is still reaching out and the spreading to Christian denominations. The original gospel music developed by African Americans has evolved as they have been spread to other parts of the world.

There are many types of gospel music around world that arose from the original gospel genre. These are urban contemporary gospel, gospel blues, southerner gospel, progressive southern gospel, Christian country music, bluegrass, and Celtic.

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Urban Contemporary gospel is the subgenre of gospel music that is most identified with the black heritage of gospel music and is still marketed today as black gospel.  Blues is a form of gospel singing with  a blues influence and a lot of guitar, while southern gospel is characterized by the all male quartet and with songs that talk about the hardships in life and how God helps people overcome these hardships. Progressive Southern gospel music is an offshoot of Southern gospel.

Christian Country music is the subgenre of gospel music that does not have its origins in the African American culture but is a major component of gospel music nonetheless. Christian country music has developed into a more mainstream and contemporary form of musical worship, although it has come under criticism for being too liberal and too main stream and losing the religious messages that gospel music was intended to spread. Bluegrass gospel is county Christian music more prevalent in the mountains of America. Celtic music is the kind of gospel music that thrives in such countries as Ireland. A popular proponent of Celtic gospel music is the Dublin Gospel choir.

Blurring the Lines Between Gospel and Contemporary Music

In most countries, there remains a distinction between church and religious music. With the popularity of Christian contemporary music, more and more artists are dabbling between the two, embracing both religious and secular forms of music. There are some subgenres of gospel music around world, however, that have remained steadfast in the overt quality of their worship in their music, very much unlike contemporary Christian music, which more often than not contained double entendres in its lyrics, which means that the song can be applied to both religious and secular contexts. Southern gospel songs in particular have remained  overt in the Christian messages of its lyrics despite the infusion of bluegrass and jazz influences.

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However, your average eight-year-old has no knowledge of classical music. They may like listening to it if it’s presented well to them, like hearing it on TV or in a movie. But children have no natural inclination to want to play it on the piano, particularly if it’s unfamiliar to them. It’s actually quite difficult. It’s a lot of work for them, and far harder than simpler children’s songs that they recognize.

In the beginning of their lessons, and at least for the first two to three years, kids benefit the most from playing music they recognize. There are some great brain reasons for this. By playing music they recognize, they are able to take advantage of their ability to make sure they are playing the song how its “supposed” to sound. Since classical music is both difficult and unfamiliar to them, they have no “inner check” to assure that what they are doing is correct. I found that children learned far faster, and developed better musical skills from playing what they recognized. Learning faster and developing superior musical skills trumps any benefit of struggling through a piece one doesn’t know merely because the word “classical” is attached to it.

I once had a student who had partially learned to read music before studying with me. She had memorized what notes looked like on the page and which letter names they corresponded to. However, she had never learned exactly which keys and letter names were a match and she had never learned to read or count rhythms! This is the equivalent of knowing how to read the alphabet but not how to spell and attempting to read the newspaper. It will produce no positive result.

This child had played this way for years! By the time she got to me she had already wasted about three years of multiple hours per day playing this way at home with no teacher because she really loved to play. She just had absolutely no idea that what she was playing had nothing to do whatsoever with what was on the page. Since she was playing out of books of songs that were unfamiliar to her, she had no “inner check” on what she was doing. Essentially, she was playing letter names in her head and making up the song the way she like. There was absolutely no benefit to this because it robbed her of any ability to properly learn and apply what she read. She was just pounding the piano in a way she liked without knowing that she wasn’t playing the song.

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When I asked her to play by ear a song she recognized, she could do it quite well. However, when I asked her to perform something from the book, it was clear she was “illiterate,” yet oddly musical. I asked her how she came upon playing the classical music in an attempt to straighten all this out and get her going the right way. It turns out her childhood teacher had endlessly extolled the virtues of classical music. Her parents believed this to be true, and during the time when the child was not taking lessons, they continued to buy her piano books of unknown music thinking she was teaching herself. When I finally got to the bottom of her problem and began working with her on learning to read and count the rhythms, she realized how much work it would be and quit lessons. If she had been playing music she recognized for all those years, the whole problem could have been prevented. She is far from the only student I’ve encountered who had some of this problem going on.

Despite how traditional piano lessons are taught, it’s important to distinguish that reading music and playing the instrument are actually two completely different, and mutually exclusive, elements of music instruction. They are different skills, and in fact, have nothing to do with each other.

As a lessons consumer, particularly a parent, it’s critical for you to understand that. Let’s say you are a non-musician seeking piano lessons for your child and your are thinking “I want my child to learn to read music.” What’s really important to understand about this is that reading music happens in the brain in totally different parts of the brain than those that have anything to do with hearing and understanding music or playing the instrument as a tactile experience. Although reading music and playing music are related, they are absolutely not the same skill.

What it takes a student to learn how to play the piano is completely outside the domain of what it takes that student to learn to read music. Written music is a language, the same as any other written language and learning to operate in that language requires that it be taught separate from learning the instrument. This is despite the fact that in most traditional music lessons, particularly piano lessons and school band programs, the teachers try to combine playing and reading into the same task. This is why so few music students end up as proficient readers. Most children who really want to play will instinctively sacrifice reading skills to improve their playing skills.

This may lead you, the parent, to ask “Does my child really need to learn to read music?” Truthfully, it’s not necessary in order to learn to play the instrument. There are many players who do not read music who are far better players than those who do read music. In fact, many of the household names in both popular and classical music do not read, yet are tremendous performers and artists.

However, there are significant advantages to learning to read music. If you are thinking “Maybe I don’t want to put upon my child that they have to learn to read music” understand, if taught correctly, it will provide advantages.

Children who start piano lessons at very young ages are often taught to read music before they learn to read their native language, so it can be learned by anyone who applies themselves and is given encouragement and coaching in making it easier and fun. Understanding the difference between those two skills goes a long way in clarifying what is to be accomplished in studying the piano. It is also much better for both the parent and the student to understand that reading music is not the same as playing the instrument so that everyone, student, parent and teacher are clear about the goals of learning to read music.

If you have questions about this, contact me through my website at http://anaheimpiano.com and I’d be happy to give you some assistance that addresses the players in your house. There’s not one solution that works for everyone, so I’d be happy to address any individual questions you may have.

Chevrolet GIMA powered by Micromax says No to Piracy of music

Mumbai, Oct 26th, 2010: With the inaugural edition of the Chevrolet Global Indian Music Awards (GIMA) powered by Micromax on the anvil, nominees were announced today in the Film Music and Non-Film Music categories. Adding to that an unconventional award for the Best Anti-Piracy Initiative, fighting music piracy in India was also announced. An initiative of Wizcraft International Entertainment, Chevrolet GIMA has been instituted with the support of IMI, T-Series, MCAI and other key constituents of the music industry. The inaugural edition of the Awards will be presented at an exclusive ceremony on November 10th, 2010 in Mumbai.

Mr. Karl Slym, President & Managing Director, General Motors India, said, “At the forefront of technology, innovation and design, Chevrolet believes in bringing together the finest elements in its creations for its valued customers. As an extension of this belief, Chevrolet is proud to have collaborated with GIMA, setting a benchmark for musical excellence in the country. The year 2011 is Chevrolet’s 100th Anniversary and with over 90 years of presence of Chevrolet Cars in India, as part of our 100 years heritage celebrations it gives us immense pleasure to be associated with the first-ever Global Indian Music Awards  to celebrate the equally rich time-immemorial heritage of indigenous musical talent and lend global recognition to some of the best Indian music and musicians across genres.”

GIMA received an outpour of entries with a record 223 albums, compromising a total of 940 entries. Touted to be the highest number of entries to be obtained for a music celebration, film music album entries tallied to 42 and non-film music entries to over 180 albums.

Among the hundreds of films that released during the eligibility period of the Awards, trumping the film-based nominations is the music of 6 films – 3 Idiots, Karthik Calling Karthik, Kaminey, Ishqiya, Love Aaj Kal and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.

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In the non-film music nominations, legends and new talent came to the fore, including Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Shubha Mudgal, Lata Mangeshkar, Kailash Kher, Mohit Chauhan, Purnima Chaudhuri, among others.. The Best Non-Film Song has seen some familiar titles with Aman Ki Asha, Bas Ek Baat Ka Humko Gila, Chaandan Mein, Fitoor, Let’s Go To Mumbai City and Marhabba Jaanam, vying for the coveted Chevrolet GIMA trophy.

The nominees in the various categories have been determined by a panel of illustrious members from the music and film industry. Cutting across music and films, the Chevrolet GIMA Advisory Board and Jury include Vijay Lazarus, Bhushan Kumar, Dr. L. Subramanium, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Prasoon Joshi, Pritam, Karan Johar, Mukesh Bhatt, Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Shekhar Ravjiani, Lesle Lewis, Talat Aziz, Usha Uthup, Resul Pookutty, Sulaiman Merchant, Kumar Taurani, Apurv Nagpal and Atul Churamani, amongst others. The jury is further divided into a film music, technical and non-film music jury.

The brainchild of the Chevrolet GIMA Advisory Board and keeping with the vision of the Awards of fighting music piracy, the Board has initiated a special Award –  The Best Anti-Piracy Initiative of the Year. The Advisory Board will be reviewing the entries and will select the most impactful initiative, to be announced at the Awards night.

Indian Music Industry, President, Vijay Lazarus, said, “Our industry is struck by piracy and initiatives to combat that need to be taken and hence recognized. There are opportunities to recognize this and the people who are aiding the campaigns both on the physical (CD’s, etc..) and digital space (creating software programs, running online crusades, etc..) and I applaud GIMA for taking a step in that direction. We hope to reach out to Government bodies and influencers in our country, allowing us to work together to further curb piracy.”

Chevrolet GIMA, powered by Micromax, marks the coming together of the Indian music fraternity on a unified platform to honour talent in Indian music. Talking about his association with the Chevrolet Global Indian Music Awards, music mogul and T-Series Chairman, Bhushan Kumar said, “Through GIMA, we hope to integrate the Indian music fraternity onto one stage, commending them for their role in bringing the music to us. Being on the GIMA Advisory panel, in the company of Indian music greats, we have before us the avenue to do just this. We truly believe that the awards is the start to a great chapter in Indian music history.”

Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft said, “Over the last 11 year, we have successfully taken Indian Cinema to the world with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA). With GIMA, our dream is akin. It is our endeavour through the Global Indian Music Awards to achieve a similar contribution as that of IIFA, by providing the music industry with a unified platform to celebrate the laurels of their fraternity.”

The winners will be chosen by the GIMA Academy which comprises over 200 members of the music industry through online voting. Ernst and Young, the process validators will tabulate all Academy Votes and the winners will be declared at the Awards Ceremony. The Chevrolet Global Indian Music Awards powered by Micromax are conceptualized and promoted by entertainment and communications major Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Global Indian Music Awards, please visit www.gima.co.in

For further information, please contact: 
Atul Malikram 
9827092823 
pr@atulmalikram.in

 

As an aspiring indie or unsigned singer, songwriter, or a musician in a band you can not do just a few things to promote yourself and expect success in your music career. Offline and online music promotion and marketing exposure is an ongoing process in this DIY age. Music companies are looking for artists that already have fan bases, sold CDs, and are proven ready to move up to a higher level. Presented here are more than 100 tips and ideas for you to think about and tweak as you will, to get noticed, gain fans, and get heard. You have to find a way to stand above the crowd, for talent alone is not enough.

Promo Tip #1 A music artist must start somewhere, that’s usually locally, but it’s better to not just dive in without a plan. But begin you must. Create a plan with some ideas and set goals as to what you need to accomplish weekly, monthly, and yearly. Start small and make it progressive. Reach bench marks and keep at it.

Promo Tip #2 Image is everything. Image is the complete package – artist/band name, look, performance, merchandise, and style, to how that brand is marketed. A stage name can be a descriptive statement of the image you or your band project. Be unique and interesting to look at in some way….build your own unique stage persona.

Promo Tip #3 Word of mouth has always been the best promotion – tell people what you do. Get people talking. Create your buzz by just giving enough info to get people interested, but hold some secrets close.

Promo Tip #4 Those that promote the most win.

Promo Tip #5 You may be a truly great talent, but without getting out there and consistently marketing yourself, networking, meeting the right people, maintaining your image, and being humble, your talent will only get you so far.

Promo Tip #6 Be innovative in your promotional efforts! The Internet has made it possible to hear a LOT more music, from a LOT more artists. You are now a very small fish in a very large pond – you will need to find a way to stand out, above and glow in the dark. Think beyond the box on every promo tip.

Promo Tip #7 Learn web basics to use the Net to your advantage. The Internet thrives on links, quality content, keywords and consistency. Properly use the tools of the Internet to build your online brand.

Promo Tip #8 Create a web site. Buy your own artist name or band name URL for your web site, keep it simple, easy to remember, make sure it loads quickly and is easy to navigate.

Promo Tip #9 Submit your web link to online music directories, search engines, good music resource sites, in the best possible descriptive category. Use niche sites like tour date sites, lifestyle, regional, music magazine, music ezines, music Blogs and similarly themed sites.

Promo Tip #10 Use Myspace, Tagworld, Frappr, Facebook and any of the good social networks and extend your fan base. Update on a regular schedule.

Promo Tip #11 Go beyond the social networks and sign up to the best indie and unsigned music artist sites. Add a full profile, good photos, your best music, update the info regularly and DO NOT REDIRECT them with only a little info to find out more at another site. These indie communities are built to attract music biz personnel as well, to browse for the talent needed for various projects. While you have the viewers attention and time, have the important info right there, don’t waste their time with a redirect link! Include a link to your main site, if they want to learn more they will go to it.

Promo Tip #12 Hand out your CDs (or demos). Have your web link printed on the CD. Include your band name and contact info as well. Remember, your name on the work is more important than the name of the work. Hand the CD to club owners that feature your type of music.

Promo Tip #13 Send press releases and reviews of your shows to local print newspapers, magazines and event papers. When writing press releases, read up on “press release tips” and the like to tweak your presentation.

Promo Tip #14 Professional photos mean you take yourself seriously. All photos in your press kit should be quality photos, not just your main bio picture. The money spent on a photographer that can capture your music “image” is money well spent.

Promo Tip #15 Collect addresses and email addresses (email is free!) to keep your fans current on what you are up to. When building your lists, try to list their location – city, state and zip with a bit of personal input about that fan. This is a great way to create a more personal and targeted mailing list without bombarding people that are too far away to attend a show.

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Promo Tip #16 Practice and practice and practice. Longevity in the music business means learning new things, constantly creating, and always improving.

Promo Tip #17 Zero in on your target. Know where they hang out, where they shop, what they do for fun, and hit them where they live – online and off. Your audience is a specific crowd of people so don’t waste time being where they are not.

Promo Tip #18 Play, play and play some more. Get gigs in one part of town on Friday and another part of town on Saturday. Do mini tours outside of your town.

Promo Tip #19 Create your own support group of family, friends, and school mates – communicate well with them on your plans and goals to help spread the word on you, where you plan to go and how you plan on getting there. Delegate tasks to the appropriate people.

Promo Tip #20 Online send out press releases and reviews of shows via all appropriate sites.

Promo Tip #21 Get online air play. There are a lot of indie radio webcasts, join sites and do what you have to do to get on the playlists.

Promo Tip #22 Create an interesting banner to drop in your forum signatures or other online locations. Many message boards will let you leave a link and/or banner in your signature, but don’t like blatant advertising.

Promo Tip #23 Brand your name across the world and be ever mindful of the image you wish to portray whenever out in public or online. When it’s in print, it’s permanent.

Promo Tip #24 There is such a thing as overkill, in that it is better to describe your band/music as “we sound similar to the Beatles” rather than “we are the biggest thing since Led Zeppelin!” (or better than). So word your description accordingly.

Promo Tip #25 The music business is in the business to make money. If your career is in music, know when to be businesslike.

Promo Tip #26 Learn every area of the business you are in. Knowledge is power.

Promo Tip #27 You must network. Meet people, get out there, shake hands, listen to them as well and let them know about your music. Build those relationships.

Promo Tip #28 Be on friendly terms with other bands and artists in your area.

Promo Tip #29 Create a “street team”, online and/or offline…they are core people that wish to help you further your marketing efforts. Give away free tickets, CDs or merchandise to your street team as incentive.

Promo Tip #30 Announce every song, every CD, decent chart position, contest win, top sales on releases, announce anything and everything to stay in the public’s eye. If you can’t write a decent article up for the press release, get someone that can. Write a review of every gig and get feedback from local VIPs, fans, whomever matters and include the best quotes. Is it news worthy? Write and promote it. Get the most mileage you can from your promotional tactics.

Promo Tip #31 Never mail your CD without a purpose or a contact person’s name on it and expect miracles. Far better that the contact person knows to expect your CD, his or her name is spelled correctly, and you are mailing it to a company that actually works with your style of music.

Promo Tip #32 Wear your band! Get a jacket, t-shirts (etc) and add your band name or logo on it. Wear it everywhere and be a walking advertisement. If you have a niche fan base, think of a merchandise item that they need that of course has your name on it!

Promo Tip #33 Create an interesting band logo. It can be a conversation starter or a potential contest question.

Promo Tip #34 Join a Songwriting Circle. This is a local idea (though it is possible through the Internet), to meet with other songwriters in your own area and share your songs. You can get feedback on your work, share ideas and tips, possibly collaborate on work, learn about what’s happening locally, help each other in many ways. If you wanted to start your own circle or look for one, you could use Craigslist for your Wanted or Needed post. Most ask that you be open minded and dedicated, with a willingness to listen and give feedback.

Promo Tip #35 Burn your best song as a single. On the CD and cover include ALL contact info, website, names, etc and distribute that CD wherever you go, for free.

Promo Tip #36 Have a custom vinyl car wrap created about your music/band and put it on your car. OR a use a magnetic door sign for your vehicle will work as well.

Promo Tip #37 Cross promote online on your web sites with local bands as well. You give them a boost on your site and they give the same back to you. Ask other people to LINK TO YOUR music site from their website!

Promo Tip #38 Introducing your band whether in person or online has a lot of similarity in speech writing techniques, in that you have to grab the reader or listener or viewer in the first 30 seconds. Your opening line needs to have punch, snag the audience and reel them right in. Remember the rock group KISS and “Are you ready to Rock?!!” Find your attention getting line and use it. Don’t fall victim to the less inspiring, “um, hi guys, um, we are the ‘Example’ band…”

Promo Tip #39 Use Internet class ads as well as local newspapers to promote upcoming events and possible collaborations with others. Print papers and magazines need advance notice so plan accordingly.

Promo Tip #40 Create an online newsletter, with content of value to the receiver. This is an invaluable way to keep fans informed on gigs, news, gossip, new releases and other great info. Send out your newsletter about once a month.

Promo Tip #41 Be outrageous or controversial. Shock value can work, but it can backfire too. Can you maintain the image? It has worked for many, but was a disaster for many more. Think this tip out.

Promo Tip #42 Create a fan club online and get them to spread your banners, links and provide content for them to spread.

Promo Tip #43 Who are the VIPs in your community – who are the popular people in your area? Get to know them, give them a free CD and invite them to your show. When they speak, others will listen.

Promo Tip #44 Create a video and get on YouTube. Place your video on all relevant video sites. Video Scrapbook (or Diary) your music band’s progress, accomplishments, and jam sessions. This could make for good clips in other projects.

Promo Tip #45 Have a CD, digital download and other merchandise for sale. Generate some sales so you have something to invest in other areas of your marketing effort.

Promo Tip #46 Have star quality, but don’t be a big-head. Let people know you are professional and have the ability to be a long lasting star in this business.

Promo Tip #47 Never Spam email.

Promo Tip #48 Have a press kit ready to send out or email. Have it neatly organized with a brief bio, a short description (about 30 words or less) on what you sound like, full length bio, quality photos, music samples, current press releases and quality newsworthy items, song lyrics, radio airplay and chart position information, and detailed contact information.

Promo Tip #49 Join online music groups and newsgroups.

Promo Tip #50 Be a bit mysterious, hold back and leave them wanting more. Timing is everything for some info, releases, etc.

Promo Tip #51 Create a music slogan of up to 8 words (less is better) that quickly, accurately and in a catchy manner describes your music in a real way.

Promo Tip #52 Give a review to get a review, honestly is the best policy, but never brutality. Many times someone will return the favor and it shows your knowledge, your twist, on the music created.

Promo Tip #53 Print up posters and/or flyers about your upcoming show and post them wherever your type of fans would hang out and include your web link, show date, name of CD, where CD can be purchased.

Promo Tip #54 Get into podcasting and videocasting yourself or making your music available for podcasting.

Part 2 of 100 Tips to Marketing Your Music continues the remaining promo tips plus some bonus ideas!

 

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As the broadcast sector broke into the scenario of music in the entertainment industry, the producers started using the musical power so as to spread the message of music to the broader audience. The music libraries became an all important tool in the online marketing Endeavour of the producers since they included music artists along with other young and bright talents. The royalty involved with the number of sold albums have also increased in the present times. This was one of the reasons why the music libraries started to appear and became popular. Therefore a music library is in reality an advertisement that endorses all musical trends and forms.

The profile of a music library is to act as a medium where you can store the original music that is your creation. The music libraries provide the music producers with a pre-recorded collection of music for the purpose of music licensing for films so that these files can be used any type of media. The license fees are varied and are dependent on the clearance and the viewing rights of the medium.

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It is a pretty easy and simple task to get your music licensed with any of the popular music libraries. The music libraries realized the fact that the ’search and download’ option on the internet is a very popular function on the internet. The music libraries offer a frustration free experience for the audience and the buyers as they are easy to use and are way more comfortable.

The music licensing for films is an option available for those musician who wishes to publish the original art in the music libraries. All you need to do is ensure the fact that the music is copyrighted by you. By licensing the music, you are able to prove that the music is rightfully yours. There are a lot of advantages of licensing the music, some are mentioned below:

If you publicize your music in front of a listener without obtaining a license, then anybody can copy the music and demand that to be his creation. Since, you do not own the license, you would not be able to litigate the person with a lawsuit for copying your music. Once the music is licensed and updated in the music library, you can be assured that the music producers would notice your creation. Remember, a lot of music producers are mostly on the lookout for original musicians.

Besides the music libraries and the music licensing companies, a lot of talent hunt reality shows are regularly being organized by different music channels all over the world. The music libraries provide a platform that offers a route towards success for the budding talents in the music industry.

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