music Archives

Aug152022 by Paul LinusNo Comments

Importance of fine arts, music in high school curriculum

General

The 1995 film Mr. Holland’s Opus ends with the defunding of the music department at the John F. Kennedy High School. After almost two hours of film demonstrating how the fine arts changed the lives of students, the story builds to a crescendo of unanticipated tragedy. Yet this is the story played over many times across the nation as school boards seek ways to implement painful budget cuts. The message of Mr. Holland, however, is clear: the value of music and the fine arts is indispensable to a superb education and should be an equal partner in every high school curriculum. The Fine Arts Impact Students Seeking Creative Outlets Historically, art and music have always been highly valued as necessary characteristics of society and culture. The Roman Emperor Nero, for example, is oft...

Mar282022 by Paul LinusNo Comments

Evolution of South African music: The 1980’s

Music

The 1980's saw a significant growth in the ever evolving South African music scene with an array of new artists and bands flourishing like never before. Bubblegum Music An unadulterated style of South African pop music, Bubblegum was uniquely based on vocals with overlapping call-and-response lyrics combined with the use of electronic keyboards and synthesizers. The first major bubblegum star was Dan Tshanda of the band Splash, followed closely in popularity by Chicco Twala whose claim to fame was his politically oriented lyrics and a collaboration with the famed Mzwakhe Mbuli. During the late 1980’s Yvonne Chaka Chaka rose to stardom with her 1984 hit ‘I’m in Love With a DJ’ being the first major bubblegum hit. Her popularity continued well into the 1990’s with her first n...

Jul122021 by Paul LinusNo Comments

Asian music for classical music appreciation student

Music

The classical music appreciation student should broaden his or her listening palette by including music from all over the Asian continent. Outsourcing and globalization has brought people and cultures together which used to be separated by much more than an ocean. Studying music from Asian history and culture helps Westerners form friendships and business relationships with literally billions of people. East Meets West: Asian Music and the Western Ear Asian music predates Western music by centuries. Some music historians believe the first strands of music came out of the Orient and Middle East. Tonalities are very different than what the Western ear is accustomed to hearing. Often Americans, in particular, tease about the sound of Oriental music, because it sounds out of tune to ...

Nov242020 by Paul LinusNo Comments

Musical kids Christmas gifts

Music

Harmonicas, colorful ukuleles, percussion instruments shaped like fruit, a fun keyboard instrument - there are infinite possibilities for great Christmas presents waiting at the music counter. Christmas Gifts for Toddlers Toddlers are not going to have the coordination to really be able to play an instrument but they will love to make a noise on any kind of percussion instrument and there is a wide range of fun shapes to be found, especially in the shaker and small drum department. Remo makes a colorful set of bongo drums that even the 2-year-olds and under will be attracted to. This will cost in the region of $30 US. Remo also makes a range of fruit shakers but these are perhaps a little too realistic for the under-fives - they might spend more time chewing them than shaking...

Jun212020 by Paul LinusNo Comments

Stevie Wonder: Where I’m Coming From and For Once In My Life

Entertainment, Music

The late 1960s had seen a growing number of 'personal' albums: records written, performed and produced by the artists themselves. By 1970 the trend had yet to infiltrate Motown, which was sticking to the same album pattern it had throughout its existence - a couple of hit singles, filled out with numerous covers of popular songs and stock songs culled from the Jobete archives. Stevie Wonder had been growing in ambition since 1968's For Once In My Life, and yearned to create an album free of Motown's interference. With his 21st birthday approaching and with it the ability to void his contract with the company, Berry Gordy allowed Stevie to produce his own record. This, along with Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, were the first albums from Motown which were allowed such a privilege. ...

May162020 by Paul LinusNo Comments

National Resonator (Steel) Guitar – development and history

Music

Back in the '20s, bluesman played the National Resonator Guitar. This guitar was 3 to 5 times louder than any guitar made of wood. It was also impervious to outside environments of tent shows and juke joints. This was because of its metal body which is what made it instantly recognizable to the fans of the Blues. Bluesman- The Delta Blues and the National Resonator Back then the Blues artist had to make himself heard over the normal noise that occurred when the crowd assembled to dance and enjoyed themselves. These early jazz bands were large and were normally fronted by women singers, like legends Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey who had to be loud enough to cut through the crowded tent with no acoustics. Most guitars back then were the catalogue type like the Harmony Stella Parlor...