Dance summer schools UK

Summer may seem like a lifetime away but as always it will creep up on you and before you know it the kids will be on a 6 week holiday screaming at you that they are bored and begging you to keep them entertained. As adults we crave for a 6 week holiday but as children it can seem long and boring, especially if you have nothing exciting to do or look forward to.

Why not make this summer different and give them something fun to do? It will keep them happy and keep them out of your hair, making it a real win-win situation. There are different summer schools that you can sign your children up to, which will keep them busy. And no, don’t worry it isn’t a school that they have to study at - I am not sure they would thank you for it!

For example a dance summer school may be a good option. This is the ideal place for your child to make new friends and learn new skills. It will keep them busy, give them something to look forward to and even better than that it will give them plenty of exercise.

These schools are located all over the UK, so finding one near you should not be too much of a struggle. Using a search engine like Google should make the task of finding one even quicker. Just remember that you will need to tailor make your search for the UK, otherwise you could be look at schools from anywhere! A search for “dance summer schools UK” should be enough to point you in the right direction and get you started in finding schools that might be suitable for your children.

Once you have done this you can start to look at websites and weigh up costs and what each school charges. Between you and your child you can then make a decision on which school they want to go to for the summer. Summer is fast approaching so why not start to look for dance summer schools UK now and give your child something to look forward to as the long summer holidays approach.

Customise Album Artwork for iTunes

Most people now have an iPod of some sort to listen to music on. Having access to all this music wherever you go is truly amazing. You can pretty much listen to any song in your library anytime you want, without needing to remember to take the correct cassettes or CDs with you. All your music in your pocket, everywhere you go. One problem is, that the iTunes library becomes messy over time. You end up with duplicate songs, many songs, artists and albums don't have the correct track names associated, and the right cover art never seems to be available.

Removing the duplicated tracks is a pretty straightforward process, and you can see how to do this on the Apple support site. It does become a problem when you have a really large library though, and let's face it, who doesn't? The effort involved increases with the number of tracks, and basically becomes an pain in the backside. A serious pain. I did some research into the problem to see if there is an easy way around this. THere are a number of 'scripts' provided by programmers, but these are Mac specific and require some technical knowledge to use.

I've come to the conclusion that the only way to do this correctly is a software package that automates the entire process. Software cleans your music library, doesn't require much input from you, and gets the job done. These products clear duplicates, fixes missing track and genre info, and updates your missing cover art, all automatically. If you run this every week, your library will be maintained properly, without you needing to do any of the work. Thousands of users and music lovers with large libraries are already using this, as it's the best way to keep your music collection clean. Go to the site below to get an overview of the product, and a step by step guide for doing the work manually, then decide.

American Idol 10 – eight left and counting

American Idol voters, you stink.

But first, the show.

Opening medely – fun, even James did okay on “The Letter.” I’m sure Paul found it hard to hold up a fist and scream, “Repazent!” when they finished the Skynyrd tune.

I’d never heard of Constantine Maroulis, who apparently was a season 4 contender, but when the camera moved up on this long haired microphone-gripper with a scarf tied to the mike stand in a shameless smooch to Steven Tyler, my douchebag radar went off like an air raid siren. He sang “Unchained Melody,” which was already a bit overdone, and he really overdid it; it came out burned on top like a pan of biscuits left in the oven five minutes too long. He seemed like a nice enough guy in the interview, but send me a warning when he approaches the stage next time.

Hey, I didn’t know you could say “shit” on network TV! I guess you can if your name is Iggy Pop. I’ve always loved this freak, though “Real Wild Child” is one of his weaker hit songs. Who knows, maybe he’s tired of singing “The Passenger.”

And then the bottom three.

Jacob, Stefano and Pia. What’s wrong with 2/3 of this picture?

Stefano’s had a good run and is certainly better than a lot of the people who’ve gotten cut (but not recently), but Jacob? Pia? They’re both top-echelon. Yeah, Jacob’s statement that if he was eliminated it was because America “Couldn’t look itself in the mirror” was pretty damn pompous, but you expect ego and attitude from people that talented. As long as he belts out the tunes like a champ, it’s a small crime. And Pia? Really?

And then the judgment came down. Pia is out.

I’m glad to see that the judges were all as totally floored by this judgment call as I was when I found out. It wasn’t hard at all to read the “WTF?” on Randy’s lips, and Jennifer looked like one of her own children had just fallen down a well. Mr. Cool Ryan Seacrest even seemed a bit disturbed. When asked, all three judges responded, well, as they should have. Absolutely confounded. Ms. Toscone herself was very well composed, no tears, all in order like a pro. I’m sure the waterworks came later, but she was ready for her final song which she threw down, as always, like a star. After it was over, that camera shot of Jennifer again, hands up, shaking her head in disbelief pretty much said it all.

I don’t live in the U.S. and therefore can’t vote in this contest, so I guess I have an excuse. In the long run, again, it’s just a game show, and of course Pia could have done her career worse than making it into the top nine of a high-profile TV show. She’ll be on the tour and no doubt she, like Scotty, could survive a cut and go one to a very successful career. We shall see.

The results show a few of the flaws in the voting system on this show.

I’ve heard a lot about the cute boy syndrome on the show, where young girls vote for whoever they think is the most dishy male singer. This explains the continued presence of both James and Stefano and to a lesser degree, Paul (who has some modicum of talent). Conversely, the same girls tend to be a bit catty with the female singers, so maybe someone like Pia, who is astonishingly beautiful and talented, is a bit too much competition for the little Heathers out there. The cushiony Lauren is maybe more acceptable… but then there’s Haley, so I dunno. Not a perfect theory.

Scotty, Lauren and Paul may have an extra layer of protection around them because they’re southerners. We have constituted a disproportionate number of Idol winners, because we tend to support our own and because, well, we take music seriously because it’s something we’re just damn good at. Deal with it, United Statesians.

I’d like to think it’s because of his talent, but maybe Jacob is now benefitting from being the only black contender left. It didn’t keep him out of the bottom three this week, however.

It hurts, though, to see such a talent step off the stage, but that’s what’s always going on here.

Pia darling? I’m a big fan. You’ve got tremendous charisma onstage, you’re beyond gorgeous and your voice makes me happy to be alive. You’re a star, baby. Don’t stop singing, whatever you do.

So it’s eight now.

American Idol voters? I beg you; next week SEND JAMES DURBIN HOME.

He has worn out his welcome for this international viewer.

All about Katy Perry on tour

Born on 25th October 1984 in Santa Barbara, South California, Katy later discovered her singing talents through the church and listening to Gospel music. Soon she found herself in Nashville, Tennessee – the home of Country Rock music. She was signed to a small indie label and recorded a Gospel Rock album under her original name Katy Hudson.

After several knock backs, she changed her name to Katy Perry and suddenly found fame with the controversial hit record ‘I Kissed A Girl’. This launched her into the mainstream and after gaining major support from the press and radio, soon followed up with her platinum selling album ‘One Of The Boys’ in 2008.

Later that year Katy won ‘Best New Act’ at the European MTV Awards and in 2009 was proud to receive a BRIT award for ‘Best International Female’. This rise to fame allowed her to headline her own Katy Perry Tour in 2009, titled ‘Hello Katy’ which was her first ever worldwide tour around North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. In 2010 she released her brand new single ‘California Gurls’, featuring rapper Snoop Dogg, that hit no.1 in the Billboard Charts. This propelled her even further into the stratosphere. The ‘Teenage Dream’ single and album soon followed in July 2010, followed by the 3nd single ‘Firework’.

2011, brings a brand new Katy Perry tour – California Dreams Tour. The tour is a much bigger tour than her previous as she has grown in popularity. She often visits places like Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the UK, usual tour dates include London, Manchester, Liverpool and Ireland as well as Nottingham, Bournemouth, Cardiff and Newcastle.

The Australian leg of the Katy Perry tour usually includes Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. She visits New Zealand too for a couple of dates in Auckland and Wellington. Whilst she is there, she sometimes flies to Japan performing in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Katy Perry tour goes to a lot of USA and Canadian dates as well seen as that is her home country of America. It often visits cities such as Duluth, onto Orlando and Tampa, in Florida, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa and finally Cleveland, Milwaukee following on to Saint Paul.

The tour even goes to Rio De Janeiro, in Brazil, so there is chance for Latin American fans to go and see her as well without having to travel to the USA or elsewhere. Katy Perry does a lot of tour dates in the UK and particularly several in London which is very popular and sells out quickly. They take place at large Arena style venues. Ireland dates are often in Dublin at the famous O2 arena, host to many of the world’s biggest musical stars. She often does a couple of dates here for her Irish fans.

For more information visit: http://www.katyperryticketsonline.co.uk/

Self Storage For Musical Instruments

If you are a musician, you are bound to have a lot of musical instruments, which can vary from your current musical accessories to your collectibles. You can never seem to get rid of your old instruments, and your emotional attachment with them necessitates a secure self storage.

Are you an Internet savvy person with a passion for musical instruments? Being an online retailer of musical instruments is a great business venture for the musically inclined entrepreneur looking for a way to make some real income off of their interests. Musical instruments provide the art form that is music to our ears. And people love them so much; they even decorate their houses with instruments, even if they don’t play them, to impress guests to their homes. Actual musicians are just trying to find ways to purchase them at a cheaper rate. Of course, they’re looking online.

First, think about the type of music store you envision. Don’t have capital for a storefront or room for inventory? Self storage is the perfect place to store your inventory. Will you specialize in one type of instrument? Or have a variety of percussion, keyboards and guitars. Look into wind instruments, musical accessories like shakers and tambourines, amplifiers, cases, DJ equipment, electric guitars, microphones, and string instruments. The possibilities are endless, but try to form a niche. To make your store unique, stick with where you have the most experience. If you’re like most online entrepreneurs, you might be a bit strapped for cash. Have any other skills? A way to increase profits is to offer local classes to music students or clubs and perhaps even rent some of your inventory out to them. Your online business can start on a part-time basis from home. A self storage can safely keep any inventory you’re keeping and is easy to access once you make that first sale.

Once you get going, start a VIP club or offer discounts to regulars and students to make them feel special. Everyone loves a good deal and it’s a great way to get your customers to keep coming back. In the age of the Internet, anyone can have an online business. It doesn’t cost much to start one, and with facilities like self storage units, your overhead is marginal. Make sure you’re always updating your website to keep up with current technology and trends. The music industry changes constantly and your online instrument business should always reflect changes to keep up. Perhaps the greatest benefit of an online musical instrument business is that you have something of value to share with the world, which can potentially generate income for you for the rest of your life.

Make Your Own Beats For Free!

If you have the talent for creating music beats, you can make it in the music business fairly easily. Don’t worry if you lack the funds or hardware in the beginning. These do not have to be hindrances to your goals. No need to wait for a big fish in the industry to discover you, instead make yourself discovered. By simply using the internet to your advantage, you can make your own beats for free, tossing aside all that concern about needing expensive equipment or software. This is a cheap and fun way to make your dreams come true.

An artist or a musician can have different ways of expressing themselves. They can make music that is soft, loud or even noisy. Either way, it is a means of expressing themselves and communicating their talents and passions and feelings to the world. That’s what makes an artist unique and exceptional, the ability to differentiate his or herself. If this is your dream, you can do it too, from the convenience of your home. You can do it at your own pace in your own time, and you can make your beats for free.

Here are some tips to help you make your own beats for free. There is a lot of stuff out there and the tools and resources you choose will have a lot to do with your personal preferences. Your tastes in music will help dictate where you go and which software might be best suited to your needs. There are a lot of software programs with a lot of different features out there, but once you know what kind of music you want, looking for just the right software won’t take that much time.

You can begin to make your own beats for free by having a good sequencer followed by a reliable sound editor. This will be useful for editing samples and wave files. Of course, if you are not that musically inclined, you can get your samples from a number of other areas. Samples are that part of the audio track that you have extracted from your personal choice of music. You can get them from CD samples, old records, or any good sounding music will do.

Make Your Beats for Free:

1. Download the software you need from the internet. Online software for making music beats can be acquired in free downloads or trial versions and either can help you create a finished beat. Install them and be ready to begin.

2. Open the program and look through the files to choose the music that you want to modify and sample on. You can scan through your music; find each one until have your selection.

3. Click on it and zoom it in the toolbar, specifying the part of the music where you want to create the sample, from the beginning to the end. It shows as a highlight on the screen.

4. Press play for a preview and save the selection part to be used later

5. Back to the program, you can start adjusting the keys. Some applications are really user friendly and only need trial and error to suit your needs. Then go to file and click Add sampler and the sampler you have saved will be loaded to the program, ready to be edited.

6. You can start adding kicks, snares, Hi Hats, claps, loops or any addition - you can create your own preference. These keys are all found in the program and easy to find.

7. Make the final adjustment of your pitch, tempos, and applications you want and save them either as MP3 or any other compatible file type.

An exclusive beat that nobody else can use sets you apart from everyone else. An exclusive beat can make you a unique artist. Start to make your own beats for free and you never know – maybe it will hit the radio charts. Making beats is fun and easy and can be free to boot, so if that’s your passion, go for it!

Easy Guitar Lessons for Beginners

Relevance Info Services, an international publisher of quality information asked me as a professional musician and guitar player to reveal a number of methods to learn play the guitar. There are a lot of methods today but also a lot of difference between those methods. I try to guide you to take the right decision based upon your personal goals

This article is about “Easy Guitar Lessons for Beginners”. More subject related articles will follow later on.

Yes! It’s possible. You can take easy guitar lessons without ever spending a dime. Following you will find four easy lessons to aid you in learning how to play the guitar.

Easy Guitar Lessons Number 1: How to hold a guitar.

Normally, you play the guitar on the leg. You’ll be strumming using your dominant hand so the guitar goes to the side of your dominant hand as well. Keep the guitar nice and straight, nice and close. Sometimes the guitar slides off your leg while playing because you bend your back to look at the placement of your fingers on the frets. This is quite normal for guitar players. But, it is important to stay away from bad habits while you’re just starting. So again, keep the guitar nice and straight, nice and close.

Easy Guitar Lessons Number 2: Getting to know the chord chart.

For the six chords you will be learning today, you will be focusing on the four first frets of the guitar. Frets, by the way, are the spaces between the metal vertical lines on the guitar. As there are six strings on the guitar, there will be 6 horizontal lines as well on the diagram representing the strings. Your fingers will be numbered 1-3 starting from the index finger.

Easy Guitar Lesson Number 3: The three basic chords.

The first chord you will need to study is the D chord. Finger #1 and #2 will be positioned on the second fret. Finger #1 will be on the third string while finger #2 will be on the first string. Finger #3 will be positioned on the third fret on the second string.

The second chord to study is the E chord which is one of the ideal chords for beginners to learn. Finger #1 is positioned on the first fret on the third string. Finger #2 and #3 will be on the second fret. Finger #2 will be positioned on the fifth string while finger#3 will be on the fourth string. Follow the diagram below.

The A chord is also one of the easiest chords to master. This chord can be played in more than one way but this is the basic method. All Fingers #1, #2, #3 are all positioned on the second fret. Finger #1 goes to the fourth string, finger #2 goes to the third string and Finger #3 is positioned on the second string. Refer below.

Easy Guitar Lesson Number 4: Strumming and changing chords.

The first three chords will now enable you to play some tunes with one additional step which is the strumming. Strumming your guitar is a fundamental skill to be learned. It is done by moving your dominant hand up and down on the strings. Always keep your hands moving. Don’t rush. Start slowly till you have strumming perfected. Start off slow then build up your speed gradually. The chords should ring out with no buzzing and only play the strings of that chord shown on the chord chart. On changing chords, master the basic cords. Set the beat. Change to the different chord before starting the next beat. To learn how to change chords and strum more effectively, practice on your favorite song with a slow beat.

These easy guitar lessons were designed to be a self-help tool for you. Enjoy playing guitar!