Microsoft Musical Instruments

Advantages: very informative, fun to use, very educational
Disadvantages: hard to find in stores, can only be used on a Mac

...Its fall and my K-5 elementary students have returned to there favorite spots on the risers in my music room. It is always energizing to see there enthusiasm and excitement about school starting, getting there instruments in beginning band and coming back to music class. I especially get a kick out of the kindergarten students who are in "wide eyed wonder" over all the changes they are experiencing. I began the year teaching the students about the different families of instruments and after digging through my dusty files, I found a real treasure! Microsoft created a CD called "Microsoft's Musical Instruments" about 12 years ago. It is one of the best programs I have found for introducing the various families of instruments and learning about instruments from other countries. It only works on the Macintosh computer and I am not sure...

musical43 14.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Microsoft Musical Instruments 1.0 Complete package

Why I Love My Piano (although I'm a bit rubbish!)

Advantages: Relaxing, entertaining, a fantastic hobby that can enrich your life
Disadvantages: Takes a lot of time and possibly some money

...Did anyone see the report on the news last week about the increase in people taking up musical instruments since the credit crunch began? I was surprised by this, but when I thought about it a bit more it did make perfect sense. Playing an instrument can be very relaxing, satisfying and a great antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life. The initial cost of buying an instrument can be considerable, but once you have it, there it is, just waiting for you to make your beautiful music. Beautiful to your own ears at least, even if to no-one else's! JoannaPiano As you will probably guess from my Ciao name, I am a would-be pianist. I have only been playing for a year, so I am certainly no expert. I am coming up to the anniversary of when I first took the plunge and began learning. It seems a good time to review my...

JoannaPiano 07.03.2009 (08.03.2009) · Read review
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Review of Playing an instrument

Instrumentally Intriguing

Advantages: The music is intelligent, the musicianship fantastc.
Disadvantages: Little use of vocals, only seven tracks.

...It was in 2004 that the American rock band Torche released its debut album; in 2007 the band followed it up with the release of 7 track mini-album 'In Return' through the Rock Action record label though and contained here is a grand total of 20 minutes of music. It's a pretty interesting seven track release and if you like your rock music to be played hard and heavy then you should quite appreciate the sound of Torche. This mini-album storms into action with 'Warship', it's a great way to begin the release and Torche does here show itself to be an absolutely excellent band. Vocals are barely used in this track and the instrumental side of things is therefore left to do the vast majority of the talking. It's an enjoyable track and if you like heavy instrumental rock music then the music should most definitely be of appeal...

RazzaLazza 08.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of In Return - Torche

AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD?

Advantages: A clever and enthralling tale of destiny and fate .
Disadvantages: A little perverse and a little long . But these are minor points .

...kills Johnny's mother (who had the best BREASTS of all the mother's) with a far flung BASEBALL that hits her smack in the head and KILLS her instantly. From then on Owen believes that he is an 'INSTRUMENT OF GOD' that he is ALIVE to serve a pre-destined purpose. He believes that his SIZE and his VOICE have something to do with this PURPOSE. The childhood of the two boys is portrayed in great detail and there is much symbolism throughout. Those of you that have read the book will understand the importance of the ARMLESS DUMMY and the scarifice of the ARMADILLO's claws. There are moments of humor in the novel as well as moments of utter sadness and DESPAIR. My Opinion. ************* This is one of the BEST books I have ever read and I read alot. A Prayer for Owen Meany is a fantastically written and enthralling book. From...

nickyturnill 06.02.2006 (13.02.2006) · Read review
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Review of A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving

Ain't never to late to start playing

Advantages: Joy, new world opens up
Disadvantages: obsessive, can be expensive

...I came to musical instruments pretty late on really, in fact I have only been learning the saxophone for les than a year. I used to be in awe of musicians (still am), reading music just did not seem possible, it looked much to complicated and there never seemed to be the right time to start. Well, I have this quirk, every year since I was 36 I have tried something new, mainly as I wanted to be able to say to myself later in life "Hey, I tried all those things", I got on a skateboard for the first time on my 40th birthday, but thats another story, anyway I digress. Apart from my wife and kids, learning to play an instrument is by far the most fantastic and pleasurable thing I have done in my entire life. And guess what, reading music is dead easy!! The plus points are numerous, for a start, having asthma, since starting to...

paulhanton 21.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Playing an instrument

Play that? No way!

Advantages: See text.
Disadvantages: See text.

...Playing an instrument has many different advantages, couple with many disadvantages although they all counteract each other. OK, so I have also just confused myself by let's just crack on! First off, lets have a look at the diasdvantages. Although I play the keyboard now, I started off playing the violin. I used to do this when I was only about 8, but oyu don't have to worry about what age you start at - just so long as it is something that you want to do. But of course, it is OK to want to do something but the first problem is actually doing something about it. One disadvantage is not actually having the will power in order to do it, so just do it! Find a good teacher, look in local papers/ shop windows; word of mouth, and so on. The next disadvantage, once you have made that step to learning is keeping it up. This is...

dynamicnurse 13.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Playing an instrument

Music, the food of love? you decide...

Advantages: Very rewarding, huge range of instruments and musical styles to choose from
Disadvantages: Requires a certain amount of musical talent, can be time consuming

...Playing musical instruments is such a broad subject, as there are so many hundreds (probably thousands) of musical instruments to choose, and so many styles of music to choose to play with your instrument. This is what makes this hobby so exciting. MY EXPERIENCE: I began seriously playing music aged 8, when my Dad bought me a nylon-stringed acoustic guitar. Being a good guitarist he taught me the basics, and I joined my infant schools' guitar group to learn from a teacher. I gave this hobby up after about a year and a half because physically, I found it very demanding. I have a mild hand tremor which means my hands tire very easily. Having to stretch my fingers to play chords that were perhaps to big for my fingers anyway meant that I lost interest. I then began playing recorder in a school group, along with most of the other...

Frailfrost 05.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Playing an instrument

Grizzly bears drink fizzy ale

Advantages: Incredibly rewarding
Disadvantages: If you have the patience

...There are books and books written about this subject: on how to play, on technique, on performance practice, and so on. Academics and performers and all sorts have had their say about the matter, and this year as part of my masters course I'm going to get to document my own attempts to learn Cuban piano and have my say as well. This review though doesn't claim to be nearly quite so grand; it is simply a few of my own thoughts on starting to play an instrument, and will hopefully prove a useful guide for children and adults alike. Why Should I Learn An Instrument? Here are some good reasons, pick the ones you like: For your own enjoyment, or for the enjoyment of others. To impress someone. Because your Mum always wanted you to. To create jealousy. To annoy. To put on your CV. To appear more cultural. To meet...

butimba 12.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Playing an instrument

Learn Guitar and become a Rock God

Advantages: You could become a Rock God
Disadvantages: I don't absolutely guarantee it.

...As a guitarist, singer, song-writer with a home-studio who sometimes still gets up at open mike evenings to entertain, I'm obviously someone keen on playing an instrument. Would I recommend people to take it up? That depends on the person. I've found over the years that some people of my acquaintance let the whole process of playing and singing into their lives so that if sits naturally with who they are and becomes part of them. This is the sort of person who will rest a guitar on their lap in a conversation and appear to ignore it. They might not even play it particularly but it's as comfortable for them to hold a guitar as to not hold one. This kind of person may be very interested in music and listen to a lot of it. They might have songs they love that they've learned so that they can experience them from the inside and not just...

FlameDruid 17.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Playing an instrument

Music Synth - One of the best

Advantages: Amazing, does what you want. Outstanding sound.
Disadvantages: Little point upgrading to newer versions!

...Native Instruments Massive is one of the best computer synthesizers I have ever used. It is a VST compatible instrument, so you can use this is most music sequencers including Sonar and Zynewave Podium, which are what I am currently using. For those who are not up to modern music making techniques, Massive is a an instrument that is played on your computer. You use your music keyboard to send messages about which keys you are pressing and Massive creates the sounds. The program has quite a few oscillators to start you off. Many instruments have a choice of all the standard oscillations including Sin, Triangle and Square waves, but Massive has about 50 choices meaning a huge amount of flexibility to start you off. There are all the standard toys including filters and effects that you can apply to the sounds, however I won...

NegativeG 15.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Native Instruments Massive