Sunday, November 15, 2009

Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You a Happier Person?

How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes?

Music affects us all. But only in recent times have scientists sought to explain and quantify the way music impacts us at an emotional level. Researching the links between melody and the mind indicates that listening to and playing music actually can alter how our brains, and therefore our bodies, function.

It seems that the healing power of music, over body and spirit, is only just starting to be understood, even though music therapy is not new. For many years therapists have been advocating the use of music in both listening and study for the reduction of anxiety and stress, the relief of pain. And music has also been recommended as an aid for positive change in mood and emotional states.

Michael DeBakey, who in 1966 became the first surgeon to successfully implant an artificial heart, is on record saying: "Creating and performing music promotes self-expression and provides self-gratification while giving pleasure to others. In medicine, increasing published reports demonstrate that music has a healing effect on patients."

Doctors now believe using music therapy in hospitals and nursing homes not only makes people feel better, but also makes them heal faster. And across the nation, medical experts are beginning to apply the new revelations about music's impact on the brain to treating patients.

In one study, researcher Michael Thaut and his team detailed how victims of stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease who worked to music took bigger, more balanced strides than those whose therapy had no accompaniment.

Other researchers have found the sound of drums may influence how bodies work. Quoted in a 2001 article in USA Today, Suzanne Hasner, chairwoman of the music therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, says even those with dementia or head injuries retain musical ability.

The article reported results of an experiment in which researchers from the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., tracked 111 cancer patients who played drums for 30 minutes a day. They found strengthened immune systems and increased levels of cancer-fighting cells in many of the patients.

"Deep in our long-term memory is this rehearsed music," Hasner says. "It is processed in the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala. Here is where you remember the music played at your wedding, the music of your first love, that first dance. Such things can still be remembered even in people with progressive diseases. It can be a window, a way to reach them."

The American Music Therapy Organization claims music therapy may allow for "emotional intimacy with families and caregivers, relaxation for the entire family, and meaningful time spent together in a positive, creative way".

Scientists have been making progress in its exploration into why music should have this effect. In 2001 Dr. Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre of McGill University in Montreal, used positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to find out if particular brain structures were stimulated by music.

In their study, Blood and Zatorre asked 10 musicians, five men and five women, to choose stirring music. The subjects were then given PET scans as they listened to four types of audio stimuli – the selected music, other music, general noise or silence. Each sequence was repeated three times in random order.

Blood said when the subjects heard the music that gave them "chills," the PET scans detected activity in the portions of the brain that are also stimulated by food and sex.

Just why humans developed such a biologically based appreciation of music is still not clear. The appreciation of food and the drive for sex evolved to help the survival of the species, but "music did not develop strictly for survival purposes," Blood told Associated Press at the time.

She also believes that because music activates the parts of the brain that make us happy, this suggests it can benefit our physical and mental well being.

This is good news for patients undergoing surgical operations who experience anxiety in anticipation of those procedures.

Polish researcher, Zbigniew Kucharski, at the Medical Academy of Warsaw, studied the effect of acoustic therapy for fear management in dental patients. During the period from October 2001 to May 2002, 38 dental patients aged between 16 and 60 years were observed. The patients received variations of acoustic therapy, a practice where music is received via headphones and also vibrators.

Dr Kucharski discovered the negative feelings decreased five-fold for patients who received 30 minutes of acoustic therapy both before and after their dental procedure. For the group that heard and felt music only prior to the operation, the fearful feelings reduced by a factor of 1.6 only.

For the last group (the control), which received acoustic therapy only during the operation, there was no change in the degree of fear felt.

A 1992 study identified music listening and relaxation instruction as an effective way to reduce pain and anxiety in women undergoing painful gynecological procedures. And other studies have proved music can reduce other 'negative' human emotions like fear, distress and depression.

Sheri Robb and a team of researchers published a report in the Journal of Music Therapy in 1992, outlining their findings that music assisted relaxation procedures (music listening, deep breathing and other exercises) effectively reduced anxiety in pediatric surgical patients on a burn unit.

"Music," says Esther Mok in the AORN Journal in February 2003, "is an easily administered, non-threatening, non-invasive, and inexpensive tool to calm preoperative anxiety."

So far, according to the same report, researchers cannot be certain why music has a calming affect on many medical patients. One school of thought believes music may reduce stress because it can help patients to relax and also lower blood pressure. Another researcher claims music allows the body's vibrations to synchronize with the rhythms of those around it. For instance, if an anxious patient with a racing heartbeat listens to slow music, his heart rate will slow down and synchronize with the music's rhythm.

Such results are still something of a mystery. The incredible ability that music has to affect and manipulate emotions and the brain is undeniable, and yet still largely inexplicable.

Aside from brain activity, the affect of music on hormone levels in the human body can also be quantified, and there is definite evidence that music can lower levels of cortisol in the body (associated with arousal and stress), and raise levels of melatonin (which can induce sleep). It can also precipitate the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller.

But how does music succeed in prompting emotions within us? And why are these emotions often so powerful? The simple answer is that no one knows yet. So far we can quantify some of the emotional responses caused by music, but we cannot yet explain them. But that's OK. I don't have to understand electricity to benefit from light when I switch on a lamp when I come into a room, and I don't have to understand why music can make me feel better emotionally. It just does – our Creator made us that way.



November 16, 2009
By Duane Shinn
Duane Shinn is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 84,400 current subscribers.


Music Club

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Funniest Clown Stunts in Clown Party

Do you want to know what the funniest stunts of clowns are? It is easy and fun. Find out in this article and apply it in your next Clown party.

Now came a chance to show off a bit. The young clowns all sat in a circle and each one took a turn at clowning.

Each clown performed his funniest stunt while the youngsters applauded vigorously.
The boy and girl clown who won first place as funniest became the twirler in the old game of Statue. The boy twirler grabbed the right hand of each boy and swung him around three times. The clowns held the positions in which they landed. The twirler looked them over and picked the most interesting one to be the next twirler. The girl clown twirled all the girls and judged her group.

To have a quiet game before lunch the clowns seated themselves in a circle for a game of Circus. The first clown started the game by saying, I went to the circus to see an anteater. The next in line repeats, I went to the circus to see an anteater, and adds an animal beginning with the letter b as bear. The third in line might say, I went to the circus and saw an anteater, a bear, and a clown. One who fails to think of an object beginning with the next letter of the alphabet goes to the center of the circle.

By the time only a few were left competing, lunch was ready. Jack and Jill led their guests to the dining room for refreshments. For place cards balloons were used. A balloon bearing the name of a guest was tied to the back of each chair. Shouts of laughter greeted this new idea while the guests scrambled for their seats.

The traditional ice cream became jolly clowns a scoop of ice cream on a pineapple slice with bits of maraschino cherries for roguish eyes and mouth, and a whole cherry for a bulbous nose. Cone-shaped paper drinking cups with a red tassel on top perched on top of the clown face, added the last touch to the clownish appearance. Little frosted squares of white cake were dotted with tiny red candies.

The party guests were tired but happy. They gathered up their puppets to take home as favors. They were sure nothing could be more fun than such a jolly clown party.



November 13, 2009
By Mitch Johnson

Party Clowns

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Wicked Musical Broadway

The Wicked play is an adaptation of the book Wicked: the life and times of the Wicked Witches of the West, authored by Gregory Maguire. It is commonly referred to as the stage version of Wicked that is a ‘contemporized’ adaptation.

According to the broadway musical play the stage adapter named Winnie Holzman has unveiled Elpha as the main character, i.e. the Wicked Witch of the West, who though is a smart witch but very misapprehended. She has been portrayed as a typical witch that has green colored skin. In total comparison to her is the good witch named Glinda, who is beautiful to look at but in some ways a little stuck up. With the commencement of the play the audience is presented with encounters between the two witches in the Land of Oz. this play is now being featured in the adapted version. Details can be checked out regarding the availability of its tickets and their prices.

Tickets for wicked is worth a buy so that you can personally experience the imaginary world that has been created by Maguire. Musical shows Wicked and Jersey Boys (http://www.onlineticketspot.com/theaters/Jersey-Boys.php) are liked by both children and adults alike. In the contemporized version of the broadway wicked play the viewer witnesses the similarity and the contrast of the adaptation and the original work at the same time. As far as differences are concerned the adaptation diverts from comprising the talking animals, but at the same time does not divert much from the original appeal that is its charm. It is impossible to say that the play wicked has deprived the original work from its essence although it can be argued that full content of the novel has not been utilized in wicked the musical script. Nonetheless adequate matter has been used for enthralling the audience. It is a memorable experience that is worth it.

Parents will enjoy accompanying their children to watching Wicked broadway. In fact it would be advised not to miss out on the opportunity and to avail the discount tickets to Wicked or half price wicked tickets. The discount wicked tickets are available on onlineticketspot site. This wicked the musical play is not to be missed. The book by Maguire retells the same story in its own special way. It comes with the astounding revelation that Elpha was not as evil as she was thought to be by people. It would not even be wrong to say that the book and the play can certainly change your perceptions regarding the Wicked Witch of the West.

And in ways it certainly has the power to change thinking about sinister acts. Where to some it may seem something bad but the same act might act as a savior for others. It all depends on the situation. And I am sure everybody would like to see for themselves as to how an apparently sinister act can do someone good. Tickets to the play can be purchased at all theaters near you.

For more information you can visit: http://www.onlineticketspot.com/theaters/Wicked.php



November 12, 2009
By Pamela
Pamela is the lover of sports, concerts and theater shows. She works for SportsTicketsGuide (http://www.sportsticketsguide.com) and OnlineTicketSpot (http://www.onlineticketspot.com).


Musical Broadway

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Do I Need To Go To Drama School To Be A Successful Actor?

Many actors or actresses will have undergone training at a drama school to attain the necessary skills required to succeed. Without doubt this training will be truly beneficial and will almost certainly give any budding actor an edge when trying to learn their craft.

Drama School training would usually consist of a course lasting for about 3 years and during this time the budding actor would learn a variety of skills including movement, stage fighting, mime, musical theatre, production techniques, working to camera and much much more. The idea of undertaking such a course is to prepare the actor so that he is able to undertake a variety of roles and fully understand his craft.

Actors may want to follow one particular area of their craft, for example many will want to work in TV, and will love nothing more than to star in a soap opera 3 times a week with a regular wage. Then again some may prefer to stay with live performances in the theatre and some may want to make movies. The fact remains though, that as an actor if you are going to stay in work then you will have to be able to diversify and take on a number of different roles.

I Never Went To Drama School! Does This Mean I'll Never Make It?

Easy answer; Going to drama school does not mean you will make it as a successful actor.. Fact! It may give you and edge but there is no guarantee that you will be a great success. The important thing to remember here is that it is all about the talent that you have and how you apply it.

If you go to a casting and you prove to the director that you are good for the part and can deliver the goods then you are in with a great chance of getting the role. The fact remains that the casting director likes you for what you have displayed on the day and that will be noted. I know of many actors who have completed drama courses only to find that they have struggled to make any money. I still think undertaking a drama course is a great thing, but at the end of the day it is the person that you are, the talent you have and what you can offer to a casting director or producer that will determine whether or not you get parts.

If you are interested in going to a drama school then the procedure would normally to contact the drama school direct whereby you would be offered the chance to audition to showcase your talent. This may involve reading a couple of pieces of literature, classic and modern and perhaps singing a song.

Remember that drama schools will only have a limited number of places so it will be essential to apply for any places early. Start making your enquiries at your earliest opportunity as there will be other budding actors all competing for a limited number of places.



November 11, 2009
By Kirk Smith

To learn more revealing secrets about acting and show business visit The Kirk Smith Media Site today. Kirk Smith is a professional actor and voice over artiste and has starred in shows like Emmerdale, Brookside and The Ward. Visit http://www.kirksmithmedia.com Now!

Stage Drama

Monday, November 9, 2009

Dance Lessons are a Great way for a Couple to Connect

Many couples agree that they just don’t spend enough one on one time together. As a result they can grow apart or at the very least be disappointed with the same old routine all the time. One way to get some quality time together and to have a great time is to enroll in dance lessons. That way you can learn something new together and even practice at home in between sessions.

If you feel that the only time you and your spouse have time for each other is when a problem around the house or with the kids needs to be resolved then you are definitely in need of some fun. Bring the passion and romance back into your relationship too when you take dance lessons. You will both remember many great things about the other that helped you to fall in love in the first place.

Dance lessons also get your body moving and that can be different from what you usually do with each other at home. It can help you to feel more attractive for your partner as well. Dancing tends to relieve tension too and help people to loosen up. These are all benefits that can carry over into other areas of your relationship as well.

There are many forms of dance lessons too including those for hip hop, country swing, ballroom dancing, and more. Salsa dancing has become very popular lately so you will need to decide on what you wish to learn. If you have more than one area of interest chose one and then move into the next class after you are done with the first one. You may be able to get a discount when you sign up again so make sure you ask!

Dance lessons are going to walk you through the basics of the movements. If you have avoided dancing because it feels awkward or you don’t know the right moves then this is your opportunity to learn it in a very relaxed environment. You may find it intimidating to learn when they club is packed but this way you aren’t placed in such a situation.

A great time to take dance lessons is prior to getting married. You may have a great deal of anxiety about how you are going to look out there in the spotlight at your reception. It may mean a great deal to your spouse to be that dancing is included as part of that special day. Committing to dance lessons shows that you take his or her needs seriously and that you are willing to do your part to make the wedding day very memorable for both of you.

Dance lessons are very affordable and they are a great way for a couple to connect again. After you are done with the lessons plan a special night for dinner and an evening of dancing. In fact, you may like it so much you make it a monthly thing that you both look forward to. No matter what skills you have in dancing right now you will be able to learn more and to become more confident as you do.

You can invite other couples that you know to join you for dance lessons as well. You may be more comfortable if others that you have a relationship with are in attendance. Then you can make it a group effort to learn something such as dancing. Bring the subject up the next time you are with a group of your friends and see what people think of the idea. You can also have some information about what is offered in your area to share with them as well.



November 10, 2009
By Joshua Safee
Dancing is a common social activity that many people love. In wedding ceremony, dancing is a very important part. Therefore, many people want to learn to dance especially the new couples who want to dance a bridal waltz on their wedding. DanceXcite is a good choice for them to learn to dance Sydney. They provide wedding dance lessons such bridal waltz Sydney.

Dance Lessons

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Learn About Various Styles Of Dancing

There are many different styles of dancing that a person can take part in. The type of music you enjoy listening to is going to impact the dances that you want to do. Some of the different moves just don’t work well universally as they are specific to a given type of dancing. Learning all of this is easier than you might think so if you have all but given up on dancing then now is the time to educate yourself and to make the most of it.

Think about what you know about dancing and various forms of movement. For example if you enjoy country music then you have plenty to choose from. Depending on the song you may have the two step or the swing to take part in. There is also line dancing which is very fun. You also don’t need a partner for line dancing.

Hip hop dancing to rap music and new wave is one that many people love because they get to express their own since of style within it. They don’t have specific steps that they need to conform to in order to look good out there on the dance floor. Some of these moves people like include grinding or dancing with three people and one is in the middle of the other two.

Forms of dancing can be very sensual as well which is what many people like about it. Salsa dancing falls into that category and it is one that many people really seem to take an interest in. What about head banging? Well, you really can’t call that dancing but in some clubs it is still going on! The point I am trying to make is that there are just so many different dance styles and they do vary in nature from one extreme to the next.

Belly dancing is one trend that seems to be picking up quite a bit of interest. Many women have a desire to slim down their stomachs and to get stronger muscles there. This way they can look great in tops without the bulge and even wear a bikini again. Belly dancing is harder to learn than it looks though and you will have to use muscles that you never even knew existed. Yet it can be a great experience and you will love the way your body shape changes when you do it often.

Due to emerging trends there are too many variations of dance styles to mention. What you are comfortable with is what you should focus on. For example some people love the idea of ballroom dancing but the idea of bumping and grinding on the dance floor isn’t something that they would ever take part in.

Once you have found a dance style that you are interested in learn more about it. You will find hanging out in clubs where that type of music is played is very useful. Spend some time observing others to see what moves they have in place. You can also decide you want to take dance lessons to teach you particular skills.

Dancing does offer plenty of freedom which is why so many people take part in it. Yu should be respectful though and understand that what you like may not be what others you know have an interest in. You may find that when you learn some of their dance moves though that you like it more than you thought. Be willing to take a chance and to explore new elements of dancing that you may have closed your eyes to before.



November 9, 2009
By Joshua Safee
Dancing is a common social activity that many people love. In wedding ceremony, dancing is a very important part. Therefore, many people want to learn to dance especially the new couples who want to dance a http://www.dancexcite.com.au/ bridal waltz on their wedding. DanceXcite is a good choice for them to http://www.dancexcite.com.au/ learn to dance Sydney. They provide wedding dance lessons such as bridal waltz Sydney.

Modern Dance

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Watch Comedy TV Shows Online

Comedy TV shows are among a few topics that people are addicted to whether the shows are watched on television or on videos. That is the reason why tv producers keep on coming up with new comedy tv shows just to satisfy the hungry needs of viewers.

Some TV shows have been running for many years and the number of fans for the shows keep on increasing by days.

I still remember watching comedy tv shows in front of my television set in the late nineties. TV shows such as Seinfeld and Friends were a few of my favorite shows.

When I got the TV guide that I subscribed monthly, I would go through and check the days and times the shows would be aired on TV. Then I would check again the repeats of the shows in case I missed the first times the comedy tv shows were aired.

That was in the late nineties and it was hard to keep up with the schedules of these comedy tv shows, especially when I was also attending classes for my degree program.

I would have missed the programs a lot if I couldn't watch them on TV, and yes, I was a TV addict - specifically comedy TV shows.

Now, things have changed and it becomes easier for comedy tv addicts like me to keep track with favorite comedy shows.

With the existence of high speed internet connection and lots of video streaming services on the web, you don't have to struggle to keep track of all the comedy tv series such as Chuck, Weeds and Hannah Montana, like I was in the late nineties.

There are many websites accepting videos that you can upload on servers and there are many more websites that embed these videos on their websites. What you'll have to do next is identify a few good websites that list these videos that you can stream and watch online. Then, enjoy the tv shows.

If you missed any of your favorite shows, never mind. On the internet, you can always hook up to your internet connection and stream the videos on your PC. That's how powerful internet tv shows are.

It is like TV programs on demand and you can watch practically any TV shows that you like, at any time anywhere in the world. It is all available at your fingertips, and you don't have to pay a single dime to enjoy the shows.

Just for a small tip, here is how you can search for your favorite comedy tv shows.

If you would like to search for tv series "Weeds", you just have to type "watch weeds online" on any search engines and you'll get a list of video streaming websites that offer the service of watching tv series "Weeds" on the internet.

Do this search for any comedy tv shows that you would like to watch and you'll soon become more addictive to comedy tv shows than ever.



November 5, 2009
By Shirley Scott
Shirley Scott has a website at http://www.TopComedyShows.com that allows you to watch comedy tv shows online. Here on her website, you can also watch Chuck, Weeds and Hannah Montana online for FREE!


Comedy Video

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

10 Tips on the Piano Become a Better Pianist

Are you on your way of becoming a better pianist? No? What makes it hard for you? Practice? Time? Whatever bothers you in learning how to play piano, read on the 10 tips on the piano and become a better pianist in the future:

1. Consider taking piano lessons with a good teacher. That is only one alternative. One good option is availing an online piano lesson. This is suited for individuals who want to save and learn piano without having troubles in arranging their schedule.

2. Get to master all the exercises like the arpeggios and scales in order to acquire the strength on your fingers and get familiar with the proper fingering of the arpeggios and scales on the keys. To enhance your timing ability when playing, a metronome is very useful so don’t forget to have this one. Never try to skip a lesson if you haven’t fully understood the previous topics. Every lesson given are helpful in taking the next step – complex and intricate exercises.

3. It is important to master all the basics before jumping on to more complicated lessons, just like the technique of improvising. If you have done so, you can look for another teacher that will teach you on how to properly hit the chords. It is much better if you avail a course piano having all the packages for different skill levels. This will bring you out of hassle in looking for another lesson or instructor.

4. Get to know these five chords by heart - major seventh, dominant seventh, minor seventh, half-diminished, and the diminished seventh as well as their scales, arpeggios and inversions.

5. The fifth thing to do is applying what you have learned on the entire process to the songs or pieces you really like – examples are jazz songs or classical pieces. Local stores in your area as well as online shops are very useful in offering you fake books, true books, song books and sheet music to aid you in your piano playing.

6. Try to hear all music types and get to transliterate music passages, phrases, or lines that you really desire. Have some time to observe other great piano players, the way they sit in front of the piano, the way they play and improvise pieces. Put in mind the things you have observed and try to merge it with your own learning. Get to discover who inspired them to learn piano, how they learned it, how the practice as well as their achievements. This will hone your skills more and you will become a better pianist for sure.

7. If you have the time and the chance, go and join other musicians during their play, get on with the band. In this manner, you will gain more experience in playing piano and you will also have the chance to share your music with other people!

8. When you are playing the piano, try to sing along with the melody you are creating. Through this, you can discover other things, like if you have a talent in singing. Do this especially when you are doing some improvisations.

9. If you are tired with what you have now, discover other sources like magazines, piano lesson software, piano lesson books and piano lesson videos. Staying updated means you will always have that fresh and latest knowledge about the piano and its concepts.

10. Constant practice is needed! And take note, you have to do it daily! Skills will be improved if you spend some of your time, at least 30 minutes everyday on the keys.

If you have the heart to follow these 10 tips on the piano, you will definitely become a better pianist in the future!



November 4, 2009
By Simon West
- http://Learnpianoreview.com is the best site to go looking for your piano needs. If you want to learn how to play piano in no time, avail a piano software now. Read the review on Learn and Master Piano for more info.


Piano Lessons
Justify Full

Monday, November 2, 2009

Funniest Clown Stunts in Clown Party

Do you want to know what the funniest stunts of clowns are? It is easy and fun. Find out in this article and apply it in your next Clown party.

Now came a chance to show off a bit. The young clowns all sat in a circle and each one took a turn at clowning.

Each clown performed his funniest stunt while the youngsters applauded vigorously.
The boy and girl clown who won first place as funniest became the twirler in the old game of Statue. The boy twirler grabbed the right hand of each boy and swung him around three times. The clowns held the positions in which they landed. The twirler looked them over and picked the most interesting one to be the next twirler. The girl clown twirled all the girls and judged her group.

To have a quiet game before lunch the clowns seated themselves in a circle for a game of Circus. The first clown started the game by saying, I went to the circus to see an anteater. The next in line repeats, I went to the circus to see an anteater, and adds an animal beginning with the letter b as bear. The third in line might say, I went to the circus and saw an anteater, a bear, and a clown. One who fails to think of an object beginning with the next letter of the alphabet goes to the center of the circle.

By the time only a few were left competing, lunch was ready. Jack and Jill led their guests to the dining room for refreshments. For place cards balloons were used. A balloon bearing the name of a guest was tied to the back of each chair. Shouts of laughter greeted this new idea while the guests scrambled for their seats.

The traditional ice cream became jolly clowns a scoop of ice cream on a pineapple slice with bits of maraschino cherries for roguish eyes and mouth, and a whole cherry for a bulbous nose. Cone-shaped paper drinking cups with a red tassel on top perched on top of the clown face, added the last touch to the clownish appearance. Little frosted squares of white cake were dotted with tiny red candies.

The party guests were tired but happy. They gathered up their puppets to take home as favors. They were sure nothing could be more fun than such a jolly clown party.



November 3, 2009

Party Clowns