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Are your students loathe to practice as much as they should? OK, you can stop laughing and pick yourself up off the floor now. I know it wasn’t the brightest question.

But I asked it to make a point, of course. Haven’t you been guilty of that misbehavior? I personally am a lifetime repeat offender. As adults we all know intellectually that if you don’t practice something, you don’t get better. We tell our students and ourselves this until the bile rises in our throat threatening an embarrassing episode. So why do we keep putting it off?

In the darkest recesses of your psyche a nagging whisper gives you the answer. It’s not fun. And in this day and age nobody wants to do anything that’s not FUN!

Now while I am not an advocate of the ‘everything should be entertaining’ school of thought, it is also true that practicing vies for your student’s miniscule attention span. Practicing is going head to head against the latest video game.

To compete with that there needs to be some pretty excellent mind candy. The very best flavor on the market seems to be success. Generally if you are good at something you like doing it over and over.

In order for you or your student to feel like he’s being successful he has to pass a number of observable milestones. According to studies this is one of the attractions to the ubiquitous computer games. Let’s face it, it doesn’t take long to see some progress on the computer. Most of us know that allure of almost getting to the next level of the game.

To capitalize on that same feeling our students need to have small enough goals to feel great pretty often. Not only that but they need to be able to look back and really experience how far they have come in the short practice times of a few weeks.

And you know what? There are ways to plug into this type of feel good. And a great bonus is that the student will do most of the work to set it up and get himself there.

Here is the trick. No, I am not going to quote any of the success gurus you regularly see on TV. Well OK, I really am, but you know they do have some good things to say and this is one they all seem to agree on.

Goal setting. And I mean setting it down on paper every week in the same little log book. Make up several menus to give your students a few ideas. Initially they will choose the things they want to accomplish. As they become more proficient many goals will become self evident, and they can come up with them alone. Your input will be necessary as they don’t know what they don’t know, but be aware of the fact that a major part of the process is that the student must participate in setting the goals, otherwise it is just more homework.

The goals need to be in several categories. Daily, weekly, monthly, for the term, for the year, for several years. Once a system is put in place and there is some small amount of class time devoted to it every week then the thrill of achievement will be built in. The pleasure loving student will begin to find practice can be fun because they can check off items and see success written into the book a mere few weeks after starting. The amount that can be accomplished with this miniscule discipline is amazing. The book fills up and your young musicians are impressed with their industrial strength production levels.

The trick is to put the system in place and then work with it for several months. A session at the end of the month where students get to share what they have accomplished does wonders for everyone’s feel good quotient and spurs more goals and more success.

Try it. You and your students will all be much better off for the experience.

Suzie Hammond is a teacher turned writer and factotum for: http://www.musicalcompositions.net

There you may purchase and download sheet music for concert bands, choirs,chamber ensembles,jazz groups. See it,hear it,download it, rehearse it. FREE Newsletter and FREE Special Report written by Carl Hammond a 35 year international music veteran.

Well written interesting music for your groups to play right now via download. Score pages, MP3s to help you decide suitability.

A brand name is not just a product name; it is more than that. It is more than a marketing strategy. A brand name is the company itself. Air Jordans are Nike. TMac is Adidas. Diablo is Lamborghini. And like any other name, a brand name is also a reputation, a promise the company keeps to its consumers.

And how does a company deliver the promise? That’s where brand management comes in. A company’s marketing staff circulates the brand name in the company’s target market. Here, PR and advertising are just tips of the proverbial iceberg. Brand management even includes weakening, if not eliminating, the competition. Case in point: Volvo markets the idea of safe driving against Mustang’s exciting ride.

In relation to attacking a brand name, a marketing staff should be ready to take the hits once the guns are pointed at them. A smear campaign against Nike is a fine illustration, and Nike did not do a fine job of putting up a defense. Think of James Keady’s Just Stop It! anti-Nike tour. Keady rallied opposing Nike’s labor policies at their alleged Asian sweatshops. Though Nike is still one of the world’s leading sports brand, Keady’s crusade was enough to bring their sales down and put some dirt on the company’s cool image. Nike management has been trying to salvage the company’s reputation but apparently Keady’s attacks have already done substantial damage.

A brand name must definitely be consistent with the company’s promise. If they promise the best, they better keep a vigilant watch on what their competitors keep coming up with.

Read Manta’s profile on Cemex California.

A conversation with Gilberto Perez, President of Cemex California.

Read more about Cemex California at the Brand Managing website.

It’s no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some form or other. After all, music is the universal language. In one way or another we all participate in it from our cradle song to our wedding song to our funeral song, with thousands of other s stops along the way.

The country-western fan may not like jazz, but he or she sure loves the sound of pickin’ & grinnin’.

And that’s as it should be. If we all liked the same kind of music, there just wouldn’t be the variety that is available to us now. We can choose from musical styles ranging from heavy classical and opera to rock to children’s songs to Broadway musicals to gospel music to the blues.

Each has its place, and each seems on the surface to be drastically different than another form of music. The key word is “on the surface.” But beneath the surface of all music is a commonality that is organic to all forms and styles of music.

So what does all music have in common? What makes music tick?

At least 3 things - sometimes more, but never less:

1. Melody

2. Rhythm

3. Harmony

The melody is the part of a song or composition that you whistle or hum - in other words, the tune of the song. In one sense, it is the most visible of the 3 elements, because melody is what identifies a song. Without melody, it would be difficult to even conceive of a song or piece.

In musical notation, the melody is almost always written in the treble clef - also known as the treble staff. It consists of a horizontal line of notes that move up and down on the clef as the tune moves higher or lower.

Rhythm is the beat - the swing - the throb of the music. It happens in repeating patterns, depending upon the type of music. It is like a horizontal line of beats which occur at regular or semi-regular intervals. A waltz, for example, basically consists of a heavy beat followed by two lighter beats. So we say that a waltz is in triple meter - one strong beat followed by two weak beats, then repeated.

A march, on the other hand, generally consists of a heavy beat followed by a light beat, then another heavy beat followed by another light beat. (I’m simplifying, of course - there are many varieties…) So a march is in duple meter - as you might expect since we have two feet and we march in left-right-left-right patterns.

All rhythms are some combination of triple meter and/or duple meter, and the possibilities are endless - from boogie to R&B to mambos and sambas and bossa novas and….on and on.

Harmony, the 3rd aspect of music, is the musical background of a song - the chords, or intervals “behind” the melody. Without harmony, a song sounds empty - like a vocalist singing without an accompanist - or accapella. Music doesn’t HAVE to have harmony to function, but in actual practice it almost always does, even if it is just the interplay of two melodies, as in counterpoint.

You could spend a lifetime learning all the nuances of music, but it its most basic form, it is these 3 elements combined together; melody, rhythm, and harmony that comprise music.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD’s, CD’s, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for both children & adults. His book & DVD course titled “How To Dress Up ‘Naked Music’ On The Piano!” is used by adults around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He 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 59,700 current subscribers.

With a little bit of patience and research, individuals in the market for a new or used car loan can find low rate financing. When it comes to financing a car, the interest rate is very important. If your credit is bad, a higher rate may greatly increase your monthly payments. In some instances, a high interest rate makes it more difficult to afford a new or used car. However, several factors can improve your odds of getting a cheap auto loan.

Compare Dealership Financing and Private Financing

There are several financing options available to car buyers. For the most part, credit history will determine the type of loan packages and lenders you may use. Getting a car loan is simple, and most people will qualify. However, for the best car rate, it is important to select the right lender.

If purchasing a vehicle from a car dealership, the dealership will offer a finance package. However, car buyers may qualify for better rates. Often times, dealerships will increase the interest rate on a vehicle in order to put more money in their pockets. To avoid paying potentially higher rates, it helps to also obtain auto loan quotes from private lenders. These include credit unions, local banks, sub prime lenders, etc.

Maintain a High Credit Rating

It’s no secret that individuals with higher credit ratings obtain better financing rates. With this said, improving your credit prior to applying for an auto loan may save you money. Increasing credit score involves making regular monthly payments. Missing a single payment to creditors may decrease your score by ten points. If possible, attempt to reduce debt to income ratio, and avoid acquiring too many lines of credit. Aside from overextending yourself, the credit inquiries will hurt your credit score.

Compare Auto Loan Quotes Using a Broker

If electing to secure private financing, use an auto loan broker. Brokers operate as the go-between person. After completing a quote request or loan application, the auto loan broker will filter through various lenders and loan programs to locate the best financing package. Once car buyers have the quotes in hand, their job entails comparing all offers and picking the best lender.

View our recommended lenders for a low interest auto loan online.

Also, check out our recommended sources for a personal credit report, or view our recommended lenders for a poor credit home financing online.

Learn to play piano on a train station? Let me show you what you can learn about piano playing as you wait for your train!

Well, all people seem to go by car these days but we might have had the privilege to go by train and this experience can teach us a lot about piano playing:

1. You want to go somewhere by train. In piano playing this is the wish you have to learn something on the piano.

2. You go to the train station trying to find a suitable train. Before you can know if you are taking the right train you have to decide where you want to go. When learning to play the piano this is the goal you want to reach.

3. Before buying a ticket to the right train you have to decide when you want to arrive. When you learn to play piano this means when your goal is to be accomplished.

4. When you know these things it is much easier to find the right train. In piano playing this means that when you know what you want to accomplish as a pianist and when you want to have accomplished it it is much easier to select a proper method to use to reach your goal.

5. Now you can buy a ticket to the right train. This is when your decision becomes a commitment. Learning to play the piano can involve money but the most important investment is your work and motivation. Through a commitment you gain momentum to accomplish the piano playing goal.

6. After having bought a ticket most of the job is done. Left is only to find your train and your seat and then relax. In your piano playing this means that when you have decided what you really want to accomplish it is much easier to progress. You know where you are in your piano skills, where to begin your work and you don’t have to waste your energi by wondering what to do.

Do you have to take the right train?

Some unusual people might think it is okay to take any train and travel for the fun of it with no thought about the destination. If you feel that way about your piano playing and are comfortable with it it’s okay I guess.

Let me share some thoughts…

The reason why I started to be very interested in computers way back in the late 80’s was because of what I believed that computers could help me with. I was very interested in composing music and had used pen and paper so far.

I tried to write nice sheets with music but it took a lot of time and if I wanted to change something in my compositions, which I often wanted then and even now, it was difficult.

The notation programs back then were difficult to use but I perused the manuals because I had this great goal before me that computers and notation programs could help me with my creative endeavors.

The goal was actually to compose music and the means was computers and notation programs.

Computers have become much easier to use and notation programs more sophisticated since then and I feel that I have reached the goal to become more effective as a composer through the use of computers as a means for my music composing.

Some of my friends have used computers the opposite way. They have been interested in computers and have aimlessly installed and uninstalled programs and changed os or messed around in the Windows directory and so on.

I guess we could say that their goal was to have fun with computers, even if they haven’t expressed it that way, and I think they also reach their goal.

What I wanted to say with this is that it is much easier to select methods to use and to be really motivated when you learn to play the piano if you know what you want to accomplish.

Take the right train and enjoy your journey into piano land!

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play piano resources at http://www.capotastomusic.com.

The piano is the most wonderful of instruments in my opinion. Irving Berlin wrote the words and music to a song about the affection many people share for this beautiful instrument called I Love a Piano. It was introduced in 1915 in the Broadway musical Stop! Look! Listen! Later it was sung by Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in the 1948 film Easter Parade.

Here are some of the words to I Love a Piano by Irving Berlin. Maybe you can recall the tune.

I love a piano, I love a piano, I love to hear somebody play!

Upon a piano, a grand piano, it simply carries me away!

So you can keep your fiddle and your bow, give me a P-i-a-n-o, Oh, oh!

I love a piano, I love a piano, I love to hear somebody play!

Below are ten reasons why I love the piano.

1. I love the keys, they’re black and white, my fingers stretch to play just right.

2. I love the keyboard, put together by an ace, I can always find my place.

3. I love to play the ivories, their tops so smooth when I play each key.

4. I love the sound, so full and profound, it’s fit for even a king.

5. I love the energy, to feel its power, I fly upon the keys.

6. I love the harmony, I make it myself, I need nobody’s help.

7. I love the musical range of endless possibilities for creativity.

8. I love the grand piano, how elegant, but please don’t hurt the elephant.

9. I love the bench, it matches my décor. I’m centered in my musical core.

10. I love the glossy lacquered hood - my happiness reflected in its rosy wood.

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

A home equity line of credit is a great advantage for home buyers that renters do not have. You can take out some of the equity you have built up in the home, and use it for personal purposes. Many banks offer home equity lines of credit and it can be a great way to get some cash when you need it the most, or have it in mind for a specific use.

Home equity lines of credit can be given to the home owner all at once, as the money is needed through check payments, or like a credit card where the home owner can actually take out the money like a credit or debit card. These options can be specific to how the home owner wants to use the money and can be negotiated between the banker and home owner.

So how would you use this money taken out from the home equity line of credit?

The first and one of the most common ways to use the money is to make home improvements or additions that can increase the value of the property. Using the equity in the home can be a great way to upgrade appliances, renovate a bathroom, or build a pool or basketball court in the back yard. Perhaps the home needs a new roof or paint job.

A home owner can use the equity in the home to improve it and make it worth even more than what it was before the home equity loan. In reality, the home could be appraised at a higher value and be refinanced if the improvements added that much more value to the home!

The second way the money form a home equity loan can be used is to consolidate the home owner’s debt. By paying off the revolving credit, the owner can have just one loan, the home equity line of credit, against a safe investment, the property. Many home owners can appreciate financial freedom that they would otherwise not experience because of excess credit and debt.

By using the money to consolidate one’s debt, monthly credit payments greatly save the amount of money that is being spent every month, and allow a home owner to save up some cash. This is really a good option for those who need help getting ahead, or need additional cash flow.

The third top way for using the money form a home equity loan is sending a child to college or furthering your own education by either going to college, or getting a master or doctorate degree.

College, both undergraduate and graduate, is very expensive and many people do not have cash readily available to be able to attend the classes they need to accomplish this goal. It is much better to use the equity in the house than having to take out many student loans at high interest rates that could follow you for years after. By helping your child go to college, you could offer them a huge opportunity that others would dream about!

Regardless in how you use the money, be sure to understand that you are borrowing against the equity in your home, similar to a mortgage, and will have to put that money back. Always agree on the terms and how it is going to effect your financial environment. Enjoy the benefits of being a home owner by using the equity in your home, but be smart about your decisions and don’t get out of your comfort zone financially.

Occasionally, having no credit history can be as bad as having a poor
credit history. Before granting credit, lenders need to gauge an
applicant’s creditworthiness. If you have no previous creditors, a prospective
lender may consider you a high risk and either deny a credit
application or offer a high interest rate. This applies to credit cards and
automobile loans. Fortunately, there are many options available to those
hoping to obtain a vehicle loan with no credit history.

Bad Credit and No Credit Auto Lenders

Automobile loans are different from other types of credit. If you have
bad credit or no credit history, getting a credit card or personal loan
is challenging. For the most part, these types of credits are
unsecured. Hence, the creditor suffers a loss if you are unable to repay the
money.

On the other hand, automobile loans are secured. Thus, some lenders
specialize in bad credit or no credit car loans. In fact, auto loans are
ideal for establishing credit or rebuilding credit. Unfortunately, if
you have never financed a car, some lenders may charge higher fees. Here
are a few tips to help you get a low rate auto loan.

Establish Credit before Applying for Auto Loan

The easiest way to get a low rate on an auto loan is to establish
credit before applying. In some instances, lenders prefer applicants who
have previously financed a vehicle. If you repaid a previous car loan, or
maintained regular payments, lenders consider this a good sign. Hence,
you may qualify for a low rate.

If you have a superb credit rating, you may qualify for super low
advertised rates. Establishing a good credit history is easy. Within six
months of opening a new account and making regular on-time payments, your
credit score will soar.

Use a Co-signer When Applying for Auto Loan

An additional approach involves obtaining a vehicle loan with a
co-debtor. If you are married, your spouse may act as a co-debtor. Moreover,
young adults trying to get an auto loan may have a parent co-sign for
the loan. To qualify for a low rate, the co-debtor must have good credit.

View our recommended
Poor Credit Car Loan
lenders or view all of our Recommended Auto Finance Lenders Online.

Members of LAMN (founded in 1988) and NARIP (founded in 1998), are able to more quickly gain the insight, knowledge, and contact information they need for career development and career enhancement.

The success of both organizations extends well beyond their names - both LAMN and NARIP have members across the country and around the globe. Offices have opened in Canada, New York, and London, with additional cities getting in line.

Prior to Taylor’s development of these influential organizations, there was no formal entity that addressed the educational, networking, or mentoring functions necessary to nurture a new generation for the music industry. Each of these factors is important, but there is no doubt which one Taylor values most: “Networking is what this business - all business, really - is about,” she states. “If you want to get ahead, you’ve got to know people. You can be a genius but remain entrenched in obscurity and poverty unless you get out there and let people know who you are.”

LAMN:

LAMN is a multifaceted resource for newcomers to the music business, as well as an avenue for students to learn more about the industry and how they might break into it. LAMN sponsors industry gatherings, workshops and seminars with top executives from all areas of the music business.

NARIP:

To qualify to become a member of NARIP, you must be a professional in the record industry. “I realized that, beyond organizations like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) which is a lobbying body that focuses on legislation, there wasn’t an organization that served the needs of those whose careers are completely in the record industry,” Taylor stated.

The Beginnings.

“The idea for the Los Angeles Music Network goes back to my first job in the business, with Avalon Attractions, a big concert promoter in Southern California,” says Taylor. “Every spoke of the music industry wheel comes together to make a concert happen. Here I was, fresh out of college, and I had access to just about every possible type of professional - from radio to press to record company personnel, from artist managers to the artists themselves.”

Taylor looked around for an association through which she could meet the people she interacted with on the phone. “I was very surprised not to find anything of real value, so I started putting together little meet-and-greets among the people I was dealing with,” she says. “At first, there were only about three or four of us, but it grew. That was the seed that led to my building the professional relationships I have today, not to mention the Job Bank and my mailing list. It’s the best in the business.”

Some of what LAMN and NARIP do overlaps, and Taylor regularly employs NARIP members for LAMN panels and other functions, and to mentor LAMN members. However, she is keen to provide the right kind of experiences for each group.

For NARIP members, her approach is to take on a continuing-education role. “We should never stop learning and, no matter how much experience we may have, there’s always something else or another point of view that we can absorb and appreciate,” Taylor says.

Pianist-turned-executive:

A classically-trained pianist, Taylor is also is an instructor, music business lecturer and speaker at institutions such as the Harvard Business School, New York University, the Caltech/MIT Enterprise Forum, Berklee College of Music, University of California Los Angeles (Entertainment Studies & Performing Arts), University of Southern California, Academy of Contemporary Music (Guildford, London), California State University at Chico, Middle Tennessee State University, Music and Entertainment Industry Educator’s Association International Symposium (2000 and 2002), University of Hawaii, California State University at Pomona, the Pepperdine University School of Business and others. A popular guest speaker and participant in industry conferences internationally, she served as Conference Chair for Musicom4, a music technology symposium (1998), and as keynote speaker for Berklee College of Music Summer Conference (2003)

She is a consultant to InsideSessions, a joint venture between the Universal Music Group and Penguin Putnam, and sits on numerous international charity and industry boards of directors. She is a frequent talent judge at US and international talent competitions and has recently participated on panels for Universal Talent Prague (Czech Republic 2003) and for the Golden Magnolia International Song Festival (Baton Rouge 2003).

As a writer and contributor, her analyses have appeared recently in Billboard Magazine, Radio & Records, USA Today, Newsweek, Source Magazine, the Chicago Sun Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Daily News, Daily Variety, Musician Magazine, Wired, Lip Service Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal and wire services such as Reuters Ltd., and in international business press (Capital Magazine [Spain], Challenges / Le Nouvel Observateur [France]). She has been a featured expert on National Public Radio’s “Hollywood Wrap,” the Fox News Channel, Samm Brown’s “For The Record” on KPFK 90.7-FM, Ira Fistell’s talk radio program on KRLA 1110-AM and in other news media.

Contact:

Tess Taylor can be reached at (818) 769-7007 or via email at tess@narip.com.

Scott G (The G-Man) writes and produces radio commercials from G-Man Music & Radical Radio. With albums on Delvian Records, iTunes, Amazon, and many other online stores, he also composes music that is played in clubs, on college radio stations, and on commercials. A member of NARAS (the Grammy organization) and NARIP (National Association of Record Industry Professionals), he writes about music, advertising, marketing, communications, advertainment, and digital distribution for the Immedia Wire Service and MusicDish.com. Samples of his songs and commercials are on his site at: http://www.gmanmusic.com

Needs vary from person to person. One may not always have enough resources to meet the requirements. This at times makes you borrow money from outside, which can overburden you with multiple debts. You have used all your assets in clearing these debts but are still left with some, which are beyond your repayable capacity. If you are getting buried under burden of debts, there are bad credits unsecured loans that can help you in this difficult situation.

Bad credit unsecured loans is specifically meant for people who have a poor credit history. As the name suggests, these loans are opted without placing any collateral. The lender however charges a higher rate of interest so as to cover his financial risks.

One of the advantages that are attached with these loans is that the borrowers are safe from the risk of repossession of their property. Both homeowners and tenants can go for this loan.

Bad credit unsecured loans can be used for variety of purposes such as renovating your home, buying a car or holiday package, meeting wedding expenses, consolidating multiple debts, investing in business, education and much more.

In order to qualify for a bad credit unsecured loan, the borrower needs to present some financial documentation to the loan provider. The type of documentation varies from lender to lender. Most of the lenders ask for bank statements or income tax return. The lender will precede the loan request further after analyzing the documents.

Infinite number of lenders dealing in unsecured bad credit loans exists in the finance market. If you are looking for a fast and hassle free loan procedure, it is most suitable for you to opt for online loans. One can easily browse through different websites and look for various online lenders.

The online lenders have an edge over traditional banks and financial institutions. They provide you with the best possible deal that goes in accordance with your requirements, financial status and repayment capacity. It is advisable to collect quotes from different online lenders first, and then compare the loan amount, loan term, rate of interest and other relevant information. This will help you choose the most appropriate loan.

Bad credit unsecured loans provide a range of benefits -:

Reduced paper work
Flexible repayment options
No fear of property repossession
Helps to improve the credit score

Now, let go off your worries and tensions as bad credit unsecured loans are there to liberate you from the shackles of debts. They can provide you the financial security to deal with the financial crisis. The loan money can also be used to improve the credit score by paying off all the debts.

Alex Jonnes is associated with Easy Debt Consolidations. He is Masters in Business Administration and writes on various finance related topics. To find Debt consolidation loan bad credit loans, debt consolidation loan, Bad credit Unsecured loans lowest interest rates visit www.easy-debt-consolidations.co.uk