What Is The Real Children's Music

If you look at all of the different music genres listed in many of the media players and online music sites, you will find a category called, "Children's Music." But what exactly is, "Children's Music?" What does it sound like?

Most often in the United States, you will find that the majority of children's music has been generally confined to folk music, usually played by an acoustic guitarist who also sings or tells stories while performing. In fact, just do a general online search of children's music and I guarantee that you will find that a large number of artists within this genre are acoustic guitar players.

Let me first say that there are many excellent children music artists who are acoustic guitarists and are doing great things in this industry. I buy and support their music regularly. However, children's music cannot be confined to one particular style of music. Quite simply, children's music is any music composed and performed for children. But notice that I said it is "any music," not just "folk music." This means that any genre of music can be used to create children's music, including jazz, reggae, classical, rock, Calypso, Bossa Nova, gospel, hip-hop, Go-Go, R&B, country, and the list goes on.

When I first decided to dedicate my art form to children's music, a good buddy of mine and fellow musician told me not to limit the type of music that I play to the stereotype of what many consider to be children's music. He said for me not to get trapped into nursery rhymes if that is not my specialty, but instead just be myself and focus on the message that I'm trying to convey. He was correct. What I have come to realize is that the children's music genre is based upon the level of exposure that parents and guardians give to their children. Once I understood this, it gave me the freedom to simply be me as a drummer and percussionist, and the confidence to believe in what I have to offer the children of the world.

You will find that there is excellent children's music within every style of music and that if you want your child to have a rich and rewarding childhood, you should expose them to as many musical traditions as possible. From a cultural perspective, we cannot separate the purpose of children's music from the purpose of music as whole, which is to enhance the moral and material happiness of humanity.

Therefore, children's music does not have one sound or look. It is universal. So no matter whether you are a country music artist or love opera, straight-ahead jazz enthusiast or hip-hop fan, keep inspiring the next generation because they are listening.

Here Are The Six Most Fundamental Things To Learn About Playing Guitar

Regardless of the resources you use to learn to play guitar, it's important to know what there is to learn and how that affects what you want to do. Whether it's playing in a band, singing and playing or being a singer -songwriter. there are specific things to learn and specific skills to develop. Here's an overview of the six most fundamental things to learn.




1) Chords



The first thing that almost all guitar players learn is chords. A chord is played by holding down multiple notes simultaneously on the fingering hand. The opposite hand makes a chord sound by strumming it or finger picking it. There is nothing more fundamental than playing basic chords. 

The first 14 chords are E, A, D, G ,C, Em, Am, Dm, E7, A7, D7, G7, B7. C7. Typically, barre chords are learned next. Barres have an advantage because they can be moved to different keys. Their disadvantage is that they’re harder to play, at least initially.

The ability to play chords and switch them smoothly is the first requirement for playing alone or with a group. It immediately qualifies you for a band in the role of rhythm guitar. This job is an accompaniment job and does not have the attention given to the Lead guitar player but it is your quickest route to playing in a band!

2) Strums

This skill is part of the rhythm guitar role. All songs, besides having chords, have a strum that is responsible for the "feel" of the song. If you play the wrong strum with a song, something will sound off.

The strum helps keep the tempo steady and propels the music forward. Strumming captures the most primitive element of music – rhythm. That tendency to tap our feet when we hear music can often be traced to the strumming pattern of the guitar.

3) Finger Picking



Finger picking is an alternative to strumming. Like strumming, finger picking uses the non-fingering hand and produces sound from chords. Fingerpicking was most common in Folk music but it has certainly made its way into main stream contemporary music through singer – songwriters and country artists. James Taylor is an outstanding finger pick artist who has fused Folk, Country, Rock and Pop music into a seamless original form. His influence has been significant ever since the beginning of the Folk – Rock movement.



4) Scales

Scales are organized streams of notes that can be used to generate melody or improvisation. There are many kinds of scales to learn depending on the musical style you choose. The two most common contemporary scales are the Blues Scale and the Pentatonic Scale. The Blues Scale is used in the darker forms of Blues and in heavier Rock Music. The Pentatonic Scale is used in all things Southern: Southern Rock, brighter Blues, Country music and even Motown.

Beyond these scales, there are many more to learn if the music you play needs them. Santana used the Dorian Scale to great effect while Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits made a living from the Aeolian Scale.

5) Rhythm



Rhythm is one of the three primary components of music, It encompasses several aspects. On the one hand, rhythm is the duration of a note or a chord. It also includes tempo ie beats per second as measured by a metronome and the stability of the beat. Rhythm, as in tempo, can vary during a song. Some songs maintain a steady tempo from beginning to end. Other songs vary the tempo. Slowing down is called Ritardando and speeding up is called Acclerando. These are intentional musical effects and not the result of a guitar player not being able to keep steady time or rhythm. The ability to "keep time" is one of the most important skills a guitar player can develop.


6) Ear



The development of the ear brings your musical insides – out. Music is the only hearing art. As such, the ear acts as the intermediary between your musical ideas and the execution of these ideas. Solfeggio, the Italian art of sight singing has been used for centuries to develop musicianship. Ear training contributes to the ability to play what you hear. There are virtually unlimited applications of ear training from working songs out by ear to improvising to writing. The European tradition of ear training has been far more stringent than that of the United States.



The Mysterious World Of Country Music Is Really Wonderful

When one drives 12 hours in one day from Florida to Kentucky, as I did this past weekend, one gets pretty darn desperate for ways to occupy the time. Usually, I bring plenty of podcasts and CDs to listen to, but I was out of podcasts and while going 75 on the interstate is not always the best time to search for new CDs. NPR was playing classical music, as it often does in the southern states. I was stuck. Desperate. And there was no way I was going to listen to Top 40 radio.

At first, I was listening ironically. It's easy to find entertainment when listening to such hits as "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy." But as I continued to listen to the top 7 songs of the Foxworthy Countdown, I found myself not only really enjoying the music, but also finding an odd affinity for the whole genre of country music. People who know me well know that this represents the beginning of the end of the world.
So, as we await the implicitly imminent return of Christ, I thought I might share with you some things I really appreciate about this mysterious world of country music.

An Appreciation for the "Old Guard", remember that guy who sand "Chatahootchee" way back in the day, when you went through that country music phase? Well, he's got the current number one hit song right now in country music! And that's not just a fluke! The country music charts are filled with older country music stars who weren't cast out and left to fend for themselves like much of the music industry we're familiar with. Not only does this demonstrate loyalty, but it also demonstrates an encouraging respect for those who have come before us. While much of pop music is obsessed with throwing off the old ways and embracing younger and younger stars, country music seems to be just as obsessed with the "been there, done that" crowd.

An Acceptance of Family Life, pop music as a rule seems to have an utter disregard for the family, not only in the content of its lyrics, but in its demands and expectations for artists. But as I listened to a few interviews with several country music stars, I started noticing that they spoke a lot about their family, and they seemed to be able to make them a priority in the context of the "Big Country Star" life. And from what I gathered, the fans and radio stations that support them wouldn't have it any other way. It's just a part of the culture.

An Esteem for "Home", while pop music is often about running away or doing your own thing, country music loves nothing more than "back home," a place where you can be around those you trust, go to your home church, honor your parents, and feel comfortable raising your kids. While this isn't the best way for everyone, I do feel like many in our culture tend to leave home simply out of rebellion or escape. Plus, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that our constant longing for "home" points to a more eternal longing we all have for a place that will truly be our home.

Lyrically and musically, a lot of it is actually kind of good. Here's the thing: I haven't given country music enough credit. The truth is, like most genres, it has good and bad bands, artists and songs within it. Toby Keith is an example of bad country music. But I heard quite a few truly good songs that seemed to be celebrated for all the right reasons, including the fact that they were just good, artistically.