IPlayMusic enables students to easily incorporate active music making into their daily lives, with the ability to export lessons onto the iPod.

By combining audio, video, animation and interactive technologies, iPlayMusic’s beginner guitar lessons put the fun into learning guitar by teaching users to play actual songs by popular recording artists.

What’s more, iPlayMusic provides a less-expensive and time-sensitive alternative to traditional music study. There is no need to drive back and forth to lessons or purchase costly sheet music. There is no ramp up time as students can purchase their guitar, bring it home and immediately have fun playing songs.

For a sneak peak of iPlayMusic’s suite of music leaning products, visit the site at www.iplaymusic.com for free demos. The following products are currently available for children and adults:

Beginner Guitar Lessons Interactive DVD; Levels 1 and 2
Each lesson presents four on-screen panels that demonstrate a basic guitar skill or technique from different angles. To help beginners master a song or to enable a “karaoke-style” sing-along, a guitar, vocal or scrolling text sections can be easily added or removed.

Beginner Guitar Lessons Level 1 introduces the musician to guitar basics and musical styles. Guitar anatomy, chords, strumming patterns and transitions are demonstrated, as is an introduction to various musical styles, including rock, blues, country and more.

Level 2 presents the next step in content for players interested in mastering the guitar. They are introduced to riffs, licks and tricks that expand on the rock, blues and country styles initiated in Level 1. In addition, musicians are introduced to new styles like reggae and 12 bar-blues.

Beginning Guitar Lessons, Level 1 and 2 are available on www.iplaymusic.com, eBay and Amazon. Each is available for $24.95 as a DVD or for download.

Beginner Guitar Lessons Mac Software
iPlayMusic Beginner Guitar Lessons for the Mac takes advantage of iLife applications including GarageBand, iTunes and iWeb. Aspiring musicians have everything they need to learn guitar, play and sing popular songs and easily create their own performances, which can then be downloaded to iTunes to share with friends.

The software includes more than four hours of video, presented in 140 individual lessons featuring iPlayMusic’s multi-angle video learning method. Users can learn to play more than 25 popular songs made famous by artists like The Beatles and Eric Clapton. Song lessons include guitar chord videos, scrolling lyrics for sing-along, and tips on riffs, transitions, strumming and more.

Beginner Guitar Lessons for the Mac is available for $49.95 at www.iplaymusic.com and carried in select retail stores. A PC version of the product will be available this September.

Play Music Together Interactive DVD Video and Mac Software
Play Music Together, a new Mac software and DVD video product, help preschoolers develop their musical skills and encourages families to learn to play the guitar together.

The interactive learning product features scrolling chords and lyrics, close-ups of the left and right hands and looping features that enables children to learn songs by playing or singing along at their own pace. Capo the puppet models fun songs and activities, so youngsters develop an understanding and appreciation of musical elements including rhythm, tempo and pattern, while parents, teachers or caregivers play along and join in the fun. After just a few basic lessons, children can play and sing-along with six popular family songs including If You’re Happy and You Know It and The Wheels on the Bus.

Play Music Together for the Macintosh is available for $39.95. The video-only DVD version is sold separately for $24.95. The PC version of Play Music Together will be available in September.

For more information, visit their web site at www.iplaymusic.com.

Posted in Computer, Education, Music

The Musical Genome Project is a new sampleset series by Nucleus SoundLab for Wusikstation, Reason 3 and SF2/SFZ. MGP concentrates on inexpensive, sub-$30 libraries focused around specific musical themes. The goal of MGP is high-quality sounds everyone can afford.

ChordWaves I is the first sampleset in the Musical Genome Project series. ChordWaves I contains a variety of synth chords programmed on modular synthesizers - which are ideal as song-starters for all forms of electronica. They also make excellent atmospheric textures when run through appropriate effects.

The Wusikstation version contains:

• Over 450mb (32-bit) of raw samples
• 16 multisamples comprised of nearly 150 waveforms
• 100+ Wusikstation v3 presets by a variety of professional sound designers

The Reason 3 Refill contains:

• The same samples as above, compressed into a 150mb Refill
• 24 Custom Combinator Patches
• 16 NN-XT Patches

ChordWaves I is now available for the low price of $14.95 (single-format), $19.95 (all formats - Wusik/SF2/SFZ/Reason) or shipped on DVD for $24.95.

For more information, visit their web site at www.nucleus-soundlab.com.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Loops, Music, Recording, Samples

Broadjam Inc., a leading online music firm, is hosting its second annual 6-Pack Songwriting Competition to put songwriters’ skills to the test - six in fact. Contestants can submit songs to any of the six challenges, which range from an original birthday tune to an emotional ballad. The competition launched in mid-June and is accepting submissions until October.

Over $50,000 in prizes will be awarded to 38 contestants in all, with prizes going to the top three places for each challenge as well as the top 20 overall winners. The first place grand prize includes a $14,000 recording and live performance package. With a live PA system and studio technology among the prizes, any musician would love to win.

“This year’s prize bundle is truly outstanding,” said Broadjam CEO Roy Elkins. “The generosity of our sponsors allows us to offer a competition worthy of the talent on our site.”

Participants earn points based on their overall placement in each challenge, determined by peer review. The standings for each challenge, as well as the top 20 overall, are then posted on the 6-Pack Leaderboard. Updated once every hour, the Leaderboard makes it possible for contestants to track not only their progress but their competition. Last year’s 6-Pack winner, Liz Miller, says, “It’s amazing what you can do when you push yourself hard. Now I know that I am not limited by form or genre. When a challenge presents itself, I say, ‘Bring it on!’”

Sponsors that have contributed toward the over $50,000 in prizes include IK Multimedia, Genelec, Sony, Digidesign, Electro-Voice, E Labs Multimedia, Mackie, Spectrasonics, ILIO, Hercules, Kaysound, MasterWriter, PowerFX, DigitalMusician.net, DigiTech, Ableton, and PG Music.

For more information, visit their web site at www.broadjam.com.

Posted in Industry, Music, News

Do you have a band instrument just sitting in your closet collecting dust? Have you ever wanted to learn how to play an instrument but couldn’t find a beginning band? If so, the North Coast New Horizons Band would like to invite you to an informational orientation meeting on Wednesday, August 16 at 7:00 PM at the Museum of Making Music, 5790 Armada Drive in Carlsbad.

The New Horizons Band, formed in January 2002, is welcoming new members, typically older adults with little or no musical background. The meeting is a question and answer session for enrollment in the beginning, intermediate or advanced band for adults who want to learn woodwinds, brass or percussion.

The national New Horizons Band program was developed by professor Roy Ernst of the Eastman School of Music in 1991. The program offers adults, primarily people who are over 50, the chance to learn how to play a concert band instrument and perform with other beginning musicians. The program has introduced thousands of older adults, retirees, and seniors to the joys and benefits of music making.

For more information about the local North Coast New Horizons Band, please contact Allison Hargis at 858-793-0223.

For more information, visit their web site at www.museumofmakingmusic.org.

Posted in Education, Music, News

Yamaha has developed a new line of instrument care products that clean, restore, protect and preserve a wide variety of musical instruments. The products are available individually or together as an All-in-One Instrument Care System.

The new line includes a Deep Conditioning Deluxe Polish, Spray & Shine Instant Polish, String & Hardware Cleaner, Satin Finish Protective Polish and a Microfiber Instrument Polishing Cloth. Ideal for all musicians, the products will resonate especially with mature players who respect and cherish their instruments.

The Deep Conditioning Deluxe Polish helps remove light scratches and swirl marks. It also contains emollients that help create a “wet-look” finish on high-shine surfaces. The Spray & Shine Instant Polish removes dust, fingerprints, smudges and body oils from all polished surfaces. UV inhibitors prevent premature wear and aging. String & Hardware Cleaner removes harmful oils and grime from guitar strings, cymbals, and other musical equipment, emulsifying the dirt and making it disappear with one wipe.

The Satin Finish Protective Polish is designed specifically for pianos and drums, and leaves a finish that helps resist scratches and shines like new.

Yamaha’s new line of instrument care products will be available for delivery in August 2006. MSRP’s range from $9.99 to $12.49 for individual components; the All-in-One Instrument Care System is $29.99.

For more information, visit their web site at www.yamaha.com.

Posted in Accessories, Music

The City of Nashville and Gibson Guitar announced today the creation of a Music City Walk of Fame on Nashville’s Music Mile, which will feature permanent sidewalk medallions with each honoree’s name.

The inductions will be open to all artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and music industry executives who have played a significant role in preserving the musical heritage that is Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration.

The Music City Walk of Fame is an official project of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau Foundation (Music City, Inc) with the support of Gibson Guitar, the City of Nashville and Metro Parks.

For more information, visit their web site at www.gibson.com.

Posted in Guitar, Music, News