Nature Sounds and New Age Piano

If ever there were two things made for each other, it would have to be New Age piano music and nature sounds. After all, New Age piano gets much of its inspiration from the natural world. There are many CDs available that have this classic combination. Let's look at a few of them.

1. Forest Piano by John Herberman
This CD is in my opinion the best New Age piano CD one can buy. And it has nature sounds too! John Herberman is a very talented pianist/composer who's music seeps into your stressed out psyche and gently massages you. Each piece is a unique composition. Sometimes melodic, sometimes textural, but always beautiful. You'll wear your CD player out with this one.

2. Piano Cascades by John Herberman
OK. I'm a big fan of this mans music. I admit it. In fact, the minute I heard this CD in a Images of Nature store I had to have it. So delicate and beautiful is this music that you'll think you're actually in the middle of a waterfall. The nature sounds, supplied by Dan Gibson are first rate and do not overwhelm the music. In fact, both piano and nature sounds blend together into one magnificent whole creating a fresh ambiance that will revive and cleanse your spirit.

3. San Juan Suite by Michael Gettel
San Juan is an island off the coast of Oregon where the mighty Orca whale is known to live. Michael gets his inspiration from the natural beauty of the area and, of course, this black and white whale. The music is superb with nature sounds interspersed here and there for effect. The music gets first dibs here with the nature sounds delicately placed in just the right places.

If you love nature and music, you will love these CDs. You can find them at Amazon.com.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Visit www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html now and get a FREE piano lesson!

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Stereo Systems

Stereo systems are electronic devices designed to reproduce high quality sound on speakers. Stereo systems can be as small as a personal CD player, or as large as a night club system. Nowadays, using a stereo system is the latest to amplify your taste in music quality, as well as jazz up the aura of your domicile. However, before deciding to buy a stereo, it is recommended that you give consideration to the specific things that you want.

Stereo systems offer an all-in-one music package composed of stereo speakers, CD player, equalizer, amplifier and a receiver. Picking out the type of system you desire depends solely on your preference and on the type of room where it will be stationed.

Generally, there are three aspects you need to consider when shopping for stereo systems: the sound capturing quality, appearance and affordability. The size and appearance of the stereo is important, because its appearance can greatly affect overall sound quality. Affordability is another factor that you should take into account. Most quality systems are expensive, so you need to take the time to make sure that you are buying the right system to fully enjoy the money you risked.

Furthermore, reading reviews posted in audio magazines and on the Internet will be very helpful in choosing the best stereo systems. You can compare the prices of the stereos available. You can also go to a consumer electronics warehouse, if you are looking for a bargain. However, if you need a high-end stereo then you should visit any specialty audio shops.

Stereos provides detailed information on Stereos, Car Stereos, Stereo Speakers, Stereo Systems and more. Stereos is affiliated with Digital Video Recorders.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Stereo-Systems&id=277927

Comparing MP3 Players - What Makes Them Different?

Musical formats have moved along a path of a rapidly moving evolution, keeping us all reeling with a ... "What next!" The latest MP3 players follow the bulky eight-tracks, smaller cassettes, and the CD advancements, keeping our closets of old technology pretty full. The small MP3 players fit into a device, such as the Apple iPod Shuffle, approximately 1.62 X 1.07 X .41 inches, carrying 240 songs at 1GB. Music has come a long way since our Walkman and Discman, due to its lightweight tiny size, musical precision, and a lot larger music storage for the listener.

The ability to store large amounts of music, instead of carrying around a case of CDs with our favorite music, is a huge factor for its popularity. Another advantage is being able to mix and match various songs by loading single song files onto the MP3 player. You can download these songs are accessible through many avenues: purchasing or downloading them from various sites on the Internet; or downloading them off a person's favorite CDs. These songs are categorized into playlists in the player, with the listener being able to customize and organizing them in whichever way the want. Other options other than music are lectures, speeches, music to exercise with, or webcasts. They can be selected on the MP3 player through playlists, and the listener can choose whichever music or lecture they want.

There are other reasons why the MP3 players are more popular than other types of musical playback devices. A big reason is that it plays digital files, or MP3 files, which require no moving parts inside the device - like the older CDs or tape players. This lack of moving parts means no skipping of music or something malfunctioning. Of course, many of the MP3 players do not work well while jogging - yet - but they do not skip like they used to with the slightest bump.

The technology of the MP3 player is made from what has already been around. It is nothing innovative, just put together different for a new way. Powered by batteries or AC adapters, the MP3 players are basically "data storage devices" that come with a certain type of embedded software applications, letting the listener transfer the digital music files from the computer or CD to their player. The computer transfers (in some cases, CDs) music through the USB port on the computer to the MP3 player, where it is stored in its memory. The microprocessor in the player then listens to what the listener, or use, tell it to do and displays the what data, what song, etc. and decompresses the stored file. It is then turned into sound waves for music, displayed on the LCD screen what is being played. With the same basic technology, most MP3 players are available in different types, depending on the budget or preferences desired. To decide which one a person wants, requires an understanding of these differences.

The quite affordable Flash memory MP3 player is the most popular and most common musical device. It is smallest and most lightweight of all the different players, with no moving parts. Their average storage is about 1GB of memory which is sufficient as the battery runs a very small device, which will allow about 17 hours of listening. Some of the new newer flash memory MP3 players are working on an increase to 2GB, with higher listening capacity.

Another type of MP3 player is the hard drive device. Their advantage is they store a larger music library as compared to the Flash Memory players, which would be an advantage if the user has a large amount of music files or lectures for storage. The device is not as small in size as the Flash memory player but it holds up to 120 GB, instead of 1GB. The are called the "workhorse of the MP3 players" and are worth every penny.

The MP3 CD are for those who don't like a lot of change, and really don't want to give up their CDs. This device is used for the benefit of listening to MP3 files that have been burned on a CD-R/RW disc, each one holding about ten hours of music. A user can either purchase a burner or have someone else burn the music on the CD. The price for this device is cheaper than the Flash Memory or Hard Drive MP3 players, but does skip music as the older music players did. Its size is larger also than the previous two, so a lot depends on the pocketbook and what a person wants. Shopping around will offer the latest technology, prices, and what they offer.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Comparing-MP3-Players---What-Makes-Them-Different?&id=314471

Five Reasons to Pray

First of all, what is prayer? Prayer is the act of communicating with God. It doesn’t have to consist of the standard prayers we learned as a child. A prayer can consist of a simple phrase or two. “Lord, I’m thinking of you today. Please brighten my day and assist me in all that I do.”

An essential aspect of daily prayer is the belief that you are communicating with God. It is also vitally important that you have faith that your prayers will be answered. There are numerous passages from the bible extolling the virtues of prayer. The bible says:

“…prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well...” James 5:15
“Pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16
“Prayer produces prosperity.” Jeremiah 29:7
“Prayer provides wisdom.” James 1:4
“Prayer yields peace.” Phil 4:6-7

Personally, I like to engage in meditative prayer. Meditative prayers are series of prayers that are repeated over and over. My prayer of choice is the Rosary, which I say on a regular basis. A string of beads, called Rosary beads, are used to keep track of the prayers as they are recited. The Rosary allows me to focus on a particular subject as the prayers are repeated. Sometimes I’ll focus on my relationship with the Lord. Other times I’ll focus on a special request that I might have. In either case, I find it very relaxing, almost soothing. Although I have no proof, I believe that my blood pressure is lower when I engage in prayer. I also feel renewed and refreshed after a session of prayer. It’s similar to a form of meditation where a mantra is repeated over and over. That brings me to the point of this article, five reasons to pray.

1. Numerous scientific studies indicate that prayer can have significant beneficial effects. These studies have shown that those who pray regularly tend to be happier, more peaceful, and healthier than those who don't.
2. Pray on a regular basis. That way, when the inevitable day comes and you finally arrive at the pearly gates, the Lord will recognize you.
3. Prayers are answered if you truly believe. This is the basis for the popular program called The Law of Attraction. In fact, the main thesis for this and the entire positive thinking industry is a quote taken directly from the bible:
“…all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22
4. Pray for your children, your spouse, your parents, and yourself. Aren’t they worth it?
5. As I mentioned above, I find it very relaxing and feel that my blood pressure is lower when I pray. Your blood pressure doctor will thank you for it.

For those of you who say you don’t have the time to pray, you can use one of the many prayer CD’s that will lead you in prayer. You can play the CD in your car during your commute or in a portable CD player while walking or exercising. This is an excellent way to make your time more productive. We offer an excellent prayer CD on our site, The Prayer Center and Holy Rosary on CD.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Reasons-to-Pray&id=618028

Durabrand PDV-705 DVD Player Region-Free Hack and Review

In your quest for a regionless DVD player, you may have thought that only expensive units could have their regions changed. Not so! Wal-Mart offers a continuing lineup of region-hackable DVD players for under $100.

A recent purchase caused smiles in our house! The Durabrand PDV705 portable player turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. It is compact, rich in features, and in a few seconds with a few remote control clicks, it transforms into a Region 0 (all-regions) player.

The unit will play a number of DVD and CD formats, including: DVDs, audio CDs, CD-R/RWs, MP3 CDs, photo CDs, DivX, XviD, and JPG.

Don't let its size fool you! The screen may be small (7 inches) but it packs a lot of features into a tiny bit of space. Many options that are only available on competitors' players by going into Setup are accessible via buttons under the player's pop-up lid.

On-board buttons include: Power switch (right hand side of player), Brightness, Color, Audio, Display, Subtitle, Forward, Backward, Volume, Next, Previous, Stop, Play, Pause, Setup, Directional (arrow) buttons, OK (Enter), and Open.

If you have your own S-video or coaxial cable, you can use the corresponding jack to connect the DVD player to your home TV or entertainment system.

Although the Durabrand PDV-705 doesn't include earphones, it does come with several accessories - including a battery that appears to be of much higher quality than those in more expensive units.

Accessories include: AC adapter, car adapter, TV connection cable, remote control, two AAA batteries, rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, user's guide, and product registration/warranty card.

If you would like to set up an audio program to fall to sleep to at night, use the 'programmed play' function and queue up to 16 tracks from a regular audio or MP3 CD. An added bonus: your songs can be stored in separate directories, rather than in one large root directory.

Unfortunately, the sound is flat and metallic when using the external speakers. Switch to earphones or earbuds, however, and you will enjoy good stereo sound.

How to Make it Regionless

• Switch on the power.
• Open the player's lid.
• Enter the following numeric sequence via remote control: 9 7 3 5
• Use the remote control's arrow keys to select '0' for all regions.
• Exit setup.

Now you will be able to play DVDs from all over the world on your newly-configured player.

More region hacks for other DVD players can be found at videohelp.com.

There is a link at the end of this article to a page with hacks for two more inexpensive units sold through Wal-Mart.

Disclaimer

Although entering numbers via a remote control is unlikely to void your warranty, the same sequence may not work on similar units manufactured on different dates. Use at your own risk. Remember that if you buy hacked chips or install non-manufacturer firmware, your warranty will be invalidated.

Now - grab some foreign DVDs, prop up your feet, and relax ...

Check out this article for a couple more hacks (scroll to the bottom of the page). Kathy writes regularly for 1st Rate Articles - 111 Travel Directory - and other websites.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Durabrand-PDV-705-DVD-Player-Region-Free-Hack-and-Review&id=377015

School Fundraising - Plan a Dance-a-Thon

The Dance-a-Thon is not an original idea, but using a dance fundraiser as one of your primary fundraisers might be. Kids love it, especially at the middle school and high school level. Whether your group holds many fundraisers throughout the year, or relies on one large fundraiser, this might be a good solution.

A Dance-a-Thon is probably most suited to school fundraising, but it could also be adapted to other groups as well. If you are investigating a Dance-a-Thon for a school fundraiser, a word to the wise, do it early in the school year.

That is, within the first three months of the school year. If you go too late in the year, apathy can set in not only with students, but with the volunteers you’ll need to pull it off.

The main expense for a fundraising Dance-a-Thon is the DJ. It’s best not to use live music with a band since you will want to have a variety of music and it’s hard to do that with a live band. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on the DJ!

Choose one with good references, a large music collection, and good equipment. This will be the primary focus of your event, so don’t cheap it out.

Dance fundraiser profit tips The profits will come from ticket sales and concessions. To make sure your event is well attended, publicity is the key. Publicize the event well in advance, and keep the push on until the day of the Dance-a-Thon.

To make concession sales a big part of your profits, have the good stuff. Give ‘em what they want! Pizza, popcorn, candy, bag chips and not the cheap kind, even fast food brought in from a nearby eatery work best.

Additional profits can also come from having a raffle at the event. Tickets can be pre-sold and sold at the event for prizes that people really want.

Depending on the size and age of your group, small electronics work well. Raffle off a CD player, DVD player, MP3 player, and so on. Local businesses may be willing to donate prizes or sell them to you at cost.

Another way to make sure you get the most profit from your Dance-a-Thon is to sell Shout-Outs for about a dollar. A shout out is a message that is read by the DJ to the crowd between songs.

For example, “Here’s a Shout Out from Kimberly to all her soccer team buddies. Dolphins Rule!”

You’ll need to have slips of paper pre-printed so the Shout Outs can be submitted that include:

To:
From:
Message:

Give a few to every teacher about a week before the Dance-a-Thon and ask them to distribute them to deserving students. Once the first few Shout Outs are done, everyone will want a piece of the action. Be sure to have lots of volunteers working the Shout Outs table after that!

One last note about Dance-a-Thons; they can be pretty labor intensive so be sure to line up your volunteers early. One middle school in North Carolina had a Dance-a-Thon and the promise to the volunteers was this:

We hope to make enough money with the Dance-a-Thon that we won’t have to have another major fundraiser for the rest of the school year! That’s right, no wrapping paper, no magazine sales, no selling fruit baskets.

Watch the volunteers clamor to help at your dance fundraiser and watch your groups profits soar.

Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications about school fundraisers, having a dance fundraiser and middle school fundraiser events. Find more school fundraising ideas on her website, FundraiserHelp.com

http://ezinearticles.com/?School-Fundraising---Plan-a-Dance-a-Thon&id=606363

My recording kit (and how I chose it)

My audio recording setup was recently featured on the Genealogy Guys podcast, and I’ve long wanted to describe it here. Why haven’t I? In order to follow the course of a story of weighing this or that feature, one must have an understanding of the feature in the first place. So I’ve had to lay some groundwork. I’ve written an article on analog and digital, and have been working on the Equipment Guide to all the different items in a portable audio setup.

Now I’ll revisit, once again, the twists and turns of making my decision, and the factors that led me to buy what I did. Of course, that was in April of 2006. Since then, several new audio recorders have come out. Though my the reasons for my decision are worth examining, I don’t know that I’d come to the exact same conclusions in June, 2007 as I did in April 2006. But I’ll tell you about my list of “must haves” and the factors I considered.

http://familyoralhistory.us/articles/