Classical Music Entertainment

Top 5 Classical Music Pieces

What are the most famous classical music pieces? If you have ever taken a music class and been stuck playing Mozart and Beethoven, you may have wondered the same thing. Most people are familiar with the classical pieces, but which ones are the most famous and well known?

The fifth most well known classical piece is “The Hallelujah Chorus”. Coming from George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah”, he composed the song in the mid-1700s. This song is heard in churches around the world. The song premiered in Dublin, Ireland on April 13, 1742.

The fourth piece that is most well known is “Cannon in D”. The song was composed by Johann Pachelbel and finally published in 1919, several centuries after his death. Some hypothesize that the Canon may have been composed on October 23, 1694, for Johann Christoph Bach’s wedding. This piece is frequently played at weddings today.

In third place comes “Rapsody in Blue”. Written in 1924, George Gershwin composed it for solo piano and jazz band.The piece premiered in the concert, An Experiment in Modern Music, on February 12, 1924.

The second most well known piece is “Clair de Lune”. The author of this piece is unknown, but we do know that it is an 18th century folk song. It contains a simple melody that is taught to many beginner musicians.

First place goes to “Ode to Joy”. The ode was written in 1785 by the German poet and playwright, Friedrich Schiller. Beethoven completed the symphony in 1824 and the piece is now used as the European Anthem. The symphony was the first known where a major composer used voices in his symphony. The words were taken from Schiller’s ode.

There are many of us that have heard of at least one, if not all of these pieces. There are many other pieces we are familiar with. Others falling in the top 10 include “Moonlight Sonata”, “Four Seasons”, “Peter and the Wolf”, and “Carmina Burana”.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Friedrich Schiller, George Frideric Handel, Johann Pachelbel

Music Education Opportunities

There are an unlimited amount of careers available in the field of music. Most people think that all you can do with music is be a high school band director or become a famous singer, but they’re wrong. There are so many things that go beyond teaching music or becoming famous. If you enjoy music and want to make a career out of it and don’t know how, here are a few examples of what you can do, aside from the ordinary.

There are many careers in the field of writing and production. When you think of the word ‘composer’ you might think of classical composers such as Mozart or Beethoven, but there are modern day composers, too. Many composers today write music for movies or television shows. If composing isn’t for you, you might consider being a producer, where you would supervise the process. You may consider conducting, where you would arrange performances and present the music intended for that program.

Aside from the basic music educator, such as an elementary or high school teacher, there are many other types of music educators. Opportunities present themselves in the form of teaching more advanced students such as college students. If you are big into music this may be something for you. You can also make a career out of being a private instructor where you would have one on one training with your students. Another career in music education is a music therapist. Music therapists use music to help heal, relieve pain, or provide emotional comfort to their patients. People like this may work freelance, in hospitals, correctional facilities, etc.

If you are considering making a career out of music, there are endless possibilities. There’s a variety of training and types of careers in the music field. If this sounds like something you would like to do, then begin researching because there’s so much out there and you don’t know what you might find.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Education, Music education, Music therapy

Working as a Private Music Instructor

There are many interesting jobs that can be found in the music field. Some people get stuck when it comes to music careers. They are not quite sure what they want to do. Should they teach? Should they compose music? A great area to go into is teaching private lessons.

Being a private instructor is a great idea for someone looking into making a career out of music. You are able to set your own schedule as well as set your own lesson fees. You get to interact with people that share the same passion that you do. Plus you can teach whatever type of music you enjoy rather than teaching a wide variety of subjects.

Normally private lessons can range from a half an hour to an hour. What to charge a person for lessons vary from place to place. Do your research and compare your rates to those of places in your area. Make sure that the price you charge is worth your time, but also affordable for your students.

When working as a private instructor you can either work at a school of music or run your own studio. Both are great opportunities, but you have to decide what you want to do. You can always begin working for someone then decide you want to be your own boss and create your own studio.

There’s also a variety of people you can teach. You can teach beginners, people with no musical background. You might teach intermediate students who may have learned music before but are learning a new instrument. Or you may teach advanced students such as upper level high school students or college students.

Teaching private lessons is great for people who have a musical background and enjoy playing music. If you are passionate about music, this might be something you would enjoy.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Education, Music, Music education, Private Lessons (1981 film)

The Spirit of Christmas

From the time we wash the dishes after our thanksgiving meal to the time we finally fall asleep at 12:01 on New Year’s day all we think about is Christmas. We think about the presents and decorations. What am I going to get so-and-so for Christmas? When are we going to go buy our tree? We think about snow and Christmas music. Is it going to be a white Christmas this year? Who was the original singer of ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’?

Is it really Santa Clause at the mall or the wreaths hanging up in Macy’s that get us into the Christmas spirit? Does the endless Christmas shopping and overpriced merchandise really make us feel as if it’s Christmas time? Is it the cold or the icy roads that make us say “Christmas time is here”?

It’s not the decorations or the presents that get us in the spirit of Christmas. The one thing that gets us into the spirit of Christmas is the music. It’s the chorus of “Frosty the Snowman” playing on the radio and the classic melody of “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” playing in JCPenny. It’s the “Hallelujah Chorus” being sung in church and the carolers knocking on your door surprising you with the melodies of “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night”. It’s the elementary Christmas concerts where you hear of mommy kissing Santa Clause and children’s complaints of ‘somebody snitched on me’.

Music is the one thing that brings us all together. When we all know the lyrics to “Winter Wonderland” and sing together then we are finally in the spirit of Christmas. When we hear Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You” and dedicate it to our sweetheart, then we become closer. It’s not the decorations, gifts, dinners, or snow falling from the sky that brings us together. The spirit of Christmas comes to us through music.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Christmas, Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland

Musical Keys

The concept of keys in music can be very difficult to understand. Many music students understand what it means to play in a certain key, but don’t understand what keys really are.

In general, when you are playing in a certain key, it means that all the notes in that piece of music are harmoniously centered around that one note. For example, if you are playing in the key of C, all your notes gravitate around the note C.

If you play in a different key, that means that the piece of music you are playing is centered around a different note. Not every piece of music uses the same key throughout the piece. Some pieces switch the key throughout the song.

Some people think that it would be much easier to put all instruments in the same key. That would make a composer’s job much easier. Then they wouldn’t have to transpose their piece for every instrument. But if all instruments were in the same key it would make a musician’s job a lot harder. For example, all types of trumpets have the same fingerings because they are in different keys. If they were all in the same key you would have to relearn the fingerings whenever you switch to a different type.

The keys that certain instruments play in vary from instrument to instrument. Instruments not in the key of C are called transposing instruments. If an instrument is in the key of B flat, that means that if they play a C scale from sheet music, it will actually sound like a B flat scale, because their instrument is tuned a half a step lower.

This is a difficult subject to comprehend, but when you start to play music it becomes more clear. Although you may not know why early musicians decided to make things in different keys, you will begin to understand the concept of playing in a different key.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Music, Musical composition, Musical instrument, Sheet music

Music can Help With Anxiety and Stress

If you’re stressed out a lot, or if you struggle with problems like anxiety, depression, or panic attacks, music may be able to help you. While it’s not a cure, and it doesn’t work for everyone, music is often associated with soothing people and/or making them feel happy and relaxed. You can choose your favorite kind of music or a band or singer you really like to listen to. You could also try listening to something like light jazz or classical music. The benefits of classic music have actually been studied, and have been shown to be real. It can even help people with dementia, patients about to undergo surgery, and babies in the womb.

It’s easy to get stressed out, unfortunately. There are all kinds of things to get worried about, from your kids to paying your bills. It’s very important that you take care of your children and handle your bills, but it’s equally important that you take the time to relax and enjoy your life. One way to do this is to lower those bills. Take the time to find a good company with great rates on car insurance and other bills. And also take some time for yourself each day to just listen to classic music. Even if it’s just a few minutes, it can really improve your mood.

Anyone who’s prone to panic attacks and generalized anxiety problems may also benefit from listening to classic music – both during the attacks and when they feel good. It can be used for relaxation, and also as a background for meditation. If you meditate, even for a few minutes each day, your stress levels will be lower and you’ll be more likely to handle anxiety-provoking situations better than you would otherwise. Don’t give up on getting some relief from stress and anxiety. Give classic music a try and see just how much it can do for you.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Anxiety, Panic attack

Ludwig van Beethoven – A troubled genius

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The most significant notes ever written were quite possibly the first four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony – three short beats followed by one long. Some say they represented the heavy hand of Fate knocking on one’s door.

There’s no doubt that German born composer Ludwig van Beethoven suffered deeply for his art, and those around him suffered, too. He was known to be short-tempered, poorly groomed, and ill mannered. He talked to himself, he didn’t bathe, and he let his hair grow long and wild during a time when meticulous pigtails were the style for men’s hair.

The year his father began teaching him to play piano, Ludwig was so small he was unable to reach the keys. Johann was a tenor, and supplemented his income giving voice and violin lessons. Neighbors recall Ludwig crying at the piano, standing on the bench to better reach the keys. Johann was an abuser who rapped his knuckles and whipped him whenever he made mistakes. Some speculate it may have been a severe boxing blow to the ears that started Ludwig on the gradual road to his deafness. An autopsy showed a distended inner ear. Hair samples reveal toxic levels of lead, which may have played a role. We do know that he suffered from a severe form of tinnitus, a ringing of the ear, which made conversation difficult, and impaired his ability to perceive and appreciate music. His condition may explain why his later works were so heavy handed – it was the only way he could hear his own music.

Beethoven couldn’t hear his audience, either, and after a concert, had to be physically turned to see them standing and applauding.

Several failed attempts at romance led him to celibacy. He considered himself unattractive. He was scarred from smallpox, with a large head and protruding teeth which he polished, constantly, with his napkin. He was messy, had sloppy penmanship, and he loved macaroni and cheese. He liked strong coffee and made it himself – exactly 60 beans to the cup. He was certainly a character, if not the greatest composer who ever lived.

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Ludwig van Beethoven, Tinnitus, Violin

Ways to Find Old Friends

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Sometimes life gets in the way, and it can cause really close friends to have to part ways. It’s nothing that was done on purpose or with malicious intent, but it happens. People go off to college, get married, have kids, or move away. These events cause even the closest of friends to experience some periods of separation. However, the separation doesn’t have to last forever. Friends are among life’s blessings, and a true friendship never goes away–it could just be lost for a short period of time.

If you have experienced a separation from a close friend, there are dozens of ways that you can go about reconnecting with that person. It might take a bit of time and energy but if you really want to connect with them, you’ll find a way to get in touch with them again.

Here are some of the top ways that friends have found each other after prolonged periods of separation.

Directory Assistance. There are dozens of directory assistance companies available both online and offline that can help in your search. There are websites like Classmates.com that can help friends reconnect if they went to school together. You can also use Canada 411 to see if your friend is listed in the directory.

Google Search. Almost every single person is online somewhere. A simple Google search of the friend’s first and last name might reveal some type of email address, social media page, or other type of information that can help you make contact with your long lost friend.

Craigslist. Craigslist seems to have everything, and lost connections is one of them. If you are having problems finding your friend after a number of years, you can place a free ad on Craigslist asking for help with your search. You never know what kind of leads such a posting might generate.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Canada, Craigslist, Directory assistance, Friendship, Google, Google Search, search, Search Engines

Mark Teicholz

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Classical guitarist extraordinaire, Marc Teicholz was not only the 1st prize winner of The 1989 International Guitar Foundation of America Competition, he was also the winner in New york’s 1991 ‘East-West Artists competition, the 1986 Paganini competition, and finalist in the 1992 Pro-Musicians competition, as well.

Marc has just released his fourth in a succession of classical CD’s. “CANCIONES” is reflective of Marc’s passion for classical Spanish themes, and features 14 selections exquisitely performed by Teicholz, and featured cellist, Sharon O’Connor for a sublime listening experience. Noteworthy composers Joaquin Malats, Isaac Albeniz, Joaquin Turina, Federico Mompou, Francisco Tarrega, and Manuel de Falla are all honored in this collection. Selections include: “Sevillana Op.29”, “Preludio”, and the lively “La Vida Breve” to name a few.

Teicholz has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia to critical acclaim for his master classes and recitals. In the mid-90’s, he toured New Zealand, Fuji, the Philippines and Singapore as an Artistic Ambassador for the United States. His career as a soloist has led him to play with orchestras in Russia, Spain, Portugal, Hawaii and California, and his playing reflects the flavors of all these countries in his broad repertoire.

Marc’s previous CD releases, “The Music of Napoleon Coste”, and “The Music of Fernando Sor I and II”, earned him international acclaim for his commitment to precisely playing “the ink” of these notorious composers. He’s recorded for such prestigious labels as Naxos, Sugo, and Menus and Music, as well as recording the pilot soundtrack for George Lucas’ “Young Indiana Jones.”

Currently, Marc Teicholz performs over 60 community concerts a year as part of the quartet “A Festival of Four.” He’s on the prestigious faculty of both The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and The California State University at Hayward. He graduated Magna cum Laude from Yale University where he received his master’s degree from the Yale School of Music.

Filed Under: Artists, Instruments Tagged With: Classical guitar, United States, Yale School of Music

Kitchen Quests: Riverside Property Management

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

It’s the quest for perfection, the little tastes and testings — you hurry about the kitchen, trying to create a masterpiece. Only the best ingredients are chosen. Only the finest techniques are applied. A recipe is followed most reverently, with you refusing to improvise (you respect the craft of cooking too much to undo it with poor choices and over-seasoning). This meal is to be a tribute to your abilities.

The tribute, however, fails.

Because there is no counter space to prepare your produce. There are no shelves to store the excess of pots and pans. Even your stove has betrayed you: with its burners refusing to heat, fading instead to a dull simmer. Your efforts are ruined; your attempts are refused; and all food most eventually be tossed away, unable to be consumed.

You need a change. You need a new kitchen.

And Riverside property management companies suddenly seem so wise.

An apartment was never meant to be permanent. You chose it for its convenience, its easy distance to the rest of your life (work, friends, modern amenities). The years have passed, however, and you still remain inside — suffering through small spaces, high fees and a kitchen that couldn’t sustain even a take-out fiend. Your cupboards are tiny; your sink is shallow; and all equipment seems determined to interfere with each other. Doors collide and handles rattle.

It’s useless in all ways… especially for a recipe devotee such as yourself.

You need room to cook. You need the ability to learn. And your apartment simply doesn’t offer that. It merely provides frustration.

It’s time therefore to find a new location — one with square footage to spare and the luxury of an island (you’ll even compromise with laminate finishings. No granite is needed here, only practicality).

Search for a kitchen you can bake in. Search for a home that can be purely yours.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Business and Economy, Cooking, Cookware and bakeware, Home, Home and Garden, Kitchen, Property management, Real estate