Drum Circle

Ask a person what regret they have from their childhood is, and very often they will say that they wish they had learned to play an instrument. Whether it was the guitar, piano, violin, or drums, a child's innate ability to learn music and excel as they grow cannot be matched by an adult attempting to learn a similar instrument. Musical talent is not something that everyone has, but with practice it can become a valuable part of your daily life.

Music is all around us. It is such a powerful force that you can't walk down the street without hearing some type of music. It has the ability to elevate mood and relax us, and the creation of music can be extremely therapeutic. Autistic children, for example, benefit greatly from the creation of music. Group sessions involving music, such as a drum circle, allow the children to form a sense of connection with their peers. Music therapy is a widely prevalent form of treatment for anxiety, stress, and depression.

Learning to play music doesn't come as easily for some as it does for others. If you are in your 30's and just starting out, your learning curve on the instrument will be steeper and it may take you a bit longer than a younger person to pick it up. Why is it more difficult as you get older? For one, our brain's ability to learn new things declines slightly with age. We are no longer a sponge, ready and able to pick up new things, in the same way that children are. Another reason adults take longer to learn to play music is that they lack motivation. For adults, there are many distractions that will prevent us from focusing solely on music. Children, without a care in the world for the most part, can concentrate on one task without worrying about work or what to make for dinner. Yet another reason is that, as we age, we develop into left or right brained functioning people. Some people are artists, some excel at business. We are all different, and as such our musical abilities are different as well.

If you are looking for an instrument that suits you, consider your interests first and foremost. What type of music do you like? Rock, classical, pop, Latino? Focus your instrument search on the type of music that suits you best. Second, consider your budget. How much money do you have to spend on an instrument? Items such as pianos can be rented, but guitars or drums are inexpensive and easy to purchase. Third, ask yourself if you are planning on playing an instrument as a social medium. Do you want to participate in a band and play electric guitar or a drum kit? Are you interested in drum circles and want to join a community of drummers playing the djembe, congas or didgeridoo? Music can be part of a social setting, but also can be used as a solitary mode of relaxation.

Learning to play music can be difficult, but it can also be a very fulfilling part of your life. Decide which instrument or style of music is the best for you and focus on it as much as possible. With time and dedication, your ability to play music will flourish.

Labels: drum.circle, Fun, Learn Music, music, Music Education, music.therapy, world.percussion

School Jam USA is one of the best opportunities for school funding. The event is a unique battle of the bands, providing prizes not only for the band that wins, but for the school's music education program as well.

Run by a German company called MusikMedia Germany, School Jam has been popular for years in Germany, with a well-established history for creating school spirit while engaging teenagers in a competition that benefits both student and school. MusikMedia has been essential for the adoption of popular and rock music in school bands' repertoires. MusikMedia runs the publication of SchoolJam the magazine, which is published every two months.

The contest is open to teenagers under the age of eighteen who are not attached to a music label. The contestants must be enrolled in an American high school, but need to have passports allowing travel to Germany for the final competition.

Artists are able to play any kind of music they want, from power pop and rap to percussion ensembles featuring the djembe drum or horns, so long as the music is under public domain and School Jam officials approve the lyrics. School Jam encourages students to try out new arrangements of older music, in order to makes sure that their act sounds fresh and new. The School Jam competition is a unique experience for middle and high school students, as it allows them to showcase their own talents while supporting and rallying their school band.

Open entries for the contest begins on August 24, 2009 and continue until the middle of October. In order to enter the competition, visit schooljamusa.com to upload your application. The only limitation for bands is that no more than ten people can be playing on stage, and the song for the competition must be five minutes or shorter. After that, students can be as creative as they want.

Fifty semi-finalists will be chosen from the open entries, with ten from each of five regions. These contestants will then be posted on the School Jam website, where visitors can vote for their favorite band once a day between November 1, 2009 and December 5, 2009. Visitors also have a chance to win some fabulous prizes for themselves, just for voting through the voters' sweepstakes.

The top ten finalists from the online semi finals will then go on to the live finals in Anaheim, California on January 16, 2010. These finalists are made of the top two finalists in each region. All ten of the finalists will receive gift cards to spend on new instruments and gear for their band, as well as money for their school's music program to fund new instrument purchases.

Finally, the winning band will compete at the School Jam performance in Germany in March 2010 at the School Jam Germany finals in Frankfurt. For more information about the competition, visit www.schooljam.de. The site also hosts information about the SchoolJam magazine, rules and terms, interviews with previous School Jam winners, and contests for great prizes, like guitars signed by members of the Black Eyed Peas.

Labels: Fun, Music Education