Free music, games, TV and more

may 9 2008

Do you know I've been a singer in a band?
I loved it!!

Since that time I'm asked to review music at times.
With that request I honor the ongoing line of musical talent in my family. We have absolute hearing, meaning that we hear all mistakes, even when they're very minor.
My grandfather travelled the country to do the same what I can do online.

A couple of days ago I was told that a band was about to release two new numbers free for download for the general public.
My friend said I'd better download MP3 Rocket, to make life a lot easier.

It's a program that searches on internet for free downloadable material.

I tried to download the program, but it kept sending me error messages. It drove me nuts!
When I told this to my eldest this morning he got red cheeks and was very eager "to have a look". When I was upstairs getting my bag, he performed a miracle.

So this afternoon I had another try and ... IT WORKS!!!

The program enables free music downloads, free games and moviedownloads.
I only had to type in the name of the band my friend mentioned, and the program searched internet and displayed the files. Downloading went so much faster than usual.

There's no chance to be bored again.

There's a radio to listen to. Just choose one of the over 200 stations, or you can watch TV. More than 200 channnels are available, including the BBC.

MP3 Rocket comes as a free version, and as a premium version.

The free version offers me more than enough.

Like with all file sharing programs the system requires a responsible attitude.
The program is not meant to enable you to download the files for commercial use.

The site gives you lots of information and even a demo.

Have a try... it's well worth it!


Do you like the fact that I inform you about this program?
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schoolmusical (s)

march 28 2008

The girls had to audition today for the schoolmusical.
They were quite nervous, because they didn't know what to expect.

They're both singing in a choir, have 6 years of experience on stage with ballet,
so they knew they wanted to go for the main parts.

Ofcourse they had a peek at the first auditions, to get an idea what to expect.
Then they quickly practiced a song and created a dance with pillows, large flowers and veils.

Already it buzzed through the groups that only the names of the best would be written down.

They both felt they did well, and saw their names written down during singing.

The names of those who will get the main parts will be announced next week, but they already know that they're in for a least the songs.


The schoolmusical is always a bussy time here.
The oldest played the main male part in his year. He did marvellous!
He had some great coaches to mold his stage presentation and he showed talent to remember all those suggestions and use them.
I completely forgot it was my son on stage.

We tried to motivate him to become a member of a theatregroup, but he never wanted that. What a loss of talent!

In the year my second son left school there wasn't a proper musical.
Instead we saw him take part in a professional dance performance, which was wonderful!

My third son got one of the 4 main parts in the musical.
He too showed he'd inherited the familytalents.
The doll he made and had to carry with him only disappeared from the table to the attick last month.

When my autistic son was in his final year, we all thought it wise he would hand out the leaflets at the door or stand behind the cookies and fill the plate whenever necessary.
They completely forgot him!!
He still feels hurt, because no one bothered to say sorry.

And it still gets to me whenever I think about it.

And now it's time for my girls.

One of them has the same teacher as my autistic son had.

I hope I can keep my mouth shut.
I'm sure it's better not to ask her not to forget my girl. LOL!

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Finale Music Notation Software

february 29 2008

Most of my readers ny now know I'm a bagpiper.
I play the highlands bagpipes when my lungs allow.

There are times my asthma and chronic bronchitis can't deal with the energy and force highland bagpipes need, so I'm saving and trying to earn a bit of money to realise a dream, McCallum Smallpipes.
With two girl bagpipers in the next generation a worthy investment.
I'm not far from realising my dreams, after years of saving.

I've been asked what I'm doing when I'm not bagpiping and I'm not blogging or dealing with my children and their schools and therapists.

I like to compose.

Don't be amazed.
My grandfather did and my father.
I inherited their genes, and their ways of notating the music: paper and pen.

I've decided that when I've realised my smallpipes dreams I'm going to save for music software.

Today I landed on the site of MakeMusic, Inc.
They're providing the best software for composers and musicians on the world.
The products are also used at music schools and academies.

Finale® is the world standard for creating, editing and printing sheet music.
It provides everything a musician and composer needs, including a showcase.
You can find a demo at the site which says more than a thousand words.

There's even an automatic lyric placement feature, and you can add as many features as you want. Like dozens of plug-ins for specialised notation.
Whenever upgrades are available, there's no need to buy a complete new program.
You can just add it to the excisting program you use.

One can also choose for SmartMusic®, the complete music practice system that features Intelligent Accompaniment® and the world's largest interactive accompaniment library.

I've seen it in use by professionals, with the use of the latest addition: a Powerful Mixer and the new Reverb Settings.

MakeMusic, Inc. has it all.
And you can use the demos to see what you want or need: Finale 2008, Allegro 2007, PrintMusic 2008 and/or SongWriter 2007.

I want notation software which enables me to compose and share my music without having to rely on photocopies.
So Finale® it will be.

The most amazing instrument

february 26 2008

This is the most amazing instrument I've found online.

Another step for the girls

february 9 2008

The girls came back from bagpipelesson with lots of stories to tell.

The new teacher accomplishes wonders by his positive attitude.

They enjoy practicing far more after they had the chance to perform.
I've told that more than a year ago to the former teacher, but he had a complete different way of dealing with children.

Now the girls are invited to the normal practice evening.

They're very happy about it, because it means they're considered to be a bit more grown up.

I'm not completely happy with it, because it means bedtime is far later.

But they'll get more lessons, and the saturday will be far more relaxed.
No alarm waking up people who are not ready for the weekend.

It also means they're almost ready for the real bagpipes.
I guess it'll be smallpipes.

Just forgetting the finances....

Wouldn't it be great to perform with my girls on smallpipes?

Wow!!

Add a Bose home theater to your wishlist

february 3 2008

We've had quite some birthdays in january and I'm happy we got through them well.
What a difficult month january was!

Now we're heading towards the last birthday, and some birthdays of good friends and then the list of festivities gets much quieter.

I asked my oldest (asperger syndrome) what he wants for his birthday.
Without hesitation he said: a Bose home theater.

Well, you can't say he can't make a choice. LOL!

He started to tell me a lot about acoustics and sound quality and a lot more and in my mind the system grew a large size.

Well, compared to the sound it produces it's little.
And it's pretty to see too.

I like the fact that all soundproducing systems can be connected to the system, so I can watch TV and enjoy the sound far better.

My son like the fact that he can enhance the experience of his games.

Well, it's Bose, so it's very high quality.

evening of the girls

january 20 2008

The girls went all dressed up feeling princesses.
They looked marvellous.
(want to know more: look here.)

The boy who came to the door to fetch them told us they would be back at 8.
What a surprise!!!
We expected them to take part in at least half of the official program of the evening, and at 8 it probably would start.

That didn't feel good at all, so I told the girls they were allowed to stay longer, only when...onnnnly when they would have arranged a trusted ride back.

So it wasn't fun to stay at home.

At 8 they phoned and told us that they would go and look for someone to drive them home later, as the official part was about to begin, and it was weird to leave before they could perform.

At half past ten they called again telling they were coming home.
They sounded bright and happy.

At home they told that the official program started a bit after 8.
They had been the first to arrive.

The performance went well on their part, but the boy made such a huge mistakes, that the leader of the band told them to perform later. So the boy had time to practice his bit in the attick of the building.

In the meantime they witnessed the ceremony of the Haggis, with one of the real scottish men citing a Robert Burns Poem and slicing the haggis.
Before I'd told them that some people meow a lot about haggis, but that it's tasting like well flavored minced meat, and they should get some mashed potatoes with it.

They both loved it!

Then they had the chance to hold the new baby, and it felt so good.
Oh, those little mothers-to-be!
What a pity I wasn't there.

The second performance went well, and they got a standing ovation.
Well deserved, I have to say.
I didn't use a broom, but only verbal force to motivate them to practice each day.
I'm glad it worked.

The rest of the evening they enjoyed all the attention for their outfit and the fun an evening like that brings.


When one of the girls was already asleep the other was smiling at me, all happy.
"Mom, I was feeling a real princess."

What a wonderful end of the evening!!

workshops in music and movement for children with autism or autistic behaviors

january 4 2008

VSA arts of New Jersey
New Brunswick
Saturdays
Feb. 2 - April 5

parent-child workshops in music and movement for children with autism or autistic behaviors

The 10 sessions will be geared for children ages 3 to 17.
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
There is a $30 registration fee for families whose children receive class placement.

Fee waivers are available.

More information and applications are available by calling VSA arts of New Jersey at (732) 745-3885, 745-5935 or 745-3913 (TTY), or by e-mailing info@vsanj.org.

As far as I know you have to apply before next monday.

There's an easy way to learn to play the piano

january 2 2008


And... are you going to stick to your new year's resolutions?
Or are you going to make some more.

Learning to play the piano would be a good one.

It's not as difficult as people think, but it needs dedication and a bit of persistence.
When you can play a little you'll experience it's fun, and then you want to play more and more.

Duane Shinn is a very experienced piano teacher. He's also called the pianoman.

He offers a piano lessons email newsletter on piano chords and chord progressions, completely free.
The series of newsletters is 101 issues, and you'll get a new one about each 5 days.

Ofcourse he also provides piano courses. They are fun, easy to follow and very practical.
You can be sure there's no boring teacher sitting at your site, commenting on your mistakes.
You'll learn in a pleasant way.

There's a course to learn to play the piano within days for $97.
It's well wordt the money, especially when you know how much your local pianoteacher charges.

Learning to play is absolute fun, because the course are targetted towards a special kind of music.

Like the "Evangelistic Piano Playing Course" and the "How To Play Jazz Piano" course.

There are courses to download at his site.

When you want to know more about the free newsletter and the Piano lessons & piano chords, just have a look at Duane's marvellous site.

Bagpiping again

november 9 2007

Yesterday I started bagpiping again.
I think my lungs have had enough rest. And even though my bloodpressure is still far too high, I didn't want to wait any longer.

So I took it easy and used the pocketpipes.
They require far less air and less pressure.
The reed is easier to play, and makes kess noise than the highland bagpipes so all in all the instrument if more fun for playing at home.

It's at the moment enough exercise.
I can work on the melody and on remembering it.

I've found out that after major surgery a few years ago I have poblems with memorising.
But my musical memory is perfect.
So I first learn the song itself.

Which is in fact the old way of learning to bagpipe.
First learn to hum it properly and then play it.

There needs to be an automatic correlation between the tone in my head and the tome in my hand.
Well , I can still play highland cathedral perfectly.
So the rest will follow.

After that I'll start training my lungs again and then play the highland bagpipes again.

looking on Spock

november 3 2007

Sometimes we forget that "we" are the internet.
Even when we look up our own name we have little or no control over what is written, and I can tell you, that bugs me.

I've come across a couple of publications about me and my work which were far too carelessly written to be considered true or to the point. And the only way to correct them was mailing to the webmaster, the host or even the provider of the webmaster.

Now I've found Spock.

No, not Mr. Spock, although I wouldn't mind to have a good conversation with him.
No Spock, but just as efficient and fact-minded.

It's a search engine that's growing fast due to its focus on good profile publications of people.
It's also an information search engine, but the fact that there is so much information to be found about individual people makes it popular.

And even better.
You can subscribe and write your own profile, include a picture, add your site(s) and you have total control.
You can also add to other profiles, and vote.

This enables a search not only on name or location, but also on features like haircolor, profession and a lot more.

Ofcourse I had a go at the searchengine.
Looked up: Janis Joplin.
Me oh my, what a lot of information about her!

The tags enable me to search for other entries with that specifik word.
There's news, and there's a huge amount of links to other sites where you can find more about Janis Joplin.

The photo is linked to a page that says there's no information. That's odd. But hej, the system is new and I'm sure not everything is checked yet.
That's a task for me and you.

As a member I can add all the information I have about her, and vote for what others have added.

I can also get the html for a widget like you can see here:



I understand that the inventors/initiators of Spock didn't intend to make it a community, but some people say it's their favorite hang out, because there is so much to learn and to share.

Well, have a look.

blogging for bagpipes

november 3 2007

When people find out I'm a bagpiper they either start to chuckle and ask me if I'm wearing a kilt too, look worried and ask if my ears are still in working order, or just look.... and then say.... can women do that too?

Yes, we women can do that too.
Ofcourse we can!!

One needs to learn to read music and memorise the melodies.
One needs to coordinate the movements of blowing, using the fingers to create the tones, and using the elbow to press the air out.

And persistance and dedication... a lot of that!!!

I can't blow all the time.
I've got asthma and that means that the highland bagpipes, yep the real ones, are sometimes just too much for me.

It's such a pity, because I worked so hard to gain control over the instrument, and I've worked so hard to be able to buy the instrument.

And I want to keep up with my daughters who are learning to become a bagpiper too.
Imagine us three...

So now I'm saving for smallpipes or chamber pipes.

These bagpipes are a bit smaller than highlandpipes and they sound more moderate.
They won't kill your ears.

That's why you'll find entries on this site that are sponsored.
Be sure, I won't promote something I don't like.
I want to keep my integrity.

It's a good way for me, because I can't have a normal job due to the fact that I have to take care of 4 children with autism spectrum disorder.
One of them needs constant care.

(For those who asked me how many children I have. 6!
The twingirls were a gift. They'll get 12 this month.
They're such wonderful little ladies.)

So now you know why I'm blogging for a bit of money.

dreaming...

november 2 2007

One of the participants of the fall carnival asked me to blog about a dream that probably never would be fullfilled.

Ofcourse I could blog again about my dreams to travel.
I would be a great presenter of travelling programs, I'm sure.
If only someone would discover me and Michael Palin would teach me.

Or I could blog about meeting Jane Goodall and go with her on trips to inform people about how special this earth is and how much more we should care for it.
(I doubt if I would dare to ask to autograph the book I got as a present last week. LOL!)

Maybe I should blog about dreaming that I'd travel the world with my bagpipes and play at all touristic landmarks.
But I don't think I'm thát good.
They's probably throw me in prison to shut me and my bagpipes up.

So I'll blog about a dream, a real dream, I had last week.
Someone came and wanted to know the sizes of the girls and me, and he gave us all three the banduniform and everything that goes with it.
He also promised to keep my girls clothed when their sizes would go up.

Then he took us to the best bagpipemakers and had us all three smallpipes made, designed to our taste.

Because we always have problems travelling - I'm the only one of the band without a car and driving lisence - he promissed us we could go anywhere without problems anymore.

It was such a pity I woke up before I could see the face of this nice guy.
Otherwise i could search the internet and find him. LOL!

Free concert for kids

november 1 2007

Two boys won the junior song contest and one of them lives near us, the other in town.

Just a moment ago a leaflet dropped on the doormat that told about a free concert next saturday in one of the enormous DIY shops near here.

One of the boys said he was going and the girls almost killed him when they asked if he wanted to take them.

You should have seen his smile!

Wow!!!

french music in autumn

october 26 2007

Every year when autumn sets in I feel like listening to french music.

I'm not only taking about "autumn leaves".

Also about for instance songs of Claude Nougaro.

French is a language that's suited for long stretched melancholic songs.
The nasal sounds must have do to with it.

It's strange that the rest of the year I hardly listen to french music.

Do you have musical preferences during fall?

A blog for music students

september 16 2007

Today I came across a Piano Chords Blog. What a pity I didn't know before where it was, because it offers great information for anyone dealing with music, even though it's aimed primarily on piano players. The blog offers music theory and other relevant information for musicians and those interested in musical instruments. At places where the information isn't provided directly, links will lead you to a suitable site. If you need to know more about chords and chord progressions have a look. Don't forget to browse the archives.

counting musical notes

september 8 2007

For some people it's difficult to remember how music is counted.

Phil Tuliga has a wonderful site about counting music.

You can surf zround at his site and find a page with home made music instruments.
A great idea for parties or a dark grey autumn afternoon.

A-Cappella.com is perfect for my vocal cords

september 7 2007

My regular readers know music is my food and water, is my vacation at home, my source of existence.
Without music I'll be running in the streets untill I'm caught by an ambulant psychiatric team and closed behind bars forever.

Ofcourse I don't have violins accompanying me during my household chores, and I don't hear the drums sweeping up the stress when one of the boys has a meltdown.
(I will ofcourse if they finally make a movie about my life and I can only hope the bagpiper who plays me will love the instrument as much as I do.)

So I sing...
To keep my vocal cords in swing, and my brains from desintegrating, and to be honest, to keep me from feeling old.

There's a name for singing without instruments: A cappella.
You can write it in many other ways, but this is the only way that is a 100% right for musicians.

Most of you know a cappella singing from barbershopsinging.
That's one of the many ways to use the voice as a wonderful instrument of musical harmony.

I've found a marvellous a cappella store where you not only can find clear information, but also a cappella mp3s, CD's, DVD's, videos... and a capella sheet music.

Part of the sheet music is free for download with permission from the publishers.

Ofcourse the store offers accessories too.
Not all have the gift to target the tone right on spot, like my dad could, so they need a pitch pipe. Well, they have models I have never seen. What a choice!

Well, you have to have a look yourself. No matter what style you prefer, there's something for everyone.

When you won't see me commenting on your blogs, know I've downloaded some sheetmusic and I'm learning some new songs.
I love to surprise people with a song now and then, and it will be much more fun with A-Cappella.com to rely on. With over 3,000 different pieces it won't be a problem to keep my vocal cords perfectly in shape.


and it's my life.

Krezip

july 18 2007

One of my sons is with his girl to an open air concert of Krezip.

It's a pity I have to stay at home.
No, not because I want to be with those two. I don't feel the need to be with them...
Young love is beautiful. But they don't need mom to watch over them.

I like Krezip.
It's a group that has evolved from a kind of teen energy group to a mature pop/rockband.

The face of the group is Jacqueline Govaert.
She sings, plays the paino and writes the songs since she was a high school girl.

She's one of the first students and graduates from the Fontys Rockacademy (Tilburg, The Netherlands), among Floor Jansen and Intwine.

I like the way she sings. It's bold, strong, and yet in a way delicate.
It was so nice to see her grow from a young girl with bravoure into the promising singer she is.

So now my son and his girl are enjoying her and her band.
I'm sure they'll like it.

The Stones in town

The weather was terrible yesterday.
So hot and so humid that the kids didn't even want eat.

Some of them just took sandwiches with them and disappeared to the large parc where all the equipment was ready at the huge stage for.... The Rolling Stones!

Ofcourse the tickets were far too expensive, but around the closed area enough sound was heard to enjoy the concert.

It was during the first part of the program of Van Morrison when clouds came from all sides and the expected bad weather started.
The thunder rolled in like the gods of the sky were playing jeux de boulles.

Around 5oo lightnings per 5 minutes were expected, the weatheralarm told us, and we weren't disappointed.

The first lightning was seen behind the stage, the rest was everywhere.
So much water poured down that even the protective screens were used against the rain.
None cared anymore that peeking eyes could see freely what was happening behind the gates.

And between the mud and the weathergods The Rolling Stones played like they could tell heaven to stop.

It was great......

So I was told.

Sometimes we can hear here a concert word after word, but this time we only heard the last sounds of thunder.........