Music Education

Teach or Learn

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

• Abbey Music Lessons - Music lessons any age or style. Guitar, piano, bass, trumpet, drums, harmonica or voice. Paul Neathery, 414-541-8401, Milwaukee or Waukesha.
• ABC - Music news, interviews, features on the bands and artists making headlines, Billboard charts, who's who in music business and Top 40.
• Access My Library - An array of free and relevant information, an extensive collection of reference materials, journals and articles on issues relating to Music.
• Acoustic Finger Style Guitar - Learn to play guitar in open tunings. Listen to Fingerstyle MIDI music.

• Jay Allison
  Teaches at a Charter School. Plays salsa with Punto de Vista Latin Orchestra, freelance jazz and Dixieland, trombone, Milwaukee.
  
  
• All Music Guide - Search for information by artist, album, song, style and recording label.
• Alternate Music Press - Acoustic, ambient, blues, classical, Celtic, electronic, folk, fusion, jazz, New Age and world. MIDI file links.

• American Music Conference
  303 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 1214
  Chicago, IL 60601-5298
  312-856-8820.
  
  
• American Music Therapy Association - Connect mind, body and sound to bring about self-growth and empowerment through music.
• Andante - Music magazine, musicroom, directories, profiles, learning, reference, boutique and calendar.
• Artistopia - Join music artists across the world in their pursuit to stardom. Artistopia’s memberships includes comprehensive artist profiles, unlimited song uploads, press releases, events calendar, music directory, classified ads, discussion forums, and shopping.

• Berklee Music.com - Extension school, career center of jobs and gigs, for musicians, educators and professionals.

• Ana Ruth Bermudez
  Cuban cellist and cello teacher living, teaching and performing in Milwaukee. Attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Russia; and the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba. Performs regularly as a chamber musician throghout the state. Played in Festivals in Miami, Mexico City, Caracas, and in 2005 was guest soloist with the Haffner Symphony in Lancaster, England. Musical Resume (PDF 7k). Ana Ruth Bermudez, 414-540-5587, Milwaukee.
  
  
• Blank Sheet Music - Printable blank music pages of 8, 10, 14, 18 and 22 staves. Great for composers, arrangers and musicians. (PDF 21k)

• Tom Brown
  Retired from teaching private music students and at First United Methodist Church from 1978 to 2005 as Diaconal Minister of Music and Choirs, West Allis.

• Clarinet Bulletin Board - Questions, answers and information.
• Consumable Online - Internet's oldest alternative music publication featuring reviews, interviews and tour dates.

• Nicholas Contorno
  Marquette Band Director from 1966 to 2006, Glendale Public Schools, Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Fiesta Italiana Music Director (16 years), retired.

• Downtune - Listen and download music from both signed and unsigned artist.

• Early Music America - Early music concerts, workshops and links.
• Educational Cyber Playground - Music makes you smarter. Various articles on music enhancing intelligence or development.
• Essentials of Music - Basic information about classical music, including eras, terms and composers, with audio examples.

• Figgle - Mainstream music news, features, album reviews, newsletter and on-line chats.

• Garageband.com - Review independent tunes to help talented bands with record deals.
• Gary Ewer's Easy Music Theory - A course in music.
• Gift of Music & Art, The - Understand music theory by Paul Wayne Beach.
• Gitarre Spielen - Guitar playing lessons, scales, arpeggio techniques, tuning, chords, interviews, equipment reviews.
• Guitar Center - Full online video course for $24.95.
• Guitar.com - Multimedia content, lessons, music clips, chord and scale generators, discussion boards, tablatures and articles. Record reviews, news columns and interviews with famous guitar players, gear list, manufacturer links.
• Guitar Lesson Reviews - A review site on guitar lessons and software.
• Guitar Player - News, articles, MP3, product reviews, lessons and interviews.
• Guitar Resources: Harmony Central - Info, links, news, products, instruction, tablature and forum for discussion.
• Guitar Tricks - Guitar lessons online with 150 free guitar lessons. We have electric guitar lessons, acoustic guitar lessons, over 300 beginner guitar lessons, rock guitar lessons, country, scales and modes, fingerpicking guitar.
• Greenfield Recreation Dance and Music Classes - Community recreation classes. Ballet and Tap, Middle Eastern Dance, Ballroom Dance, Social Dance, Hip Hop/Funk Dance and Make a Joyful Noise. Info City of Greenfield, 414-329-5370.

• Curtis Hart
  Teaches general music, band and choir since 1986 and at Fairview Charter K-8 School since 1990, plays most instruments especially the French Horn, is a WSMA Master Adjucator and is music director since 1989 for many musical plays around Milwaukee. On April 14, 2005, the Civic Music Association awarded Curt the Excellence in Teaching General Music award (Curt was also presented this award in 1999). Milwaukee.
  
  
• John Hibler
  Accomplished performer on the flute, clarinet and saxophone, and maintains a busy performance schedule in a variety of settings. He was a member of the Melody Top orchestra for 23 years and performs with Broadway tours in Milwaukee and with The Milwaukee Rep's A Christmas Carol. Prior to retiring in 1999 he was Director of Bands at Brookfield East High School for 23 years. John is now a woodwind consultant to Hal Leonard Publishing Co. and an adjunct instructor at Wisconsin Lutheran College and Concordia University. 262-786-3839, Brookfield.
  
  

• Bob Hudy
  Teaches music in the Brookfield schools since 1993, plays percussion, especially in musical plays.

• Ideas - Teacher resources, lesson plans, guides, tools, professional development opportunity, student site.
• The Indie Bible - Helpful music promotion tools and resources for the independent musician.
• Indie-Music.com - Resource for musicians and a place for listeners to check out independent newcomers.

• Instrument Jokes
  A joke for every musical instrument.
  
  
• Interactive Online Guitar Lessons - WorkShopLive provides unlimited access to an extensive group of music teachers and lessons.
• Internet Resources for Music Educators - Topics, resources, theory and links.

• Rene Izquierdo
  Guitar, Milwaukee.

• Sue Janke
  Taught music in the public schools, plays in the Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Summer Philharmonia, Philharmonia Racine and Kettle Moraine Symphony. Bachelor of Music Degree. Cello, Milwaukee.
  
  
• Mary Jirovec
  Taught music in the elementary West Allis schools of Hoover, Madison and Mitchell from 1977 to 2008. Mary has been playing musical instruments since 1965, but especially likes the reed instruments and plays clarinet or sax for musical plays. Mary also travels to many countries to teach a variety of subjects.
  
  
• Amanda Johnson
  Concertmistress with Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra. Teaches orchestra at Thomas Jefferson Middle School; orchestra and lessons at the Menomonee Falls North Junior High Campus; and private violin lessons in Madison since 2002. Brookfield.
  
  
• Faith Johnson
  Music diagnostics teacher at Whittier, Tippecanoe and the West Side Academy schools near Milwaukee since 1975. Faith can play many instruments, but plays the oboe in musical plays, bands and orchestras. Faith also enjoys bicycling.

• John Knurr
  Tuba, piano and trombone; tuba lessons. Taught music at Williams Bay from 4th grade on up for 23 years, Biography (PDF 13k). John Knurr, 262-728-5521, Delavan.
  
  

• Launch - Discover latest new music, news, downloads, videos, sweepstakes and exclusive interviews and chats with upcoming artists.
• Legacy Recordings - The 60's Rock & Roll index.
• Long Island Talk - A variety of music links.
• Luyben Music - Printed music, accessories, instruments. Established in 1947 as a place where both professionals and students could share experiences in the arts.

• Maestro Net - Price lists, instrument history, auction houses and dealers.
• Making Music Magazine - Bettter living through recreational music making.
• Making Music - Find your inspiration, discover the joy and wellness benefits of making music.
• Maximum-Ink - The Wisconsin Music Magazine for fans and musicians.
• MENC, The National Association for Music Education - To advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all.

• Doris Nadolny
  String lessons and violin, attended Business School in college for 2 years, 414-543-1016, Milwaukee.
  
  
• National Association of Music Merchants
  5140 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92008-4391, 619-438-8001.
  
  
• National Music Museum - World-reknowned collections of musical instruments and related materials in a museum and research center located on the campus of The University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

• Ken Olson
  Retired from Muskego High School teaching music for 21 years. Master of Music Education from University of Illinois Champaign. Ken Olson, director, guitar and clarinet, 262-594-2742, Eagle.
  
  
• Online Music Encyclopedia - Composers, music and midi.
• Online Piano Lessons - 40 free video and audio piano lessons. Learn how to advance your knowledge and skill.
• On Milwaukee - Comprehensive list of nightlife, events and movie listings.
• Open Music Encyclopedia, The - A search engine for tunes and musical themes. Only the melody needs to be known to search. The melody can be whistled or sung to the computer.

• Daniela Pardo - Teaches violin and viola at her studio in Glendale, Milwaukee. Ms. Pardo also coordinates and teaches the Suzuki Program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and performs regularly throughout the state. Violist who has a Master in Music from UW-Milwaukee with emphasis in String Pedagogy. Musical Resume (PDF 7k). Daniela Pardo, 414-540-5587, Milwaukee.

• Piano Fingerings
  Half scale (JPG 52k) and whole scale (JPG 44k).
  
  
• Piano Lesson Online - Become a Piano Jedi like your friends before you learn to play the piano free. Use Tammy's piano lessons tutorial.
• Piano Nanny - Learn to play the piano. Piano resource for students, teachers and parents. Piano MIDI files of solo piano music, tips on practicing and playing better, choosing the right teacher.
• Play Music - American Symphony Orchestra League.
• Portal Wisconsin - Culture, dance, media arts, music, performance and visual arts, theater, history, environment and "for kids" sections.
• Practice Spot - Free resources for lessons, practice guides, helpful products, manuscript paper, teacher ideas, music dictionary,
• Private Lessons - Search for teachers by instrument style or composition in your area. Advice on motivation, fees, techniques and recitals. Annual membership $99.
• Public Domain Music - A reference site to help identify public domain songs and public domain music, royalty free music you can use anywhere and any way you choose, performance, sing-along, film, video, advertising, business, or personal.

• Quiescence Music - Piano lessons. Learn to play in the New Age style with these free online lessons for beginning adults.

• Rhythm, Rhyme and Song, LLC
  Preschool music and movement classes and Birthday Entertainment for children ages 1-6. Emphasis is on having fun while singing well and learning simple music terms like beat, rest, pitch, piano, forte, allegro and largo. Items used in the class include rhythm instruments, guitar, books, parachute, puppets, CD's and misc. toys. I also teach guitar for older kids age 6 to adult. Mary Rabiego, 262-337-0833, Hartland and the Lake Country.
  
  
• Bob Rothwell
  Taught music for 29 years in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Now retired, plays French horn and piano. 414-744-2481, Milwaukee.
  
  
• Rugeri Music Teaching Methods - Offers pedagogical literature from the beginning to the advanced level spanning a period of 4 to 6 years.

• Save the Music
  To restore music education programs in America’s public schools, and to raise awareness of the positive impact music participation has on students.
  
  
• Scales - Sheet music of all 12 keys for minor (JPG 10k) and major (JPG 10k) scales.
• Score On Line - Downloadable sheet music; includes classical, jazz and Flamenco for piano, vocal, strings, flute and guitar.
• Sensorinueral Hearing Loss - How it happens to musicians and how to prevent hearing loss. Sensorinueral Hearing Loss (PDF 25k),
• Sheet Music Now - Download and print Classical and jazz sheet music in all levels, for professionals and educational purposes. Exclusive arrangements and compositions by world famous artists. Presenting over 15,000 titles.
• SongCycleS Music Studio - Private instruction of violin, viola, fiddle, cello, string bass, guitar, voice, and piano. Benjamin Smeall, 920-490-8793, Green Bay.
• SongFile - Music information contains: song listings for 2 million songs; a comprehensive guide to sheet music resources; the most complete CDs and tapes search on the Internet; a guide to the top music links on the Web; musical instruments classified ads; and detailed up-to-the-minute worldwide concert information.
• Sonic Net - Music and artist database.

• Darell Stachelski
  Taught music in Milwaukee Public and New Berlin schools for 32 years. Now retired living in Greendale and plays the trumpet in brass groups or for musical plays. Started on trumpet in the Walker Junior High School Band in the 1950s.
  
  
• Sue Stachelski
  Teaching music from 1971 to 2005 at Mitchell, Franklin and Jefferson schools. Lives in Greendale and plays the flute, piccolo and violin in orchestras and for musical plays. Her cousin is Doris Nadolny, violinist.
  
  
• Stagepass.com - Find sheet music, software, song lyrics, tablature, notation, transcriptions, songbooks, lyrics, software, MIDI, CDROM, videos, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, for guitar, bass, drums, vocals, choral, piano, keyboard, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, violin, harmonica, dulcimer, dobro, woodwind, brass, band, orchestra and strings. Also free software downloads and the latest Music News!
• Star Polish - Practical advice for unsigned musicians, commentary, reviews, advice.
• The String Academy of Wisconsin - At UWM, musical education with focus on violin, viola and cello.
• Strolling, The Ten Commandments of - Great tips for talented musicians who walk around the audience while playing a musical instrument.
• Students for the Arts - To create awareness of the situation surrounding the lack of sufficient arts funding in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Jodie Bensman.
• Squeezebox Night at Turner Hall of Monroe every third Tuesday of the month. Informal accordion jam sessions for all ability levels and squeezebox types. Info, Monroe, 608-325-3461.

• Support the Music
  Music is being eliminated from school programs around the country, and that may have tragic consequences for many kids.

• Symphonica - Great prices on all things band and orchestral. Instruments, accessories and supplies. Vandoren, Rico, Hofner, Engelhardt link, Ultimate Ligatures.

• Teach List - Large international database of over 16,200 music teachers. For all instruments, locations, ages, styles and skill levels.
• Texas School Music Project - Ideas, information, "tricks of the trade" for many common pedagogical problems faced by music specialists. Band, orchestra, choir, elementary, musicianship and links.

• Tom Traugott
  John Muhr School Principal on Saturdays, otherwise works as Puchasing Manager. Plays the trumpet since 1955 in musical plays, bands and orchestras. Saukville.
  
  
• TUNEdb - Search for traditional tunes by notes or down-ups.
• The Tuning CD - Improves instrumentalist or singers pitch.

• Vibe - Magazine mix of rap, hip hop, jazz and soul music. Video clips, celebrity chats and interviews.
• Viola Web Site, The - News and practice tips submitted by viola newsgroup subscribers.
• The Violin Tutor - Play scales, arpeggios, exercises and tunes. It's like having a teacher help you with your practice, everyday. Improves intonation and rhythm.
• Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary - Definitions and pronounciation of musical terms.

• Web Delivery of Music Instruction - Fulfilling the promise of technology by Steven G. Estrella.

• Nancy Wiecke
  Teaching music since 1990 at Thomas More High School in St. Francis. Named Music Teacher of 2004 by Civic Music Association of Milwaukee. Nancy can play many instruments, but plays the flute in orchestras or for musical plays.
  
  
• Wisconsin Advocates for Music Education - To share information about reductions in school music programs that are proposed in school districts.
• Wisconsin Center for Music Education - Serves students, music teachers and community members with diverse music education programs and resources. WCME, 1005 Quinn Dr., Waunakee, phone.608-850-3566.
• Wisconsin Deparment of Public Instruction - Music Education - Curriculum planning in music, education, guides, standards and resources.
• Wisconsin Foundation for School Music - Booster Club challenge to recognize music booster groups across Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Music Educators Association - To improve the quality of music education in Wisconsin by representing the shared interests and needs of music educators and fostering their professional growth.
• Wisconsin Online - Live entertainment, area band profiles and audio clips of their music.
• Wisconsin Regional Directory - Bands and artists, DJs, education.
• Wisconsin School Music Association - Challenging our youth to achieve excellence through music.
• Woodwind Fingering Guide - Over 2,000 basic, alternate and trill fingerings for flute, recorder, clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon. Forum for asking questions and giving advice.
• Workshop Live - Dynamic and engaging music instruction, interactive learning experience, lessons in different styles of music and a variety of instruments.
• World Anthem Database - Lyrics to national anthems of countries.

• Yes World - Notes from the edge.

Parent's Guide

Congratulations! Your decision to provide your child with a quality musical instrument is an investment in your child's future. In making it possible for your child to play a musical instrument, you are providing the opportunity for self-expression, creativity, and achievement.
Numerous studies indicate that parental attitude, support and involvement are important factors in a child's ability to successfully learn to play and to enjoy music.
This information is designed to assist you in giving your child the best support possible for his or her musical endeavors. Like any skill, interest counts far more than talent. With the right support from you, playing music will become a natural part of your child's life.

For Your Child
Music participation enhances:

1. Problem solving
2. Teamwork
3. Goal setting
4. Self-expression
5. Coordination
6. Memory skills
7. Self-confidence and esteem
8. Concentration
9. Poise
10. and much, much more!

1. Musical event attendance.
2. Family music-making.
3. Performing for, and with, family and friends.
4. Learning about the lives of the composers and the cultural heritage of Western Civilization.
5. A sense of pride and accomplishment for the entire family.

Always keep in mind that your support is a key element in your child's success with music study.

Schedule Practice Times Music
Music achievement requires effort over a period of time. You can help your child by:

1. Providing a quiet place in which to practice.
2. Remaining nearby during practice times as often as possible.
3. Scheduling a consistent, daily time for practice.
4. Praising your child's efforts and achievements.

1. Background and experience.
2. Comments from other parents and students.
3. Provisions for sharing music through performance.

To give your child the best possible support, you should:

1. Encourage your child to play for family and friends.
2. Offer compliments and encouragement regularly.
3. Expose your child to a wide variety of music, including concerts, and recitals.
4. Encourage your child to talk with you about his or her lessons.
5. Make sure your child's instrument is always in good working order.
6. Allow your child to play many types of music, not just study pieces.
7. Listen to your child practice, and acknowledge improvement.
8. Help your child build a personal music library.
9. Try to get your child to make a minimum two-year commitment to other music studies.

Your child's progress will be greatly enhanced if you do not:

1. Use practice as a punishment.
2. Insist your child play for others when they don't want to.
3. Ridicule or make fun of mistakes or less-than-perfect playing.
4. Apologize to others for your child's weak performance.
5. Start your child on an instrument that's in poor working order or condition.
6. Expect rapid progress and development in the beginning.

1. Discuss the situation with your child to determine why their interest is declining.
2. Talk to your child's music teacher to see what might be done to rekindle their enthusiasm.
3. Encourage your child to stick with lessons for an agreed to period of time.
4. Offer increased enthusiasm and support.

This guide has been developed in the interest of making music study and participation an enjoyable and richly rewarding experience for children and their families by the following organizations:

How to Keep Your Child Interested in School Music

Julie DeRoche is Leblanc's Director of Performance Education, a frequent performer with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and past president of the International Clarinet Association. Julie has some tips on what parents can do to keep their kids interested in school music after the initial excitement has worn off. Joining the band is fun. It enhances social development, creates an atmosphere of collegiality and friendship, and creates an environment that supports both group and individual achievement.

There are several things you can do to help your child maintain interest in a class that will help their development in many ways:

1. Always encourage your child to practice, and give positive feedback, even if they are pretty rough at the start. Learning an instrument is difficult. They will squeak, play wrong notes, play out of tune and too loudly. Never complain about this. Praise their efforts.
2. Attend all concerts, applaud loudly no matter what, and be happy that they are trying so hard to do something so good.
3. Be sure that your child has all needed equipment, and that the equipment is in working order. Nothing is as frustrating as an instrument that doesn't play properly, reeds that are broken, valves that stick, etc. More important, if the instrument is causing the child's failure they vill often blame it on themselves rather than on the instrument.
4. Make sure that there is a space in the household for practice, away from the rest of the family, away from the TV: computer, etc. Encourage and yes, sometimes require a set amount of practice time on a regular basis. Without practice, the child will not improve. And it is improvement that often encourages them to stay with it.
5. If possible, get a private lesson teacher to supplement the band director's instruction. This extra information and attention really helps.
6. Avoid a trial period, where you inadvertently give your child an opportunity to quit. Instead, just keep going. Sometimes by NOT asking the question of whether or not to continue, they simply continue.

   Teens live their lives to the accompaniment of their own sound track - many listen to music as much as 40 hours a week. Some people point to episodes of teen violence - like the mass shootings at schools and ask: "Did the music make them do it?"
   Unfortunately there's not much research on this question. However, there is none that finds a direct cause and effect relationship between explicit lyrics and behavior, says an expert on preventing risk to youth at the University of Wisconsin - Extension.
   "But it is a concern because there seems to be a small subgroup of young people who are more influenced by violent lyrics. It seems to affect their attitudes - desensitizing them to violence and making them believe that violence is acceptable," said Mary Huser, a 4-H Youth Development Specialist.
   One study of incarcerated teens tested the effect of violence in music and music videos. Researchers found that those exposed to more violent music were more likely to be involved in violent behavior than those who were hearing something else.
   Music is central to young people and youth culture. It helps them discover their identity and decide what groups they belong to or which they don't. This isn't anything new. What is new is the controversy about lyrics and the intensity of the references to drugs, sex, violence and sexual violence. Some kids don't pay much attention to lyrics; others may be able to sing every word. In addition, their interpretations of what the lyrics mean may be extremely personal. A younger child may get an entirely different message than an older teen gets from the same song.
   Music videos leave less to the imagination - the message is reinforced by the images.
   A Department of Education study indicated that music videos have a very significant impact. Violent videos have a very significant impact. Violent videos may lead to desensitizing kids to violence. Videos also seem to have a strong effect on attitudes and behaviors concerning premarital sex.
   The generation gap over popular music is nothing new. Parents now worry about violent rap lyrics. The parents of the '70s worried about the references to drugs and sex. The parents of the '50s worried about the driving new rhythms of rock and roll.
   What should parents do if they're concerned about the content of the music their children listen to? Tom Riese, Waukesha County Youth and Family Development Educator, Professor in the Department of Youth Development for the University of Wisconsin - Extension, shares the following suggestions:

• Know what your kids listen to. Watch a little MTV and VHl to see what the videos look and sound like. Know what music groups your children like.
• If you don't like what you see and hear, don't condemn it or censor it outright. That's likely to cause a deeper rift and do more harm than good. Express your opinions and encourage a conversation about why you disapprove of it.
• Remember that the teenage years are a time of testing and rebellion. In the rare cases when a troubled youth seems to be greatly influenced by violent music, take your concerns to a professional counselor or therapist.
• Help kids develop media savvy. Teach them to think critically about what they read, watch and listen to. It's impossible for parents to monitor every song and music video that kids may hear or see, so parents and educators should help them develop selective viewing and listening skills.

Tips for Musicians

Effective Marketing

By Robyn Marie Metko - Vocalist, musician and freelance writer in Neenah. Robyn shares her professional guidelines to help your musical group plan, promote and prosper.

• Simply stated, marketing is everything you do to promote yourself. It is also the research done to make decisions on where to spend money and how to best execute promotions. Marketing is every contact made by any member of your organization with any member of the public.
• Promotion is the execution of your marketing plan. Successful marketing and promotion requires a bit a money, knowledge about your fans, and a large investment of time, energy and imagination.
• To achieve maximum exposure and monetary success, every business needs a solid marketing plan. Think of yourself and your band as a business selling a product. Schedule biannual or quarterly planning sessions to map out where the band is heading and what type of goals you want to reach. Lay out a yearly marketing timeline and budget, and plan on where and when money is to be spent. Make sure that you are setting aside a certain amount of money to be used for promotion.
• Enlist your fans to help spread the word. Pittsburgh-based band The Clarks and Las Vegas-based band Big Bad Zero have constructed street teams to spread the word. Fans hang posters, approach radio stations regarding airplay, and help create a buzz in the community. In exchange, street team members receive complimentary CDs, tickets, backstage passes and other various promotional material.
• Promotional merchandise can be used as a memorable way to introduce yourself to a new industry contact before sending a ublicity pack. Record companies and radio stations receive hundreds of new CDs and publicity packages every day. Sending an unusual piece of logo'd merchandise with a handwritten note is a great way to get noticed and start to build a relationship before ending a publicity pack that might be ignored. Logo'd merchandise can also be sent to club owners and/or booking agents after a gig as follow-up thank-you.
• Another way to distribute merchandise is to attend radio station and charity events. Find out when radio stations that fit your style of music (or charities that fit your audience) are out on location, then walk through the crowd, handing out small logo'd items. Include a cassette or CD single and Web site or contact information.
• Also, donate items to charity events that can be used in silent auctions, raffles and prize drawings. If your music is age-appropriate, donate items to high schools for post-prom parties and incentive programs. And don't forget -- the value of donated items can be tax deductible.
• Divide promotional campaigns into:
  • pre-show,
  • show, and
  • post-show.
• Be mindful of the four things artists need to do to be successful:
  1. write,
  2. record,
  3. perform, and
  4. promote.
  Always do these constantly, consistently and with much passion:
• Set aside a portion of your marketing budget for gimme's, free merchandise and CD singles. Find creative ways to give away merchandise. If you do decide to sell some merchandise, be careful when pricing the items. All too often, merchandise doesn't sell because the price is unreasonable.
• When choosing logo'd promotional items, always think out of the box. Don't follow trends; be on the leading edge. Today, it's possible to imprint a logo on virtually anything. There are many promotional merchandise catalogs available that will help give you ideas and a ballpark figure on item cost.
  1. Consider your target market (who will receive the items) and project objectives.
  2. Decide how you would like to be positioned in your contact's mind.
  3. Choose good quality items that will help you stand out and be remembered.
  4. Focus on items that are functional and will be used on a daily basis, such as ballpoint pens. Try to find items that correspond with your contact's interests and lifestyle. If a contact collects shot glasses or key chains, send him/her one featuring your logo.

By Robyn Marie Metko - Vocalist, musician and freelance writer in Neenah. Robyn shares her professional guidelines to help your musical group plan, promote and prosper.

• The entire body is the instrument of the vocalist, not just the voicebox or larynx. The study of yoga, chi yi and the Alexander Technique can be very beneficial to vocalists. All three have been shown to improve posture while expanding the chest and ribcage, increasing breath capacity and tone support.
• Keep in mind that singing is an aerobic activity. Begin each rehearsal warming up the body with slow, easy movements and light stretching. Focus on stretching the torso area and releasing tension from the shoulders and neck area. Always remember to breath from the diaphragm while stretching; never hold your breath.
• A minimum of 15 minutes of vocal rehearsal time should be devoted to the study of vocalises (vocal exercises). Singing vocalises increases blood circulation, flexibility, and responsiveness. Always warm up the voice with a series of light vocalises before rehearsing music arrangements and cool down by singing additional light vocalises for three to five minutes.
• If you are serious about singing, do not smoke. Smoking irritates vocal tract membranes and the throat, and increases the chance of developing nodes on the vocal cords. The only way to eliminate nodes from the vocal cords is to have them surgically removed, leaving scar tissue that cannot be repaired. The body cannot reproduce vocal cord tissue. Once it has been damaged, it can never be replaced.