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RainMusic Review - Issue #24 - November 99
Reviews this issue include Central Park North, Hsi Music, Indie-Music.com, MP3.com
and the Virtual Music School.
Articles include:
1) Manufacturing and Marketing Your Own CD
2) The Truth about NACA. Gigging on the College Circuit.
3) Tuning into MP3
RainMusic Review is a monthly email newsletter featuring reviews of the best independent music and pianist resources on the Internet. These sites are reviewed weekly at RainMusic.com, and then archived via this newsletter. This page is a summation of that newsletter.
For maintenance purposes, this archive does not contain the entire newsletter. It does however
contain the prominant reviews featured each week. Subscribe
Here to get the full content delivered to you each month.
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RAINMUSIC.COM SITE DETAILS
RainMusic: Indie Resource Reviews: http://www.rainmusic.com
Independent Music Resource Center: http://www.rainmusic.com/promotion/resources.htm
Pianist Resource Center: http://www.rainmusic.com/pianomusic/piano.htm
Free Sheet Music Resources: http://www.rainmusic.com/pianomusic/free.htm
Feedback: email management@rainmusic.com
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Featured Reviews: Pianist Resources & Independent Music Resources
Pianist Resources
Central Park North
Dedicated to "Canadian Jazz Musicians", this site comes complete with free downloadable original sheet
music from several different artists. Albums by the musicians with sheet music featured on this site are available
for easy purchase. All sheet music downloads are in Adobe
Acrobat format.
Hsi Music: Free Original Sheet Music
Pianist Michael Hsiao has made a number of his original compositions available for immediate download. These compositions,
transcribed for piano, are available in easy-to-use *.pdf format. If you casually browse the site, you'll find
RealAudio and MP3 versions of the songs as well.
Virtual Music School
At the Virtual Music School you'll find free online piano lessons as well as a very detailed look at the instrument.
Check out their articles on grand piano action, tone and touch and buying a piano. Don't miss the 'Virtual Piano.'
Independent Music Resources
Hitsquad.com's $10,000 Computer Music Competition
Hitsquad.com is giving away US$10,000 in prizes in their new Computer
Music Competition and one lucky musician is going to be set up with all the equipment they need to record that
hit song. You've got until the end of November to get in the running to win a musicians' prize package of over
$5,000 which includes an Audio Master digital audio workstation, Steinberg Cubase VST/24, ReBirth, a Boss studio
effects processor, Groovemaker, T-racks mastering software and a swag of sheet music.
All you have to do is compose a 30 second theme song or submit a 3 to 4 minute song created using music software.
The contest is open to musicians from all around the world and the winner will be decided by popular vote. Entries
must be in by the close of November 30.
Indie-Music.com
Indie-Music.com is a great all purpose site for independent musicians, especially those new to the internet. You'll
find informative interviews, such as those with TAXI and David Hooper of Kathode Ray Music, as well as a fantastic
tour guide (organized by state) to help you book your own tour. Find details on gig-swapping with other bands,
booking clubs, getting print and radio adveritsing, even where to eat and sleep while on the road. Overall, Indie-Music.com
is a great place to find general information about independent music on the web.
Manufacturing and Marketing Your
Own CD
If you're looking to cut your own CD for the first time, here's an overview of the process by Shelley Jacobson.
Shelley takes you step by step through the manufacturing process, walking you through her experience when cutting
her own CD. Very good summation with suggestions for avoiding common pitfalls.
MP3.com
After nearly five years on the internet we decided it was time to jump on the bandwagon and
do a brief review of MP3.com. MP3 is (for those who don't know) the new online music standard, far eclipsing WAV
files in terms of quality and catching up to RealAudio in terms of popularity for online music distribution. MP3
is popping up everywhere, and for good reason. The sound is near CD quality. MP3.com is, naturally, the place to
go for all things MP3 related. It is here you'll find all the technology you need to create MP3 files. You'll find
software and hardware reviews, tips on file conversions (like WAV to MP3), and a beginners guide to creating MP3
files. In addition, MP3 is arguably the Internet's #1 online musicians community. It ranks as one of the Internet's
most visited sites and you, as a musician, should seriously consider signing up. It's free, after all, and if you
join only one music community on the Internet in your lifetime, MP3 should be near the top of your list. In summary?
you'll find tons of music, lots of opportunity and a very addicting online music promotion philosophy.
The Truth about NACA. Gigging on the College Circuit.
This fantastic article by musician Fran Snyder tells the story one musicians experience making
a career out of gigging the college circuit. The article demonstrates step by step how you can jump start your
music career by showcasing your talent at NACA (National Association of Campus Activities) conferences. Included
is a detailed comparison of college and nightclub gigs as well as the benefits of hiring an agent as opposed to
representing yourself. Highly recommended reading.
Tuning
into MP3
This brief article by Rick Maybury provides a great overview of MP3, including it's history. Great article for
beginners.