Music Reviews

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Keeping Traditional African Music Alive

Interview with Mamane Barka- the Last Master of the Biram

This is an interview with Mamane Barka, the last master of the Biram, a traditional African instrument in Niger.

In a world where entire animal species and ethnic tribes can be lost, it should come as no surprise that musical instruments too, can become extinct.
Standing firm against the disappearance of the ancient African instrument the Biram, is the musician Mamane Barka- the last master of the Biram.
There is an urgency in Barka’s voice as he strives to fulfill his ambition to keep the Biram going, amidst ever changing musical tastes and the nonchalance of the political elite in his native Niger.

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How to Teach Sight-Reading in Private Lessons

How to Teach Sight-Reading in Private Lessons
Breaking Down Sight-Reading to Lesson-Sized Pieces

Research has shown how good sight-readers are successful, but how should we be teaching these skills to music students?

Sight-reading seems to be something that private lesson teachers just assume that a student is practicing on his or her own. Realistically, many students are not practicing sight-reading on their own and most probably don’t know how unless it is explained to them. Also, sight-reading is a skill that takes practice to become good at. Teachers should monitor their students’ sight-reading progress carefully, just like other skills taught in lessons.

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Duke Ellington Starring in “The Evolution of Jazz”

Duke Ellington Starring in “The Evolution of Jazz”

Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the greatest figures in the history of American music. Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington was born in Washington D.C. on April 29, 1899.
His parents were James Edward and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. They raised Duke as an only child, until his sister, Ruth, was born when Duke was sixteen years old.
Duke, even as a teenager had a great talent for music.

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Barbados Jazz Festival

Barbados Jazz Festival 2009

For me, the New Year always brings with it anticipation of the Barbados Jazz Festival. I am not a jazz purist, I enjoy all genres of music, particularly R&B, Soul, World Beat and the numerous local acts from the Caribbean that hold sway at most Caribbean jazz festivals. Each year, Gilbert Rowe, founder and president of GMR Tours brings more than a few musical surprises both local and international.

The 16th edition of the Barbados Jazz Festival brought Harvey Mason, James Blunt, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Angie Stone, and Chrisette Michele as headliners, Hilario Duran and Glenn Lewis from Toronto, Canada and featured local artists Diana Jarrett, David Burnett, Dwane Husbands, Kite, Errol Ince, Raf Robertson & Birdsong Academy along with Nexcyx and BCC Jazz Project.

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A Brief History of Techno

A Brief History of Techno

Any given moment, countless people are listening to electronic music. It’s hard to believe that a mere ten years ago techno was considered an underground movement.

In the early eighties a trio of pioneers in Detroit began merging the sounds of synthpop and Italo-disco with funk. Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson were high school friends who went to dance parties where the music ranged from Kraftwerk to Parliament. They listened to an influential radio DJ, The Electrifying Mojo, who played European imports alongside Prince and the B-52’s. In 1981 Atkins and Richard Davies, aka 3070, started releasing records as Cybotron. Techno was born.

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