For anyone who has been living under a rock and hasn’t had the chance to hear Katy Perry’s teenaged dream album, here is my seasoned review.

My Credentials:

I’m a college grad with and English degree, and have 10 years experience playing the violin. I have taken music theory courses, and have knowledge of a variety of musical genres past and present. In other words, I’m not some twelve year old screaming tween fan. I’ll tell you the real deal.

Thumbs Up:

• Beats: Kudos to whoever developed the backing tracks for the album. For a pop album, the beats are surprisingly versitile, interesting and not as cookie cutter as some of the worst offenders of this genre.
• Vocals: The vocals surprisingly are on pitch, sultry when they need to be, and most of all, they have the quirky comedy factor that her fans expect from her songs. The singer has a great tonal quality, that others like Brit Spears can’t match.
• Themes:Motifs from previous hits like “you’re so gay” and “I kissed a girl” carry through in songs like “circle the drain”, where she makes fun of sexuality. I like the double entendres, and the mocking of male chauvenism in the songs.

Thumbs Down:

• Repetition: part of this is due to obscene amounts of radio play, and part of this is due to the songs themeselves. If I hear “California Gurls” one more time, I’ll stab myself  with  a fork right between the eyes. The songs are only good as long as they’re new. After maybe three to four times… Eeeek.
• The Bubble Gum Factor- Yes it is pop, but does it have to be so…pop-y. Too many upbeat, peppy songs and not enough meat definately count against the album. 
• Throwaway Tracks- You know the drill. Buy a cd and there are 16 songs. One or two are great radio hits and the others are garbage. This album has about three to four great songs, and the rest are mediocre or throwaway tracks. Sorry. You know they are.

The Verdict: Overall, I’d give this album 3 1/2 stars out of four.

Certainly, this is the case with most hits from the era, and while they are the same songs, no doubt, they might be a slight more bittersweet today than they were before. After all, most fans of oldies would agree that today’s mainstream doesn’t quite match up… to say the least.

It is the very feeling described by Four Tops’ in their signature hit, It’s the Same Old Song. This song happens to have a rather fascinating story of how it came to be, however, which shows it to be, unlike its namesake and “classic” status, anything but “the same old song.”

The Four Tops’ Move to Motown and Subsequent Rise to Fame

The Four Tops, a vocal quartet headed up by lead singer Levi Stubbs, had joined Berry Gordy Jr.’s Motown label in 1963. Gordy had previous worked as a songwriter with Roquel Davis, who was the band’s tenor Lawrence Peyton’s cousin and had helped write their earlier material.

After joining the fast-growing roster of distinguished artists that made up Motown Records, The Four Tops scored a #1 hit in June of 1965 with I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), penned by Motown’s renowned production team of Lamont Dozier and the Holland brothers, Eddie and Brian (better known as the “Holland-Dozier-Holland Team”).

Haste Did Not Make Waste

The success of the Four Tops new single excited their former record label, Columbia Records, who immediately began digging into their vault to collect the band’s older material for re-release. They started with the first single the Four Tops recorded under Columbia, Ain’t That Love, from 1960.

Berry Gordy was furious at Columbia’s mission to capitalize on the Four Tops’ newfound success, especially being that it was achieved under his label. He was going to do whatever it took to retain rightful credit for the Four Tops’ rise to fame, and for him that meant releasing a new Four Tops single in only one days’ time.

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, who sang first tenor for the Four Tops, recalls the instant collaboration with Motown songwriters Lamont Dozier and the Holland Brothers at 3pm that very afternoon:

“Lamont Dozier and I were both a little tipsy and he was changing the channels on the radio. He said, ‘It sounds like the same old song.’ And then he said, ‘Wait a minute.’ So he took I Can’t Help Myself and reversed it using the same chord changes. By 5pm, The Tops had recorded the song and mixing began.”

The label’s engineering team worked overtime, perfecting the single’s mix and making hand-cut vinyl records. Gordy’s sister, Esther, who worked in Motown’s Artistic Development Department, then critiqued each one, selecting only the best for release. By 3pm the next day, 1500 copies of It’s the Same Old Song had been manufactured and distributed to DJ’s nationwide. The song would eventually see a #5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and peak at #2 on the R&B chart.

As band member Fakir noted, Same Old Song is strikingly similar to the band’s previous hit I Can’t Help Myself in both melody and chord progression. Its chord progression has also been compared to that of fellow Motown act The Supreme’s hit, Where Did Our Love Go, which, like most of Motown’s classics, was also written by the Holland-Dozier-Holland team. The Supremes themselves would cover It’s the Same Old Song in 1967.

Versions Recorded for Motown Records

The Four Tops Original, Recorded July 9, 1965

The Supremes’ cover, Recorded 1967

This song was the second single release from Snoop Dogg, way back in 1994. It reached a peak of number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 in the UK charts. It did hit the number 1 spot on both the rap charts and the dance charts in the US.

Fast forward to 2010 and Katy Perry released the song ‘California Gurls’. It raced to the number 1 spot in both the UK and the US. The song featured Snoop Dogg himself and to pay homage to the rapper, Perry included the line ’sippin’ on gin and juice’ as part of the song lyrics.

Katy Perry - California Gurls

The eagle-eared amongst you may well have heard another lyric in the Katy Perry song that you may well have heard before. You would be right. ‘I wish they all could be California girls’ is the ‘offending’ lyric and originally came from the Beach Boys song ‘California Girls’.

Beach Boys – California Girls

The Beach Boys, or at least the company behind the band, have attempted to take legal attention against Katy Perry for copying their lyrics. Plagiarism is taken very seriously and the Beach Boys are well aware of this.

Beach Boys – Surfin’ USA

Does the song ‘Surfin’ USA’ sound familiar to you? Not the lyrics this time but the actual music. It should sound familiar because it is the same as this following song.

Chuck Berry – Sweet Little Sixteen

When it was noticed that the Beach Boys song ‘Surfin’ USA’ was a ‘rip-off’ of Chuck Berry’s ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’ legal proceedings began. The outcome of the proceedings was based mostly around the royalties that the song would earn. As such, the writing credits for ‘Surfin’ USA’, which had originally just said ‘B. Wilson’, had to be amended to read ‘B. Wilson/Chuck Berry’.

On the subject of Chuck Berry.

Chuck Berry – You Can’t Catch Me

At 1:07 of that video, did you recognise the lyric? ‘Here come old flat top’. Over a decade after the Chuck Berry song was released the Beatles released the song ‘Come Together’, which featured (as its opening lyric) the line ‘Here comes old flat top’.

The Beatles – Come Together

The two songs could not have been different, but some legal minded person decided it would be a good idea to take legal action over the use of that line. John Lennon could have ‘hid behind’ the ‘Lennon/McCartney’ song-writing partnership, as that was what it was released under. Many people believe had that been the case it would have been settled quickly and amicably. As was, John Lennon alone found himself in trouble over it and the result (nearly a decade later) resulted in John Lennon providing an album of cover versions that had its own troubles to seek, but that is a different story for a different day.

One of the songs that John Lennon did cover for that album was the song ‘Stand By Me’, originally be Ben E King.

John Lennon – Stand By Me

There had been many other cover versions of the Ben E King before and since. One song that wasn’t a cover of it though, but did share the same title was the following song.

Oasis – Stand By Me

The Oasis song ‘Stand By Me’ came from their third album, ‘Be Here Now’, which was full of tenuous links to the Beatles, both lyrically and musically and even in some of their videos. Many people are well aware that Oasis liked to ‘copy’ the Beatles, but it is always exaggerated. Oasis liked to show some of their other influences sometimes, just like the following song from their debut album.

Oasis – Shakermaker (live)

Does it remind you of anything?

New Seekers -I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing

Someone certainly noticed the similarities. Oasis were sued for successfully for $500,000 for ‘copying’ the song that was made famous in the Coca-Cola advert of the 1970’s.

When your kids are having playmates over give them something fun to do. With mom or dad’s help let them make these simple musical instruments. The following musical instruments are very simple to make and you will likely have everything needed in the house or garage. These music makers are easy to put together and it will keep your little ones busy for hours. Who doesn’t love a parade. Get out your camera and make a bunch of cute pictures.

1. Paper Plate Tambourine

Materials you will need:

    * 2 shallow paper bowls or 2 foil pie pans
    * Beans, rice, or pebbles for rattles
    * White glue
    * Scissors
    * Yarn or ribbon for streamers
    * Marking pen for paper plates

To Make:

   1. Decorate each paper bowl with marking pens for a colorful design.
   2. Place about 1 cup beans, rice, or pebbles in one bowl.
   3. Put glue on edges of bowl.
   4. Place second bowl on top. Pressing firmly until glue dries thoroughly.about 20 minutes.
   5. With scissors punch small holes at equal intervals around the edge of both paper bowls.
   6. Attach yarn or ribbon for streamers through holes. You can use staples to hold bowls or pie pan together.

2. Tin Pan Tambourine

Materials you will need:

    * Metal pie tin any size
    * Model paint or acrylic paint (optional)
    * 8 metal bottle caps
    * Twine or heavy cord
    * Pliers
    * Hammer
    * Ice pick or punch

To Make:

   1. Decorate the metal pan with the paint if you wish.
   2. With punch or pick punch holes at intervals around edge of pan
   3. With pliers bend edge of bottle caps outward, then flatted with hammer on hard surface.
   4. To remove plastic from bottle caps, use pliers to hold cap and hold over heat on stove to melt plastic.( Have good ventilation) Adult must do this. Cork can be removed by scraping.
   5. With punch make hole in center of each flattened bottle caps.
   6. Cut a 5” piece of twine or cord. Tie a knot at one end and slip on bottle cap. Slip string through hole in pie tin and knot. Repeat until all caps are in place.

Image via Wikipedia

3. Wooden Bottle Cap Jingler

Materials you will need:

    * 1 block of wood, 6″ by 1 1/2″ by 3/4″
    * 6 metal bottle caps
    * 3 nails, each 1 1/2′ long
    * Hammer
    * Pliers
    * Ice pick or punch

To Make:

   1. cut 2 3/4″ handle at one end of wood (optional but nice for the finished piece)
   2. With pliers bend back bottle caps and flatten with hammer on hard surface.
   3. To remove cork scrape out or burn off over hear. (Burn out plastic) Adult only.
   4. With pick or punch make small hole in center of each bottle cap. Make sure the hole is wider than nail shank but smaller than the head .
   5. Place each nail through 2 caps, Position nails at equal intervals on wooden block making sure caps do not touch each other. Hammer nails in loosely so caps will jingle.

4. Rhythm Sticks

Material you will need:

    * 1 dowel, 12″ long or branches from a tree. Select branches for hardness, straightness and size.
    * Saw
    * Sandpaper
    * Shellac,varnish, or paint for finish

To Make:

   1. Cut dowels or branches to 12″ length.
   2. Sand rough edges for dowels. For branches peel off bark then sand.
   3. Shellac or paint to give nice finish.

To play: Hold one stick in each hand. Tap to keep time with the music

Jimmy began is music career in Nashville Tennessee as a country artist and recorded his first album “Down to Earth.” On an invitation of a friend Jimmy went to Key West Florida to panhandle his music to the locals. Jimmy began his life long affair with the culture of the beach and its laid back way of enjoying life.

In 2003 Jimmy partnered with country music legend Alan Jackson for the song “Its Five O’clock Somewhere.” The song became a number 1 hit and has became a mainstay of popular American expression. After 30 years in the music business Jimmy won his first award, 2004 Vocal Event of the Year.

Also, in 2004, Jimmy was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Country Male Singer, as well as two Country Music Association Awards (CMAs): Music Video Of The Year for “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” and Musical Event Of The Year for “Hey Good Lookin’” from his License To Chill CD.

In 2005, Jimmy received his second Grammy nomination: Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for “Hey Good Lookin” from the License To Chill CD. And there were two other 2005 nominations for “Hey Good Lookin: Vocal Event Of The Year/Academy of Country Music, and Collaborative Video Of The Year/CMT Music Awards. Also in 2005, there was another CMA nomination – for Musical Event Of The Year for his duet with Martina McBride, “Trip Around The Sun” from the License To Chill CD.

Jimmy’s early years didn’t garner him much attention on the radio waves. Many people outside of the South have never heard of him. Because of his charisma, Jimmy was still selling out concerts in the South. In 1977 Jimmy recorded a song aptly named Margaritaville. The song has went on to become an American classic. Margaritaville has now became not only a song but a dining institution. The restaurant offers Margaritaville Tequila, Paradise Key Tea, LandShark Lager Beer. The restaurant has been a successful adoption of Jimmy’s 1977 hit song. Jimmy has other business ventures that include, Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chains, and part owner of two minor league baseball teams, and Margaritaville Records.

Jimmy has written several books that demonstrates his storytelling nature. Three of his books, Tales from Margaritaville, Where is Joe Merchant, and A Pirate Looks at Fifty, have reached the No. 1 best seller list. A Pirate Looks at Fifty went straight to the No. 1 list making him one of only seven authors to have accomplished the feat. One of those authors was another Key West, Florida resident whom you may have heard of; Earnest Hemingway.

Jimmy has also been involved in film and television. Jimmy wrote the soundtrack and acted in the movie Hoot. Jimmy has appeared in Repo Man, Cobb, Congo, From the Earth to the Moon, Rancho Deluxe, and FM.

In 1985 the term “Parrot Head” began at a concert in Cincinnati, Ohio. The essiential term means that one is a Jimmy Buffet fan. Its also considered a laid back person wearing flip flops, a Hawaiian shirt while drinking a margarita.

There are now numerous Parrothead Clubs throughout the world. Their motto is, “party with a purpose.” The clubs have transformed into a charitable organization that gives to alzheimers research, cancer research, environmental causes, the March of Dimes, and Toys for Tots. There is an estimated 27,000 Parrothead members.

That guy that grew up in Mobile Alabama and couldn’t get radio time for his songs. The same guy that many people can’t put a label on his music and made him an outcast in the early years, earns an estimated $100 million a year. Not bad for a son of a son of a sailor.

Photos via http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php

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In the modern day society, children are being put through more and more stressful situtions; from the thought of sitting important exams to the worry of being injured by thugs when walking out in the street. It is extremely important for our children to have something that they can turn to which could help them through these situations.

If you give the gift of music to a child, it is important to do so when they’re as young as possible (though the gift of music can be given at any age!) as children learn much faster when they’re younger. Their school will probably offer music lessons, which can be quite pricey, but definitely worth it in the end. They may be able to join an orchestra, band or choir; meaning that they can meet other like-minded people, make friends for life, and have many opportunities which wouldn’t be open to them if they weren’t members in such organisations. I myself used to be a member of a band, which took me to America, Italy, France, London, and many other places which other young people can only dream of going to.

Music gave me something to work towards every day, a ongoing goal which will never stop stretching before me. If you can give that kind of gift to a child, it will change their life.

If you ask any musician which is the best instrument in the world, the majority of them would merely state that their own was. But why? In a recent survey on a Facebook group (Sometimes B#, Never B♭, Always B♮. Join if you get it ), over 50 members gave reasons for their favourite instruments. Here are the reasons that they gave:

Billy McClure

My favourite is the flute, because it’s such a peaceful and melodic instrument.
My  least favourites are drums and bagpipes – all the people who play them are attention seekers, especially at school level.

Ruthie Kennedy

My  friend plays both drums and bagpipes. I play drums though, and I’m not an attention seeker – I’d say people who play guitar are though.

Catriona Hogg

My favourite is probably the cello, it can sound really low and soothing when played properly
Least favourite is more difficult, probably piccolo because it’s so high and piercing it’s kind of uncomfortable to listen to for a long period of time.

Tanya Portch

Favourite- massed strings, piano, guitar. Least favourite is probably the clarinet, only because I don’t like the tone of the instrument.

Dominic Spencer

Favourite- Trombone as I play it and it always makes me laugh when I hear them doing glissandos.
Least favourite: Triangle just because there isn’t much point in them.

Tom Syder

I probably have to say this as they’re my instruments, but piano’s great because it’s so easy to sound really impressive while playing an easy piece, so many people have them that you can just sit down anywhere and start playing, and it can be both technically and emotively demanding. Also euphonium, it’s an incredibly underrated instrument,  widely regarded as the most mellow-sounding of the lower brass instruments and it produces a beautiful sound.
Least favourite would have to be guitar, fair enough if you’re classically trained or a genuinely amazing player, but people who can just strum a few chords and think it makes them astonishing musicians bring a bad name to all of us, as well as unfortunately devaluing the instrument.

Chris Laverty

The guitar is the best instrument because of how it affords the player the opportunity to play essentially the same thing in endless positions and the ease of transposing that it lends itself to. What’s more, the variety of sound you get from playing it differently (strumming/picking) not to mention the dynamic range achievable means when it is played accordingly, it isn’t simply a guitar, it’s a bass and a drum kit and a voice too.

Jarel Robinson-Brown

The Organ is the best instrument in my opinion, the Piano is also lovely but not as expressive.

Kristin Rollie Briggs

I think the piano is the best instrument beacause it has a very wide pitch and can produce a variety of tones instead of being stereotyped into one genre of music (for instance, saxophones are commonly associated with jazz) and they require a fairly simple technique which doesn’t limit the instrumentalist.

Caitlin Halfacre

Well piano and guitar are both great because they’re chord based so are good for playing and singing with people etc. Underrated instruments that I love: Oboe and Soprano Saxophone (might be because I play the latter!) I’m not such a fan of the lower brass, e.g. tuba, I find they just get too low to hear any pitch and the tone isn’t especially nice.

Aaron Wilson

I would say guitar because it’s an easy instrument to learn in comparison to say piano yet you can still creates some awesome sounds and tabs are easy to read, you really don’t need to know what notes your playing you can learn songs by ear and for creating new tunes they are easily wrote on a tab though I like drums as well purely because it does take a little fitness to whack them for a while (if you can’t tell already I’m a bit of a rocker).

Ed Kevin

The piano is so beautifully simple-a 2 year old can hammer the keys-but so difficult to perfect.

The bassoon is overly ornate, depressingly low, and adds little to a piece other than sheer noise.

Chris ‘Boo’ Ford

I’d have to say guitar but only when played PROPERLY (knowledge of chord shapes, scale patterns, triads etc).

Eddie Adams

Favourite is guitar though you can’t beat a tight brass section (with a saxophone!).

Least favourite is maybe violin because unless it is played very well it sounds painful and off-key.

Tim Day

Probably harp as it is more technically demanding than piano but also produces a nicer noise

Hollie Garwood

Bass guitar is pretty sexy, I like being not very noticed yet secretly important.. Triangles are fun too. I also really like the sound of saxophones and clarinets. Theremins are also cool.
I like all instruments but violins do get on my nerves (I used to play).

David F. K. Carroll

Don’t have a favourite instrument, each instrument has its place in whatever genre of music is being played, or listened to. However, I do agree that a bad musician can give ANY instrument a bad name. A good musician will always be remembered, along with their instrument, no matter what is played.

Anon

Chris Laverty says a guitar is a drum and a bass and a voice too… Bass is very different. Just because you can play a bass line on a guitar doesn’t mean the bass is a subset of the guitar. I play bass, and I would know that it’s actually the bridge between the rhythm and the music – modern bass (e.g. Panic at the Disco, Blink 182, Killers) is played appallingly, just play the root note and doing a little flourish at the change. Real bass, like blues bass, soul bass, jazz bass and 60s-70s rock is much more versatile, very rhythmic and tuneful – loads more improvisation than guitar when played properly (it should be almost all improvisation based on the chord sequence)..

Joe Oscroft

It has to be the bass. I just love how versatile it can be one minute it can be so quiet and blend into the background, and be right up in the front like some red hot chilli peppers bass lines (by the way, for instance) it’s just amazing how it can change so quickly. It might just be because I play bass but I think it’s an amazing instrument.

Kirsty L. Powell

I play the bass clarinet. It’s a lot deeper and sexier than the original clarinet. I just sit with the bass line in the band and I think it fits in there better than with the rest of the wind players. My least favourite instrument is the Oboe. When played badly, it sounds awful, and I’ve heard it played badly more times than good.

Caitlin Thompson

I love the saxophone, which I play. It can be soothing or fun, the music you play. The guitar and drums are great for rocking out. It’s amazing the way you can show your emotions through the music you play. The recorder annoys me, simply because when i usually hear it being played, it’s not good.

Olly Winder

My Favourite instrument is the ukulele, It’s portable, easy to tune, and can be played by anyone with a small amount of practice, but this doesn’t hinder its ability to sound amazing if played with skill.
My least favourite is probably the triangle, for its sheer uselessness.

Alexander Smith

Favourite is the cornet, as it’s more mellow than a trumpet and suits both beginners and soloists.
Least favourite would probably be the recorder, as it is limited, and very airy.

Rachel Whalley

Favourite – between violin which is common, but absolutely beautiful when played really well or baritone sax – tone is incredible
Worst – Bagpipes – just annoying!

Alex ‘Pat’ Hewkin

Mandolin for the win.

Katie Everett

I love the Piano and Saxophone as I play them The worst instrument is either a badly played recorder or violin! But when played well they are nice too!

Tabitha Cassidy

Favourite: Clarinet, by far! It has an amazing tone quality if played correctly. The deep resonating music it can produce just makes me happy! Also, it has the widest range of notes of any wind instrument, and can fit into any style of music without sounding out of place.
Least Favourite: Probably either the guitar when non-musicians attempt to play it to “look cool” and become music posers, or the piccolo, because if not played properly, can produce headaches, broken blood vessels, and irritation.

Fiona Quiney

Favourite instrument is flute followed closely by recorder (as in treble/baroque era) the nearest sound to the human voice; pure. Least favourite instrument is the clarinet… I just hate the sound at any level! Sorry to all good clarinettists out there!

Jak Root

Favourite: I play and absolutely LOVE guitar, the endless possibilities of the chords/modes and the endless amount of tones and sounds you can create from using effects like distortion. I also genuinely love the violin and would love to learn it (which I will one day) simply because of the beautiful sound it makes when played properly.
Least Favourite: violin when not played properly. My sister tried to learn once with no knowledge of notes or music at all and the screeching almost drove me to suicide.

Anon

Favourite – piano: you can play nearly everything on a piano and it still sounds beautiful
least favourite – bagpipes: they’re annoying.

Dylan ‘Camel’ Parrin

Only the bass guitar has the funk,
and seriously guys,
you cannot fake the funk.

Kirsty Thompson

Clarinet (slightly biased as I play it) but it has such a huge range and has a lovely tone to the sound.

And it would have to be piccolo as worst as it is far too high and you can’t really appreciate the music when you are being deafened by the screeching!

Charlotte Pacey

My favourite instruments the violin! When played properly it has the most beautiful sound when played in fourth position.

Ben Winston

My favourite instrument is the Drum kit. I love the diversity of play styles and the huge amount of individuality that a drummer gives to his playing. Most other instruments are just about reading music and playing within boundaries. Drumming on the other hand has so much more freedom of expression
I admit I have been playing for some years now but there you go.

Least favourite got to be the violin. I realise almost everybody else has said that but when played badly it truly is awful.

Michael Warner

My favourite is the trumpet: I like the fact that u can make so many different notes with just three valves and how bright and happy it is. I love the many things you can do with it.

My least favourite instrument would have to be the oboe: it just sounds really bad if u just aren’t that good at it but if you are good at it I would love the oboe.

Chris Purdie

Favourite – Cornet
Least favourite – Buskers with amplifiers WHY OH WHY do they feel the need to invade everyone’s personal space?

Pip Reynoldson

Favourite- trumpet can do so much.
Least favourite- guitars think there to good for everyone else.

Mark Savage

Electric Guitar Favourite, there is a large range of music you can play on it and as long as you have time is not too hard to learn how to play least favourite organ just don’t like the type of music it’s mainly used in

James Graeme

Surprised nobody has mentioned French horn! The warmth and nobility it brings to any score is unsurpassed!
Least favourite didgeridoo – ’cause can’t help thinking of Rolf Harris!

John Heritscko

If I have to pick a favourite, I go with cello. Probably because I play it but I love the legato tone you can get out of playing such a beautiful instrument. With good amplifier pickups you can create a good metal sound.
Piano is cool too. It’s good standing alone and it gives support to other instruments.

Guitar and violin are too overrated.

Sophie Partridge

Favourite would probably be alto sax or the violin – when played well they’re just stunning.
Least favourite I’d have to say the recorder, aka the make or break instrument: everybody I’ve ever talked to has started playing it and gone through the series of horrible squeaks and from then people seem to decide whether to a) give up music altogether, or b) choose a different instrument. Also even when it is played properly I’ve never really heard it played in a way that I’ve felt an emotional connection too, which surely is the point of music?

Liam Gallagher

Well to be honest, I hate the violin. Just because I was forced to play it for so many years. I really love playing guitar because then I can play music I like. That’s just for playing though, when it comes to listening it’s not really the instrument for me but the person who’s playing it, I mean any instrument can sound amazing in the right hands.

Andrina Ní Shíoda

Favourite is the cello. I don’t play it but I just get chills when I listen to it. It has a beautiful, enchanting tone.

Least favourite is the violin. I’ve heard a few wonderful violinists but it’s a very hard instrument to play and it sounds awful when it’s not played correctly.

Dave Heraty

Favourite is the electric guitar! Nothing can beat the freedom of improvised soloing! I’m not much of a Rhythm guitar player but I suppose it has to be done!
Least Favourite: Tin Whistle! As a friend of mine once said, “even the best Tin Whistle Player sounds bad!”

Lauren Mealor

Just wanted to mention, Saxophone is the best, blues, jazz, big band, the saxophone is the sexiest and the best instrument in the world!
Worst? Violin, unless you can play it like an absolute god, it sounds terrible!
I can play both, sax for the win.

Amanda Ouellette

I play bassoon and flute, weird combination I know, a reed woodwind and a ‘normal/outcast’ woodwind, a bass and a soprano. My favourite would be the alto sax; my least favourite would be the trumpet.

The trumpets in my high school band just blow their brains out into the thing and it sounds horrible, the notes aren’t even in tune because of the way  they play, it’s horrid. I love the way the alto sax sounds, and we have a really good player in our band that just influences me to enjoy it, although he is a little cocky.

So, from the research, it would seem that bottom of the list are strings, percussion and guitar, with piano, organ, cello and trumpet being near the top of the list. It was to be expected that people would choose their own instrument as being the best, however it has been incredibly interesting to see the reasons given by those taking part in the research. Thanks to all who contributed.

Music influences lives mostly from its words. Without realizing it happening, sometimes you’ll act or feel differently after hearing a piece. Maybe it doesn’t apply to everyone, but music does change actions towards people animals, and personality. Seriously, when you’re small and parents are asking you to play a musical instrument, I suggest you should’ve stuck with their opinion and play one.

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Playing and listening to music are two very different experiences. Playing lets you experience the thrill of the real experience when playing an instrument, and what you’re listening to is a bridge of thoughts from the artist’s thoughts to yours.

I started electric guitar and found it very fun to play. Musical instruments are a great way to relieve yourself of thoughts, bad times, and to release your emotions free.

Whether it is drums, guitars, the trumpet, the cello, play anything you would like; as long as you like playing it;  It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are, it’s the feeling you receive from playing the instrument.

When you’re the player, you’re the performer. When you’re the listener, you’re the audience. By listening to your favorite music, you have the circle of genres and types of songs in which you like out of, which means you learn more about yourself.

You can Google for this and download it free.

Once you have downloaded it, you need to install it.

After installing, open the program.

Some phones support MP3 ring tones, while others only support MIDI ring tones.

MIDI supported cell-phone users read below:

1. When you open Mix craft, choose Build Virtual Instrument Tracks
2. Choose an instrument you want to be used in your ring tone (MIDI ring tones don’t work with songs)
3. Use they piano keys to make and record your own song
4. Once you have a song, click on file and select save as MIDI file.
5. Put the Midi file in your cell phone’s ring tone folder, and you have a polyphonic ring tone!

MP3 supported cell-phone users read below:

1. Find a song that you like
2. Open mix craft, and select cancel when it gives you the three choices for making a song.
3. Go to mix, then select add sound
4. Find your song and select it
5. Choose a certain part of your song by left-clicking and dragging the mouse
6. Right-click and select copy
7. Open a new mix craft, and paste your song onto the audio track bar.
8. Go to File, choose Save as and save your ring tone
9. Put the MP3 file in your cell phone’s ring tone folder, and you have a MP3 ring tone!