How to Improvise Using a Few Chords
April 28, 2007
When a painter is getting ready to paint, a color palette is usually chosen first. For example, if a forest is to be painted, the artist may choose browns, greens, and blues for the sky. Once the palette is chosen, it makes it easier to create the painting. Why? Because color decisions are now out of the way.
We can apply this concept to music as well. In particular, New Age piano playing. In your lesson, Reflections in Water, we have four chords to play with and we have the order in which they are to be played. Now, all that is required “to paint” your sound portrait is the ability to take these chords and play around with them.
Once the decision about what chords to play and how to play them are out of the way, you can now focus on making music. This is how I created Reflections in Water. I knew that the piece would be in the Key of C. I then chose a few chords from this key and fooled around with them.
It can be very confusing for the beginner in improvisation.
Horse Training Gets A New Face Lift From A 108 Year Old Horse Training Manual!
April 28, 2007
If you have a passion to learn all you can about horse training, then you will want to know about a 108 year old horse training manual recently revived from a dusty old book shelf of a used book store.
This horse training manual was written in the late 1800’s by a then world famous horse trainer named Jesse Beery.
In Beery’s manual he explains the different steps it takes to train a horse to be gentle, safe, reliable, and valuable.
Although this is a very basic example, Beery describes the number one abuse of a command given to horses by their riders. The command is “whoa”. The reason this command is so abused is because the rider will often say “whoa” while riding when they want the horse to slow down.
Very quickly, the horse associates the word “whoa” with slowing down instead of stopping. Soon, the frustrated horse owner wonders why his horse won’t stop when he says “whoa”.
Beery reminds the reader to say “whoa” ONLY when you want the horse to stop. Pick a different command for the horse to slow down.
Woodworking Beginners: Introduction To First Time Crafts
April 27, 2007
Woodworking: The Process Of Making Something Using Wood
The art of woodworking is one of the most ancient and widespread. From the earliest days when humans first experimented with the many uses for wood, our civilization has had a connection with this material, in all its varieties and forms. And the growth and advancement of mankind has been closely intertwined with our ability to improve our woodworking skills and to develop new uses for wood.
Primitive civilizations used wood as material for building shelters, tools, weapons, utensils, and other items necessary for survival. As time went on, they began to expand the use of wood to include the creation of creature comforts such as furniture and decorative items. They also built boats and rafts for exploration, travel and trade.
As skills and knowledge continued to develop, and woodworkers began to understand the wide variety of properties of woods from different tree sources, wood became one of the most widely used materials, found in nearly all areas of life, from home to work, production to pleasure. Those who had a talent for working wood became important artisans and craftsmen, and guilds and workshops were developed to help document and preserve the art, train apprentices, and represent the interests of those involved.
Need a Book Coach, Ghost Writer, or Editor? Part 2
April 27, 2007
If you either want to write a book to help others create a better life and boost business or you already have your book nearly finished, you may need book coaching to answer all of your questions “What step to take next?”
Know Your Editing Choices
- Line editing. Use this final professional edit after you have already revised your work three times. These three revisions include: excluding all redundancies, reworking all the words and sentences so they are your finest with few passive verb constructions (aim for 2-4%) and relatively short sentences. Finally, look at headings, paragraphs and transitions to make sure your message carries power through placement and is easy to read. These editors charge $50 an hour or more.
- Developmental editing. While you put your writing, ideas and sentences forth, a developmental editor will not just polish your syntax, but fill in gaps you don’t want to take time for. It’s practically like ghost-writing and you need to choose a really professional editor who will not do this work on spec, but will charge you an hourly fee of $60 an hour plus or by the project.
- Ghost writing. You give your topic, thesis and chapter focuses to a person you want to finish the research, put it together in chapter form, and write it to sell well. Again, you need to hire a real professional who specializes in ghost writing for your kind of book, whether it is a novel, memoir, how-to or history. These professionals also charge $60 plus an hour or by the project.
Seek a Book Coach First before you waste time or money going down a path that does not serve you.
How to for Lawns ? Mowing
April 27, 2007
How often you mow your lawn will depend on a number of factors. Firstly how much time you have to devote to your lawn’s maintenance. How fast your lawn grows, and this in turn will depend on whether you fertilise it regularly and whether it receives adequate water and sunlight. Normally, lawns should be mowed at least one a fortnight to keep them in check, so to speak.
One of the worst things you can do for a lawn and a big misconception is that you can or should mow your lawn very short in order to reduce the number of times you have to mow it. Grass generally will do much better when mowed at a higher setting. This is especially the case in the summer months, where short grass can often be burnt by the sun otherwise. It is suggested that you should never be cutting or trimming off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass in a mowing session. If you have let your lawn go and it is far too long, it is recommended that you firstly mow it at a longer cut and then remow it at a slightly lower setting. If it is still too long, then you can go over it again in a couple of days time. Although this is time consuming it is the preferred method for caring for your lawn. Needless to say like having your hair cut, you should maintain your equipment. In this case make sure your mower blades are sharp and in good condition. Remove any stone or other obstructions from the lawn before mowing to avoid any damage to the mower or lawn.
Boat Detailing - Stainless and Chrome Cleaning
April 27, 2007
Good quality deck hardware of stainless steel or chrome is highly resistant to corrosion and the marine environment, but it still needs some maintenance if you want to keep it looking good. Make sure you offer this service if you notice small streaks of surface corrosion due to oxidation of the fasteners. This type of corrosion can be easily removed with a good metal polish. After you are done, protect it with a light coat of marine wax or a light coat of moisture displacing corrosion resistant lubricant. The wax will last longer. On aluminum fittings, polish until the applied polish turns black. Sprinkle Arm & Hammer baking soda on a rag and wipe the black right off or use mineral spirits and squirt it on and wipe it off.
Believe it or not, if you use a lemon peel, it will cut down on grime that other cleaners miss. If you think that is too strong use lemon oil that you use on cabin furniture as a substitute for stainless steel cleaner. Rubbing alcohol also works on stainless steel. When cleaning aluminum look for a grain direction. If you look close you will see it. Rub with the grain. Real bad stains can be rubbed with the shiny side of aluminum foil. Do not polish aluminum when it is 50º F or less outside as it may scratch. Do not use cleaners containing ammonia such as window cleaner as they can cause pitting.
The One-Minute Horse Training Manager
April 26, 2007
If your life is so busy you literally only have a minute or two a day to spend with your horse, then here are 5 smart training tips you can use to keep your horse “tuned up” when you have just minutes a day.
Smart Tip #1: Practice Backing Up
Suppose you just fed your horse some hay and he’s eating. Assuming you have enough room to get beside him, put your finger into his chest and get him to back up. Getting a horse to back up is a basic and essential lesson horses should know. Plus, when you get a horse to move in a direction you want him to move, you earn respect from him.
Smart Tip #2: Practice Getting His Head Down
Just before you feed your horse approach him. When you get to him pet him a couple times. Then put your thumb and first finger on his poll and push down. Do not increase the pressure of the push. Instead, on a scale of one to ten, push at a one. Then say “head down”. If he doesn’t drop his head increase the pressure to a two. Then say “head down”. Repeat the process increasing the pressure until his head drops.
Seven Compelling Reasons to Get Your Name on a Book Cover
April 26, 2007
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe you’ve already established firmly in mind your exact purpose for becoming an author. Your reasons may match one or more of those below. Or perhaps you could add yours to the list. Nevertheless, with some 65,000 books being published in the United States yearly, there is overwhelming attraction to joining the ranks of authors.
Reason 1: Renown- Did you know that Martha Stewart ("Entertaining"), Harvey McKay ("Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive"), and Tom Peters ("In Search of Excellence"), were virtually unknown until they became authors? It’s no wonder. Authoring a book heightens your credibility, elevates your prestige and dubs you an expert. It could open the door to television, radio, and newspaper interviews. (You will, however, have to get out there and stimulate media attention). Having a book with your name on it may also attract public speaking engagements and other business opportunities. It affords you a chance to bask in the spotlight!
Do You Make These Mistakes Loading Your Horse Into A Trailer?
April 26, 2007
Mistake #1:
“Here, Kitty Kitty…”
Unless they have been educated, new horse owners often think a horse is like a cat or dog. They figure if they tap their thighs and say, “C’mon,…C’mon,…C’mon…” the horse’ll will simply jump right in the trailer like a happy dog or cat.
Mistake #2:
“Using Food As Bait”
Putting hay, grain, apples, or whatever at the front of the trailer to tempt a horse to step in and eat almost never works. If it did, it would be a fluke. I’ve seen horses lean forward to try and eat the food but wouldn’t step into the trailer if their life depended on it.
Mistake #3:
“Forgetting To Hook The Trailer To The Truck”
Don’t forget to hitch the trailer to the truck before getting a horse to go in the trailer. If a horse steps into a trailer that moves around unforgivably, you will have a harder time getting that horse in later. He’ll remember it - especially if this is the horse’s first time.
Mistake #4:
“The Classic Tug Of War”
My Greatest Stamp Find
April 26, 2007
I have been involved with stamps nearly my entire life. My first collection was as a ten-year old boy collecting with my neighborhood buddies. By the time I was done with it, I had more than 3,000 stamps in my collection and sold it for the princely sum of 7.50 in 1958. I don’t remember what I did with the money. I think I treated my family to supper at the neighborhood burger joint.
I gave up on the hobby for about seven years and took it up again as an adult. Where before I collected anything I found, I started to look for stamps in better condition and in sets. The first such set I bought was from Vatican City for the 1962 Christmas celebration and paid all of 50c for it.
Though a mere trifle, it was the first knowledgable purchase and only the beginning of a career that would involve the expenditure of many thousands of dollars. Over the years I have bought many individual stamps and collections. The best buy I ever made turned a hundred and fifty dollars expenditure into a sixty-five hundred dollar sale.
