The Story of Amazing Grace

By A R White

"Amazing Grace" is hymn well known and loved by Christians everywhere. The inspiring lyrics speak for themselves but become even more meaningful when you understand the story behind them.

A movie called "Amazing Grace" directed by Micheal Apted came out in 2006. The film shed some light on the story behind this song. The movie is mainly about William Wilberforce who was a member of Parliament that dedicated his life to abolishing the slave trade. The film does a wonderful job of depicting the many personal sacrifices that noble men and women have to make when fighting for the cause of right. There was a minor character in the movie named John Newton who was a blind old preacher who Wilberforce went to for support.

As depicted in the movie, the lines of "Amazing Grace" were actually composed by a preacher named John Newton to accompany a sermon he was planning as he sat in the attic of his home in 1772. This was common for him as he often wrote a hymns to supplement his sermons. He delivered the sermon and hymn to his congregation on New Year's Day, 1773. At that time, hymns were more like religious poetry that could be chanted or set to a variety of tunes that fit the meter of the lyrics. "Amazing Grace" was set to many different tunes over they years. It wasn't until 1835 that William Walker published the lyrics with the "New Britain" tune which is how it is sung today.

Newton was not always a religious man. Surprisingly, he was a rough character as a young man and worked in the slave trade for many years. One night the ship that he was on was hit by a terrible storm. Fearing for his life, Newton prayed to God for mercy. That impressionable experience eventually led him to leave the slave trade and pursue of life dedicated to serving God. He studied theology and was ordained a priest in the Church of England.

To help Wilberforce with his efforts, Newton later wrote Thoughts Upon the Slave Trade which was a pamphlet recounting the horrors that he saw when he was a slave trader himself. This pamphlet helped to make others aware of how horrible the slave trade was. It helped Wilberforce gain the support he needed to be successful.

Obviously, these lines held great personal meaning for Newton: "Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see." Additionally, these are words that all of us who are sinners that have turned to Christ can relate to. All of us have different struggles in life but Jesus is there for all of us.

Remind yourself that Jesus saves by keeping this song close to your heart. Wearing an Amazing Grace ring or necklace is a great daily reminder to maintain a worshipful attitude. Use these to also represent the great sacrifices that other Christians have made to inspire you to stand up for what is right.

A R White is an employee for eChristian Jewelry. She has a BS in English Language and minors in Editing and Family Life.

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Learn Blues Guitar - Two Important Aspects of Playing Blues Guitar

By Dan Denton

Many people set out to learn Blues guitar once they realize that much of Rock music has its roots in the Blues. As Jack White -- best known for his work with the White Stripes -- put it in the recent guitar documentary "It Might Get Loud:"

If you dig deep enough into rock 'n roll, you're on a freight train headed straight for the Blues.

The Blues is a musical style established by African-Americans in the early 20th century. By the mid to late sixties, when modern Rock guitar was undergoing its crucial formative years, many guitarists of the day were drawing heavy inspiration from the Blues. Such guitarists included: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards and many more.

Though the Blues is a complex subject, both in terms of its history and its musical subtlety, there are a couple characteristics of Blues guitar that are fundamental. If you can develop a solid understanding of these aspects of the music, you will be in a much better position to learn Blues guitar.

The first important aspect of the Blues is its associated musical scale. The Blues Scale is a six-note scale. The intervals are: root, minor third, fourth, flatted fifth, fifth, and minor seventh. More typically, this would be written as: 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7. If you are familiar with the Pentatonic Minor Scale, you may well recognize the Blues Scale as the Pentatonic Minor Scale with the addition of the b5 interval. The inclusion of this interval results in three chromatic notes: 4, b5, 5. For example, the E Blues Scale consists of the notes: E, G, A, Bb, B, D. In comparison, the E Pentatonic Minor Scale includes: E, G, A, B, D -- i.e. everything except the Bb. Because of the unique and defining musical characteristics of the flatted-fifth note (the Bb in the above E Blues Scale), this note is often referred to as the "blue note."

Characteristic chord progressions are the next fundamental component of the Blues. There are number of basic Blues chord progressions. However, the one that anyone familiar with the Blues should know is called the "12-Bar Blues". Though these chord progressions embody a wide number of variations, they all share some basic points of commonality.

First, as the name implies, all versions of the 12-Bar Blues involve a pattern that repeats every 12 bars. Because of the nature of this pattern, musicians often think of the pattern being grouped into three, four-bar sections. Second, the chords in the progression are derived from the I, IV, and V chord of the Key (using standard Roman Numeral notation for the chords). Third, each bar is restricted to a single chord. And finally, the chord to be used in each bar is predetermined -- albeit some bars have a couple choices.

Often, but not always, these progressions use 7th chords - dominant 7th to be precise. The following is a typical 12-Bar Blues chord progression with 7th chords:

I7 I7 I7 I7

IV7 IV7 I7 I7

V7 IV7 I7 V7

In the Key of E (a common Blues Key) this progression would look like:

| E7 / / / | E7 / / / | E7 / / / | E7 / / / |

| A7 / / / | A7 / / / | E7 / / / | E7 / / / |

| B7 / / / | A7 / / / | E7 / / / | B7 / / / |

This article reviewed two of the most fundamental components of Blues music: the Blues scale and the 12-Bar Blues chord progression. If you can become proficient in these two areas, you will be in a great position to play a lot of great Blues music.

The Blues is a complex subject. This article really just scratches the surface. For more information on the Blues, please visit our Learn Blues Guitar page and read our Blues Guitar Review.

Dan Denton is a guitar enthusiast with over twenty years experience. He especially likes Rock and Blues-based music.

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Tips on How to Become a Better Photographer

By Maggie Kesch

Are you becoming frustrated with the photos you have taken? Cheer up. You can still become a better photographer if you really want to. You can have lots of readings from different media about photography where you can get tips on how to capture perfect photos.

• Maintain eye contact. Like in the real life, direct eye contact is also important in taking pictures. To let loose the power of captivating gazes and compelling smiles, position the camera at the subject's eye level. If you take pictures on children, stoop down to their level. Your subjects don't have to stare at the camera. The eye level contact generates a special and tempting feeling that draws you into the picture.

• Choose the right background. Avoid distracting backgrounds that shows like something dangling in your subject's ears. Might as well choose a plain background that allows you to show off your subject.

• Use flash. Don't use your flash when taking pictures outdoor on a sunny day, is a myth. Turn flash on even under the sun. Bright sun produces unappealing deep facial shadows. The flash lightens your subject's face and makes them show up. Much more during cloudy days, flash is a need. Sometimes, you can do it without a flash because low lights may provide pleasant results.

• Move closer. When subjects are small, a step or two nearer will do better. Fill up the picture area with your subject. But never too close, pictures will become blurry. Remember that focusing distance is three feet away from the camera.

• Not all subjects need to be in the center. Taking pictures especially with nature or views in the outdoor should be moved away from the center. In as simple as moving subjects away from the center of the picture, your subject will come to life.

• Don't forget to lock the camera's focus. Putting your subject at the side of the picture requires you to lock its focus for sharp pictures. Auto-focus cameras focuses on anything that is in the center, so never forget to lock the focus.

• Check your camera's flash range. Taking pictures further than the camera's flash range is a common mistake. Resulting to pictures that are too dark. You can find your camera's flash range in its manual. If you can't find it there, don't take chances. Never go further than ten feet away from the subject.

• Be the director. Be on the look out of the pictures that you have taken. See whether you have improved or not. Being the director, take charge of the location, props and arrangement.

These simple tips can help you to become a good photographer. Who knows someday, a hobby can become a profession.

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These Techniques Will Spice Up Your Guitar Playing

By Dale Schmidt

Learning these four simple techniques can take your playing up a notch and add style and feeling to the music you make.

First up is the slide. When playing a melody, scale or lead line, slide from one note to another. When? Whenever you feel it. Sometimes, just one slide at the right time can change the feel of the music. Use them sparingly with just the right touch. Slides are a great way to help you move up and down the neck in a smooth and musical way.

The hammer on. A hammer on is when you play one note then "hammer down" a finger (of your left hand) to create another note. For example, play the fourth string on the 2nd fret then hammer down the same string to the 4th fret to create a new note. Hammer ons are used a lot in all kinds of music. You can even include a hammer on when you're strumming a chord or playing a simple scale. Just make sure both notes you create sound clean and clear.

The opposite of the hammer on is the pull off. As you may guess from the name, you play a note (string) at the 4th fret for example, then "pull off" your finger to play the same string open. You only pick (with your right hand) the string one time. The pull off creates the second note. This takes a little practice (and a little strength) to play clearly but pull offs sound great both on electric and acoustic. Practice them every day to make them part of your style.

Last is the bend or "bending" a note. Although you hear string bending a lot in Rock and Blues, you can make it work with any kind of music. You'll find that it's easier to bend notes (strings) on electric than an acoustic, but keep at if you're an acoustic player. You don't have to make huge bends to add some spice to what you're playing. A slight little bend at the right time can sound great.

Some music, particularly guitar tablature, often shows you "how much" to bend a string. You might see a ¼ bend (bending the note so it sounds one quarter of a step higher) to a full bend where the note created by the bend is one whole step higher (a C to a C# for example). Some players bend the string up while others bend the string down. You can do either and still get the same effect. However, you can't bend the first string down or the sixth string down as you would be pulling them off the neck of the guitar so learn to bend the first string up and the sixth string down.

Add these four techniques to your bag of tricks and you'll become a better guitar player in the process.

Dale Schmidt is a guitar teacher in Washington state and author of Your Private Guitar Teacher. For more information: http://www.yourprivateguitarteacher.com

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Watch the Top 100 Movies of All Time - Indulge In Your Passion for Good Cinema

By Rizvana Abdul

Are you a movie buff who loves to watch films whenever possible? The movie industry is a huge one and it turns out large numbers of movies every year. Reading movie reviews is a good way to find out whether particular ones are worth watching, but do you really have the time to go through all of them one after the other? Wouldn't you rather have access to a list of the top 100 movies of all time so that you can figure out which ones to watch?

Reading a list of the top 100 movies gives you plenty of inspiration with regards to which film to watch. You can just pick up DVDs based upon the recommendation of this list so that you can have a great time watching them:

1. The ShawShank Redemption
2. Forrest Gump
3. Walk the Line
4. The Notebook
5. An Officer and a Gentleman
6. Die hard
7. Lethal Weapon
8. Breakfast at Tiffany's
9. Gone With the Wind
10. Goodfellas
11. Lady and the Tramp
12. Rain Man
13. Philadelphia
14. Casino
15. Good Will Hunting
16. Little Miss Sunshine
17. Titanic
18. Dumb and Dumber
19. Erin Brockovich
20. The Firm
21. Million Dollar Baby
22. Cold Mountain
23. Kingpin
24. The Silence of the Lambs
25. Gangs of New York
26. Men of Honour
27. Mona Lisa Smile
28. As Good As It Gets
29. G. I. Jane
30. Jurassic Park
31. E.T.
32. Knocked Up
33. Meet The Parents
34. The Pursuit of Happyness
35. The Usual Suspects
36. The Graduate
37. The Rock
38. About Schmidt
39. Just Like Heaven
40. American Pie
41. Thelma and Louise
42. The Departed
43. Saw
44. Analyze This
45. Casablanca
46. Mama Mia!
47. Tina
48. Cinderella man
49. Trading Places
50. Private Benjamin
51. Con Air
52. Short Circuit
53. There's Something About Mary
54. Grumpy Old Men
55. Cast Away
56. The Devil Wears Prada
57. Avatar
58. Enemy of the State
59. Catch Me If You Can
60. Toy Story
61. The naked Gun
62. American Werewolf
63. Back to the Future
64. The Green Mile
65. The Client
66. The Fugitive
67. American gangster
68. I am sam
69. First Blood
70. Armageddon
71. Beverly Hills Cop
72. Speed
73. 50 First Dates
74. My Best Friend's Wedding
75. Blow
76. The Lion King
77. Police Academy
78. Gremlins
79. Executive Decision
80. Girl, Interrupted
81. The karate Kid
82. Ghost
83. Miracle on 34th Street
84. Fatal attraction
85. Patch Adams
86. Seven Pounds
87. The Birdcage
88. Marley and Me
89. While You Were Sleeping
90. Deep Impact
91. Death Becomes Her
92. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
93. Face/Off
94. 28 Days
95. Home Alone
96. The Day After Tomorrow
97. The Net
98. Sliding Doors
99. Double Jeopardy
100. What Happens in Vegas

Visiting movie theatres involves spending quite a bit of money, especially if the group is quite large. The cost grows up if you have to buy food and drink as well. Imagine what a waste of money it would be if the movie were not a good one. Even the film you watch at home should be a good one because your evening can be ruined if it is not interesting. It would be great if you had a readymade selection of movies you could just pick from.

Reading a list of the top 100 movies gives you plenty of inspiration with regards to which film to watch. You can just pick up DVDs based upon the recommendation of this list so that you and your family can have a great time watching them.

There are bound to be quite a few websites that offer lists of the top 100 movies of all times. However, you should make sure that you visit one that gives you the most comprehensive information on the world of cinema. The list of films should also be divided into different genres so that you can pick the best possible James Bond film one day or a romantic comedy like 'When Harry Met Sally' another day. You should also be able to find a list of the best movies made by your favorite actor.

This article on the top 100 movies will be your source of everything to do with the world of cinema and you will keep coming back to it. Movie watching will become a lot more fun when you never make a mistake in your selection.

Indulge in your passion for the movies by selecting ones to watch from the list of the top 100 movies of all time. Read well written movie reviews before going to the cinema or renting a DVD so that the movie is exactly to your liking.

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Flute Lesson With the Suzuki Method - The Basic Principles and Main Benefits

By Cristina Crespo

The Suzuki Method was created by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki with the purpose of raising children to be happy, confident, noble, fine human beings, with splendid ability. He used violin playing for that purpose, and soon his way of teaching extended to other instruments, such as cello, piano, guitar, recorder and flute. He believed that, provided with the right environment and tuition all childrencan acquire and develop high musical ability.

There are some well documented benefits of learning a musical instrument, such as development of sensitivity, auditory and language skills, manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, creation of connections between left and right side of the brain and enhancement of self-esteem. Well, with the Suzuki Method children benefit from all the above plus improvement of attention span and memory, integration into a music community that provides a with a network of social relationships, numerous performance opportunities from an early age, development of self-confidence that manifests itself in all areas of the child's life, plus it provides with an anxiety-free environment in which to thrive. Furthermore, the Suzuki Method brings some benefits for the parents too, like learning some extra parenting skills and strengthening the relationship between parent and child.

The main principles of the Suzuki Method are:

Early Start: Children can start learning the instrument from the age of three.

Performance Opportunities: These are regularly provided in the form of concerts.

Intensive Listening (the mother tongue approach): As with language, children learn initially by copying the sounds they hear and repeating them over and over, thus developing long-term memory skills.

Parent Participation: Parents play a crucial role in Suzuki learning. They participate in the lessons (no need for prior musical knowledge) and, guided by the teacher, provide the positive environment at home, where talent can be nurtured and ability developed.

Individual and Group lessons: As well as the individual lessons, children benefit from the group lessons, where they develop their musicianship, ensemble skills, memory and concentration; with the added motivation brought about by social interaction.

Set Repertoire: Each instrument has a carefully selected and stepwise structured repertoire, shared worldwide.

Positive Approach: Teacher and parents keep an encouraging attitude, always focusing on the achievements, thus allowing the child to develop the self-confidence and motivation necessary for further learning.

The flute (after the violin) is the second most chosen instrument by children who play music in the UK. The Suzuki Method was adapted for the flute in 1980, and has since spread throughout the world; however learning flute through the Suzuki Method is still relatively new in the UK. Suzuki Flute Teachers are a rare variety, however precious, since on top of their background music education they have been specifically trained to teach and adapt to the specific needs of every individual child and parent.

If you want to find out about more about Flute Lessons in London using the Suzuki Method goto: www.londonsuzukiflute.com

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Learn The Jazz Language

By Diana Rogers

When I first started playing in a band as a keyboard player, I was not familiar with the speaking part of the music language, as a musician. Sometimes as musicians, we get introspective and start looking at why we play patterns or chord progressions the way we do.

A wonderful comparison between speech language and improvising in music is that everyone learns to speak and have a conversation, as well as write in our given language. Unfortunately, many musicians never learn the "speaking" portion of the musical language.

When I first started taking piano lessons, I was classically trained to read all the notes on the music staff. After several years of advancing through different levels of music books and applying lots of music theory, I still wasn't able to find a music teacher who wasn't afraid of improvisation.

In short, music educators were not taught the history and evolution of improvisation in "classical" music. During the baroque period of music, improvising was a basic part during that time. Musicians needed to learn this skill in order to work together effectively.

Some say it is a skill that one learns unconsciously, without effort and fear. So it is with my grandchildren who are learning a verbal language. Hopefully, no longer talking like a baby but the English language. They seem to improvise with that language every time they have a conversation with someone.

So, we learn to read and write the language and that means we need to learn grammar. But with music, we learn it differently. Most musicians, including myself, learn to read the music notes at first but we can't speak with one another unless we're looking at the notes. We simply do not know how to "jam."

When I first came across a very popular website online that teaches one how to play by ear, I would read about how easy it is to read the language of music and that it was not difficult to play by ear.

I was challenged at first because I could hear the difference in my playing without sheet music compared with the pros. It is necessary to have something worth saying when you speak the Jazz language. There is a huge difference between a beginner improviser and a great one. It's not about skill, technique or memorization, but it's about the concept and content.

As a piano teacher, I am trying to stay balanced with my students in finding the balance with their technique and developing their musical personality and composition.

A great tip is recording your self. Play the keys and playback your song and analyze the harmony and rearrange things a bit. The more you practice and get familiar with your instrument, your style becomes more fluid. Then you'll merge more with the other band members.

When I play with a group of musicians that I have known for quite sometime, you can just feel the chemistry. A transformational event takes place when we are playing live and we become one unified voice.

After all, improvising is the art of making up music on the spot. It is fun to learn the Jazz language.

Teaching for over 15 years and playing with various bands for over 30 years, Diana Rogers is the author of free monthly newsletters at http://ladydpiano.com/

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