Okay, so we use the term “news” pretty loosely around here! But it’s that time again: a collection of interesting aural skills bits and pieces from around the internet.

Jump to:

• Garageband Music Theory
• Jazz Improv Tips
• Music To Your Brain
• Ever wish your kid had an off switch?
• New Axis of Awesome video for “4 Chords”
• Dynamic Range Day
• The story of the ᗅᗺᗷᗅ sound

Garageband Music Theory

Have you bought the new iOS version of Apple’s Garageband music creation software? Check out this excellent intro by musician John Anealio on using the new iOS Garageband app to learn about tempo.

There are further tutorials, on whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes.

If you’re just starting to get your head around music theory and have an iPhone, iPod or iPad, you should definitely check out these articles!

Click to read the rest…

Want to learn how to make free sound effects using the tools in your home studio? Look no further! Using a combination of audio tools like Garageband, Audacity, Bfxr, and others can help you make some amazing sound fx like creepy whispers for your next music album, indie film score, iPhone game, or commercial sound library.

Taking recorded sounds and morphing them into new exciting sounds is addictive. Don’t rely on the same stock sounds and presets that everyone uses. Make your mix unique with innovative audio. Use your ear training and aural skills to invent original (and free) sound effects. Read on for great tips to creating free sound effects and to get these synthesized sound effects free.

BONUS: Download these great free creepy whisper sound fx and mix them into your own projects. Make sure you come back and share your work with us!

Before we get started it’s important to distinguish between sound effects which are short sounds used for effect (in music, TV, films, etc.) and audio effects which are processes applied to transform a sound (e.g. distortion, chorus, reverb, etc.). Make sure you understand this distinction as we’ll be using both terms below. If you have any questions, just ask in the comments.

Choosing the Right Software

The sound fx generator at www.BFXR.net is a fun way to get sounds to start with

Recording the Sound Effects

If you don’t use a sound generator tool like bfxr.net you’ll need a different source of materia to start from. Record your own!

For recording, you can Click to read the rest…

Here are a few recent developments in the world of music and sound which might help inspire or guide you in your ear training!

Jump to:

• What the iPad 2 and GarageBand app mean for music
• The many benefits of music in schools
• A chance to support a new (truly modern!) opera
• How the brain improvises jazz and freestyle rap
• Help the BBC with a fun online experiment

Music and the iPad 2

Apple recently unveiled their next-generation tablet, the iPad 2 – here’s a short overview of what the iPad 2 means for mobile music creation.

They also had a huge announcement for all iPad-wielding musicians – GarageBand, the easy-yet-powerful multi-track music creation tool, has now been released for the iPad -both the original and the new version. (Summary and video of the announcement)

The iPad has already been used for a variety of exciting new music creativity and music education using apps. Check out some examples of the iPad in the talented hands of musicians, ranging from school kids to professionals:

We’ve previously covered how you can use the Mac version of GarageBand for practising interval ear training, and also how to do rhythm training with this powerful music tool. Click to read the rest…