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Pro Vocals Books

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 16:21:42 +0000

It’s been an absolute age since my last (and first) blog!! And I’d originally planned to make them a regular occurrence!! So my theory this time is to keep it very short and sweet! Hopefully that will mean write more of them more often!!

Print Music caters well to guitarists and pianists, but a question I get asked fairly regularly is, what’s available if you’re a vocalist, especially in regards to backing tracks (or karaoke style discs)?

The main series we stock, and probably the most popular book and backing track series, is the Hal Leonard Pro Vocal series.

These books contain the lyrics, vocal line and chords for eight hit songs. The CDs contain demos for listening, and separate backing tracks so you can sing along. The CD is playable on any CD player, but it is also enhanced so that PC and Mac computer users can adjust the recording to any pitch without changing the tempo! This is a fabulous feature as it allows vocalists to transpose songs to any key in order to suit their vocal range which makes a great choice for home rehearsal, parties, auditions, corporate events, and gigs without a backup band. These are also a great resource for NCEA (or similar) assessments.

I’ve had a listen and the tracks are really good. but don’t just take my word for it take a listen yourself!! (click the Audio link). Sounds great right? This is Heart’s Alone from Glee Pro Vocal. There are many other audio links I could have chosen to put up as an example here but I love this song! Yup I’m a true child from of the 80’s and one of the reasons I’m heading to Def Leppard is to hear Heart live!

Other songs in the Glee album include: Bust Your Windows • Defying Gravity • Don't Stop Believin' • Keep Holding On • No Air • Somebody to Love • Take a Bow.
There are a heap of titles available in the Pro Vocal series...nearly a hundred.

Current best selling Pro Vocal books include:

GLEE•LADY GAGA •MICHAEL BUBLE •JAZZ STANDARDS •.CONTEMPORARY HITS • MORE SONGS FROM GLEE.

Amazingly of all the vocal books in Hal Leonard Australia’s catalogue, not just Pro Vocal titles, but anything in the vocal category eg. method/tutor, other songs books, vocal technique books etc etc Glee Pro Vocal is their current overall best seller– so that’s gotta tell you something! (but it’s not just vocal books, all Glee music is taking the world by storm piano, easy piano, ukulele…. you name it they are selling like hotcakes!)

If you’d like a more detailed list of what’s available in the Pro Vocal series (and the songs in each book) then click here or please don’t hesitate to flick me an email.

Till next time,

Rachel

An Intro To Lighting

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:21:42 +0000

:: An Intro to Lighting ::

Once you have yourself a band or DJ setup, a PA, a setlist and some gigs – the next thing you might want to think about is some lighting. Even if you play at a variety of venues that already have lighting, there’s always going to be some new venue or some private function where you turn up and there’s only fluorescent lights with one switch. All on, or all off.

The great thing about lighting is that so much of it is ‘plug n play’ these days that you don’t need a lighting guy, you literally put it somewhere and turn it on. And with the advent of LED lighting, you also don’t need to worry about overloading power sockets. More on that later.

Why do you need lighting? Lighting creates ambiance, allows you to highlight areas and provide a point of difference to other acts. A professional act gets paid more. The more professional you look and sound, the more work you will get, and the more you can charge.

:: Positioning :: .

You can use lighting in a number of ways. The most obvious is to point the lights at the band members. This has the effect of lighting them up, and also reflecting off the instruments. Drumkits with chrome or shiny surfaces look really good under lights, as do instruments with polished surfaces.

However, some band members / DJs don’t want lights in their eyes all night, so another option is to point it at the amplifiers or the drum kits / keyboard / decks etc to highlight them. This looks really effective although the band members may still be in the dark.

Another popular option is to use lighting as a colour wash against the wall behind the band, or on the roof. This makes the band noticeable without blinding the band or the punters, and can be a great visual look as well.

To some degree, you can set out a dance floor by pointing lights at the floor in front of the band or wherever you want people to dance. Most people like to dance in the light, rather than dance in the dark. It’s surprising how well this little tip works.

Most lights can be mounted on stands so they are up and out of the way. You can also purchase H stands where lights can be mounted on to, and the light can sit securely on the floor. Bear in mind that if you perform in bars and licensed venues that intoxicated patrons could be an issue – so lighting does need to be appropriately positioned.

:: Types of Lights ::

For me, lights fall into three categories, effects lights, specialty lights and colour wash. I will deal with fog/smoke/haze and bubble machines in a later blog but I will say that fog machines really up the visual appeal and presentation of lights because it allows you to see the beams of the light, gobo or effect.

Effect lights would be moving lights with different colours and different gobos/patterns. Most of these are sound activated and some can be controlled and linked together to expand the lighting coverage.

Specialty lights would be strobes, mirror balls with pin spots and lasers. Some of these can be controlled.

Colour wash are lights that emit a bank of colour … red yellow blue green etc. This can be a single colour, but most of them are colour mixers or colour banks. A colour mixer mixs 3 or 4 colours to produce dozens of different colours. They don’t use a colour wheel inside the light. I’d also consider the fire and water effects lights as colour wash lights. Most colour wash lights can be controlled and linked together.

:: LED versus Lamp ::

LED lighting is all the rage and thankfully have started to come down in price but a lot of people are still unfamiliar with why LED lighting is so popular, and sought after. LED stand for light emitting diode and LED lights are all the rage because they are usually

-smaller
-lighter
-give off little or no heat
-have incredibly low power consumption
-no replacing bulbs

This power consumption is a huge part of their attraction. Consider that a 1000w Par64 uses 1000w of power but you only have 2400w to use (the maxmium on single-phase, standard output wall sockets). So you can only use two lights before you run the risk of overloading the power socket. Not many pubs and local venues have 3-phase power wired up ready for you to use with your banks and banks of Bon Jovi inspired-lighting.

Bar or venue owners can now have this type of LED lighting on all day and all night for a mere fraction of the power cost.

A Par64 LED can uses just 32w … so you could have nearly 75 of them … instead of 2 lamp based versions.

The heat reduction is another major advantage. I've played on stages with 6-8 1000w Par64 cans as stage fill colour ... that's like having 5 kilowatt heater sitting beside you all night. The smaller the venue, the closer the lights are. With LED, you don't have the heat component, or the power draw to worry about.

People have always thought that LED lighting was too costly to be effective - but I'm here to tell you that it's not. As a comparison consider the cost of setting up a four way lamp based system.

Lamp Based Par64 Setup		LED Based PowerBar Setup
$356 $348 $129 $99 $149 $149	4 x Par64 Lights 4 x Par64 Lamps 1 x Lightweight T Bar Stand 1 x Hand Controller 1 x Dimmer Pack 1 x Carry Bag	4 x Par64 Lights 4 x Par64 Lamps 1 x Lightweight T Bar Stand 1 x Hand Controller 1 x Dimmer Pack 1 x Carry Bag
$1230	-Power Consumption - up to 4000w -Replacement lamps - $85 upwards each -Gel Paper required -Two people or two trips to carry -Up to 4 colours depending gel paper	$995	-Power Consumption - around 200w -No need for replacement lamps -No Gel Paper required -One person carry (only one arm as well) -9 Colour presets with 12 shows and fade in/out

Lamp based lights are still available and prevalent in a lot of clubs / bars / pubs and sometimes the only way to get certain effects. Replacing all the lights in a club / band / dj rig can be expensive but have a chat with us about what you'd like to do, and we can offer suggestions and a plan to make it happen sooner rather than later.

Naturally, we still have access to a wide range a lamps for lights, so let us know if you need anything lamp related.

All products mentioned in this blog are in stock and available now from us, If you have any questions at all in relation to lighting and visual effects, please send an email below (and you might win something).

:: Conclusion ::

As noted at the start, this was just an overview of lighting, in the next blog I will aim to get into the effects and different types and how to use them.

Print Music

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:21:42 +0000

Rachel's Print Music Blog

Welcome to my first print music blog …

My name is Rachel and I’m the Print Music Product Manager for NZ Rockshops. I have been working for the Rockshop for over 10 years and I admit it: I love books – and you know what the best thing is….. you can get more and more cool stuff in print now! Basically anything and everything you can imagine is available in print… and for someone who can’t play by ear this is brilliant!!

My aim is to make sure I can find even the most obscure book and put it in your hands….
‘’Smells Like Teen Spirit for Trombone” I hear you ask??? Well - if it’s in print I will find it! (and just so you know- this one actually is)

If there’s a guitar technique you want to perfect or if you want to know whether your favourite band is in print or not then I’m the gal to ask…

Email me anytime: rachel@rockshop.co.nz

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:: Print Music Basics ::

My blogs are going to focus anything new in print or any series or books that are just plain fantastic that you may or may not know about yet!

But first, a rough idea of what different descriptions mean in book land:

GUITAR TABALTURE Guitar tab books are made up of guitar tablature which is a notation method showing the six strings of the guitar and which frets/strings need to be played. It's considered a standard notation (for the guitar part), and also has a vocal melody line, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord boxes. Our guitar tab books cover a range of artists and also compilations. There are literally 1000’s of titles available, a lot that we stock but others we can order in fairly quickly… often it’s takes a little over a week from when you place your order to when the book arrives in stock.

BASS TABLATURE Bass tab is similar to the guitar tablature version. The books contain standard notation, vocal melody line, lyrics and chord names. Not as many titles as guitar tab but, still lots of artists and compilations available.

DRUMS books contain drum notation, vocal melody line, lyrics and chord names.

TRANSCRIBED SCORES – these are vocal and instrumental arrangements of music for various bands. Books have transcribed parts for lead vocals, backup vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, and all of the various instruments used in each specific recording session - all songs are arranged exactly the way the artists recorded them.

PVG (piano, vocal guitar also referred to as piano vocal chords) these books have piano part and vocal line as well as the guitar chords (and normally chord boxes as well). There are lots of titles available for both artists and compilation books.

EASY PIANO Books are arranged for piano (there isn’t a separate vocal line) but lyrics are included as well as chord names (not chord boxes). Music is simplified but normally arrangements still sound really good. These are great for someone who just wants to sit down and play straight away without too much effort – two or three years of lessons would probably be enough to start playing this or if you are getting back playing after a few years break.

BIG NOTE PIANO. These books are arranged for piano with lyrics and chord names. Great for someone who has had a year or two of lessons – using limited hand movements and simple chords.

EZ PLAY TODAY Ez Play books use the treble/melody line of music with very simple notation, they contain lyrics and also chord names above the melody line. The notes are named to make playing easy. Perfect for keyboard or organ players who like to use the auto accompaniment on their instrument.

:: Hal Leonard - Guitar Play-Along Series::

This month I’m going to focus on one of our most popular guitar series: the Hal Leonard Guitar Play Along series.

There are literally 100’s of titles to choose from.

The Guitar Play-Along Series helps you play your favourite songs quickly and easily! Just follow the tab, listen to the CD to hear how the song should sound, and then play along to the separate backing tracks on the CD. (Lyrics and melody lines are also included in the book).

The backing tracks are awesome too… none of that MIDI backing track sound, these ones sound great!

One of the best things about this series is something Hal Leonard have coined the AMAZING SLOWDOWNER… - yes seriously I’m pretty sure this phrase has been trademarked… basically it is what it says; stick the CD into your PC and you can adjust the tempo to any speed without adjusting the pitch …

And because there are so many titles (both artist related and styles) there is something for everyone.

Here's a few selections that have been really popular ...

JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE SMASH HITS GUITAR PLAYALONG VOL 47 BK AND CD $49.00

Songs: All Along the Watchtower • Can You See Me? • Crosstown Traffic • Fire • Foxey Lady • Hey Joe • Manic Depression • Purple Haze • Red House • Remember • Stone Free • The Wind Cries Mary.

FOO FIGHTERS GUITAR PLAY ALONG VOL 56 BK AND CD
$45.00

Songs: All My Life • Best of You • DOA • I'll Stick Around • Learn to Fly • Monkey Wrench • My Hero • This Is a Call.

ROCK ANTHOLOGY GUITAR PLAY ALONG VOL 81 BOOK AND 2 CDs
$69.00

Songs: Baba O'Riley • Barracuda • Can't Get Enough • Carry On Wayward Son • Don't Fear the Reaper • Free Ride • Hurts So Good • I Need to Know • Let It Ride • Oye Como Va • Rhiannon • Ridin' the Storm Out • School's Out • Sultans of Swing • Ziggy Stardust.

NIRVANA GUITAR PLAY ALONG VOLUME 78 BK AND CD
$45.00

Songs: All Apologies • Come As You Are • Dumb • Heart Shaped Box • In Bloom • Lithium • Rape Me • Smells like Teen Spirit.

ERIC CLAPTON GUITAR PLAY ALONG VOL 24 BK AND CD
$45.00

Songs: Badge • Bell Bottom Blues • Change the World • Cocaine • Key to the Highway • Lay Down Sally • White Room • Wonderful Tonight

ESSENTIAL OZZY OSBOURNE GUITAR PLAY-ALONG VOL 70 BK AND CD
$49.00

Songs include: Time After Time • Perry Mason • I Don't Know • Crazy Babies • Goodbye To Romance • Mama, I'm Coming Home • Over The Mountain • Suicide Solution

Brass / Woodwind

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:21:42 +0000

:: Jupiter Brass/Woodwind ::

When one of the company directors asked for my input in establishing the Rockshop as a respected supplier of brass and woodwind, I said ‘Sure. What brand are we going to be doing?’

The reply was ‘Jupiter’;

I’ve been playing in and conducting brass bands for 28 years and know that any serious brass and woodwind player will tell you that Jupiter is an entry level product. When I discovered the Jupiter catalogue, my perception and enthusiasm changed instantly. I had no idea that Jupiter made high end professional models from mini trombones to pocket trumpets, from bass clarinets to baritone saxophones and everything in between. I was like a kid in a candy shop.

How good is this product?

Well after having played a few of them, I have to say, it’s excellent.

So why is there a misconception in NZ, that Jupiter equals cheap and entry level products? That’s probably due to the fact that over recent years, only the low end entry level product has been brought into NZ. Now we have a HUGE selection across the board from entry level to professional, all of which of much higher standard than I was previously aware of.

The entry level instruments are as good as anything on the market (features, playability and price) but it's the intermediate and professional models - that really caught my eye.

-For Trumpet (incl piccolo), Trombone, Flugal Horns and Saxophone players, the XO Series is as good as any I have ever seen or played, and I can say I have played most of the top products.

-There is also a professional Artist Series for Saxophone players which is also of a high quality.

-For Flute players, they get spoilt with the DiMedici Series of professional flutes - which are stunning.

-And Clarinet players can choose a fine instrument with either Parisienne or German style keywork.

So who is using Jupiter?

The Jupiter website has an endorsement list on and has names on it like Dirty Dozen (all Jupiter endorsees) and Don Radar who was the lead trumpet player for Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and the Manhatten Transfer. He now resides in Australia and uses Jupiter exclusively.

-Dirty Dozen - http://www.dirtydozenbrass.com/
-Don Radar - http://www.jupiterinstrument.com/artist-australia.htm#don

The list of Who’s Who playing this product is growing by the week and we are now starting to see that in NZ. One of the best trumpet players this country has ever produced is a Christchurch local called Chris Harris (not the cricketer). Chris has just spent the last ten years playing all over the world on cruise ships and uses a very expensive, handmade Schilke trumpet. He came into the Christchurch store earlier this year and tried the Jupiter range – and within half an hour had purchased a mid range trumpet ($1799) and said it was the nicest trumpet he had ever played. He now also owns a Jupiter Flugal Horn and is in the stages of purchasing a pocket trumpet and a piccolo trumpet.

So how reliable is Jupiter?

Jupiter have been making instruments since 1979, and are now one of the world’s largest producers of brass and woodwind, and is part of the world's second largest instrument company. Now, call me cynical, but I don’t think you’d become that big if your product wasn’t good.

A WORLD OF QUALITY
Working under a philosophy to support music education and community since 1930, Jupiter’s parent company, KHS Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. has become one of the largest musical instrument producers in the world today. Incorporating some of the fastest growing brands today, KHS can offer a full line of quality instruments to school music programs and individual players.

As a global company, KHS selects the finest materials available and controls all aspects of manufacturing in their state-of-the-art, company-owned factories, ensuring consistently high quality and reliability. Visit the Jupiter Factory Tour to learn more about the making of woodwind and brass instruments.

So if you are in the market, or know someone who is in the market for a high quality, reliable brass or woodwind instrument - then it's time visit your local Rockshop - or you can email me and we can talk more directly about your requirements. In the meantime you can check out the products we have in stock, here on our website.

Rockshop Jupiter Stock

For the full range of product, go to

Jupiter - Home Page