Sampling in Music: 3 Bands that Famously Use Samples

Have you ever heard a brand-new song and could swear you’ve heard it before? Chances are you have. Perhaps it’s used a well-known bass line and repackaged it into a new arrangement, much like how Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice Ice Baby’ borrowed the distinct bass line from Queen’s ‘Under Pressure.’ Sampling in music is the act of incorporating a portion of one sound recording into a different piece, and can involve creatively manipulating it; for instance, by changing the tempo or pitch.

A sample may consist of anything ranging from a sound effect to spoken word from a movie – often used to set a mood or even comic effect. They can be taken from a pre-existing recording or constructed specifically for the piece.Although sampling has played a major role in shaping the entire genre of hip hop, the use of this technique spread with the rise of electronic music and later, 80’s industrial music. School of Popular Music, music school in Guernsey, takes a look at three bands which differ in style but all have in common the use of sampling in their music.

Pink Floyd

Founded in 1965, progressive rock band Pink Floyd consisted of a group of great creative musicians who didn’t shy away from experimenting. The band is renowned for its deep, poetic lyrics and beautiful, distinctive sound which makes use of sampling in most of its songs.
The intro of one of their most widely-recognised songs ‘Wish you were here’ sampled Tchaikovsky’s Symphony 4, as well as spoken word, which was picked up randomly from a radio. ‘Another brick in the wall’ features helicopter noises and a man yelling at kids (“You!! Yes you!! Stand still, laddie!”), while in the middle of the song ‘Learning to fly’, the voice of the band’s own drummer Nick Mason – an avid pilot himself – can be heard.

Pink Floyd

Depeche Mode

Another band known for its heavy use of sampling in music, Depeche Mode – formed in 1980 – has used samples from Kraftwerk, Led Zeppelin and even other songs of their own, such as ‘Strange Love’ which sampled ‘Enjoy the Silence’. The thing that made Depeche Mode’s sound so great is their ability to create one-of-a-kind sounds by creatively sampling things around them. Not to mention their synth skills – few other albums by few other band have influenced music fans’ love of synthesizers quite like ‘Violator’!

Depeche Mode

Nine Inch Nails

Many argue over NIN’s genre, but it is generally agreed that this music falls under the industrial category, a genre characterised by its use of samples from horror movies and speeches by renowned political figures. Trent Reznor – the band’s only official member – started studying classical music and playing instruments from a young age and eventually became a studio engineer, teaching himself various computer applications. Considered one of the pioneers of industrial rock, Reznor used samples by the likes of David Bowie, Prince, Queen, and numerous others.

NIN

Regardless of your opinion on sampling, we can all agree that this technique played an important part in creating the distinctive sound of these bands. If you’re looking for a music school in Guernsey, contact us for more information on private and group lessons. We are proud to offer among the best singing, drums, guitar, violin and piano lessons Guernsey has to offer.

5 Actors You Probably Didn’t Know Are Musicians

One of the best things about being a professional artist is that you have enough time and resources to explore other areas outside of your main career. Many famous actors in Hollywood have done just this, concentrating their efforts on music or singing when not on a film set. As an establishment that provides music tuition in Guernsey, School of Popular Music has listed some of the most famous actor-musicians in Hollywood.

Scarlett Johansson

The Black Widow is renowned for her ability to keep secrets – not least, her singing career. Before she became an Avenger, Johansson released an album in 2008 consisting of 10 cover versions of songs by Tom Waits, along with one original track. The following year, Johansson teamed up with Pete Yorn and released a collaborative album named Break Up. She has also sung for film soundtracks, including “Trust in Me” for Jungle Book in 2016.

Kevin Bacon

This actor’s association with music didn’t stop at Footloose – he and his brother have been part of a band (aptly named The Bacon Brothers) since the late 90’s. They have released eight albums so far, all of which incorporate the genres of Americana, soul, folk and rock. Both brothers provide vocals and guitar, in addition to Kevin on percussion and Michael playing the cello.

Robert Pattinson

When he’s not dazzling humans as a sparkling vampire on screen, he’s dazzling others in real life with his musical talents. Besides composing his own music, Pattinson can also play the guitar and piano. Although he has prioritised acting for the time being, he is set to contribute to the soundtrack of the upcoming film Damsel, in which he’s also playing the lead role.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Pinkett Smith has proven that her husband isn’t the only multi-talented one in the family; back in 2002, she formed a metal band called Wicked Wisdom with herself as the lead vocalist. Influenced by artists such as Metallica and Guns n’ Roses, they have received acclaim from Sharon Osbourne, who said that she was “blown away” by how good their music was after seeing them perform live.

William Shatner

It’s easy to associate this famous actor with cheesy sci-fi and bad Star Trek puns, but Shatner has proven himself to be a man of many talents. His very first album dates back to 1968 featuring eccentric, spoken word renditions of famous tracks like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Tambourine Man”. It’s Bob Dylan, Jim, but not as we know him. (Okay, we couldn’t resist that one).

We hope we’ve inspired you with these actor-musicians! Don’t let all that hidden talent go to waste – contact us at the School of Popular Music for more about our music lessons in Guernsey. Whether you’re a novice or of a higher level, we’re sure we’ve got just the right instructor for you. For the best guitar, piano or even singing lessons Guernsey has to offer, look no further.

Remember to follow us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter!

Saluting the Men Behind the Kit: Some of the Coolest Metal Drummers (Part 2)

In our previous blog, we shared our pick of some of the coolest drummers in the metal world, using skill, attitude and style as the main criteria. The team at School of Popular Music, specialising in music tuition in Guernsey, takes a look at the next batch of jaw-dropping metal drummers – let’s kick it off!

4. Mike Portnoy (Ex Dream Theater)

Long-time driving force behind Dream Theater, Portnoy came to be recognised as the archetypal progressive metal drummer, capable of virtuosity and sheer strength in equal measures. He grew up learning to play the drums and is primarily self-taught. Portnoy has received countless of awards, including Best Progressive Rock Drummer, 30 Modern Drummer magazine reader’s poll awards and has been placed in the Drumming Hall of Fame. He’s a master of odd time signatures and double bass drum fills.

5. Chris Adler (Lamb of God)

One of the millennium’s most imitated and influential extreme metal time-keepers, Chris Adler is known for his highly developed heel-toe bass drum technique, and has been the engine behind Lamb of God’s career success for over a decade. Unlike most drummers, Adler lacks drumming influences as he was trained as a piano player for eight years, followed by instruments such as the sax, acoustic and bass guitar. This perhaps contributed to him developing his own unique drumming style, which includes the unusual approach to double bass playing, mixing toms and cymbals along the way.

6. Dave Lombardo (Slayer)

Known for his fast, aggressive style of play mastering the double bass technique which has earned him the title “the godfather of double bass” by Drummerworld, Cuban-Born Lombardo is a two-time Grammy Award winning drummer.

If reading about these epic drummers has inspired you to kick behind the kit, we encourage you to try out our drum lessons in Guernsey. At School of Popular Music, learning music is just the beginning; we look to build up confidence and encourage teamwork among our pupils. Our school is a hub for aspiring musicians of all ages, so if you’re looking to take up an instrument or work on singing techniques, we offer a variety of music lessons in Guernsey.

Music to Meow Ears: Does Music Affect Animals?

Music has the power to evoke the most powerful of emotions. So strong is its effect on us that it has both psychological and physiological effects. But does music affect animals like it does humans? Although animal vocalisations such as bird songs have been the subject of intense scientific study for a while, the effect music has on animals in terms of physiology and brain chemistry has remained somewhat of a mystery until recently. School of Popular Music delves into scientific studies which provide evidence that certain types of music may also affect animals!

Dogs are Not Metalheads

Researchers found that classical music reduces anxiety in the dogs at kennels, causing them to bark less and sleep more. Heavy metal, on the other hand, had the opposite effect. Cows also seem to prefer classical music, and even produced more milk when listening to slow jams than when listening to music with over 120 beats per minute.

Music to Meow Ears

Having gained a reputation for being the (seemingly) more nonchalant species, it should come as no surprise that cats are pretty indifferent to human music. However, two psychologists at the University of Wisconsin and a composer at the University of Maryl teamed up to develop music especially for felines, and research indicates that cats dig it!

Composer David Teie explains that all the music was made using instruments and the human voice and was written specifically to appeal to the domestic cat, thus containing frequencies and tempos similar to the ones cats themselves use to communicate with each other.

The psychologists visited 47 households and played the cats music; two classical (human) songs and two developed specifically for felines. The study, published in the journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science, found that when the cats (particularly young and older ones) were played the feline music, they were more likely to move towards the speaker, or even rub up against it.

Monkey Business

Another study conducted by the same researchers indicated that like cats, tamarin monkeys are mostly indifferent to human music – apart from they heard Metallica’s “Of Wolf and Man”, which surprisingly calmed them down! However, they became visibly calmer or more agitated depending on whether they were exposed to compositions made to mirror the pitch monkeys made in calming calls or those made when expressing fear.

Feeling Chirpy

A study conducted on white-tailed sparrows found that like humans, the part of the female sparrows’ brain that’s similar to the human amygdala lit up while listening to the males’ song, while the male birds’ brains reacted similarly to when humans listen to music they don’t like.

At School of Popular Music, offering music lessons in Guernsey, we understand that music is without a doubt, a force of nature. So if you’re looking for anything from singing lessons to piano lessons in Guernsey, contact us now!

Greatest Music Themes Ever Created For Film: Part 2

A while ago, our team at the School of Popular Music looked at some of the greatest music themes ever created for film. We’re back with more legendary compositions which turned out to be as timeless as the movies they were written for – those of you taking music lessons in Guernsey might even be interested in learning how to play some of them yourselves!

Gone With The Wind – Max Steiner

The sweeping score of this wartime romance is as iconic as Rhett Butler’s final, damning words to Scarlett at the end of the film. Steiner created leifmotifs and themes to suit various characters and settings, such as “Tara’s Theme” for the beloved O’Hara plantation and which is now recognised as the film’s most famous music themes. The entire soundtrack took 12 weeks to write and ended up being two hours and thirty-six minutes long.

Indiana Jones: The Raiders of the Lost Ark – John Williams

The Indiana Jones theme is just another accomplishment to add to Williams’ already impressive list of musical achievements. The Raiders score is adventurous, bold, and brassy – encapsulating all the qualities of the film’s titular hero. The triumphant and lilting notes are the emotional bridge that connects audience to Indiana Jones as he successfully pulls off another dangerous and seemingly impossible stunt to save the day.

Mission: Impossible – Various Artists

If you’ve ever sat up late at night cramming for an exam the following morning, or gone to stay over at the in-laws for the weekend, it’s more than likely you were playing this theme over and over in your head. Originally created for the original 1960’s TV series by Argentinian composer Lalo Schifrin, it was then remade by U2 band members Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton for 1996 movie starring Tom Cruise. One of the most recognised music themes out there!

Doctor Zhivago – Maurice Jarr

Perhaps the most famous leitmotif from this particular soundtrack is “Lara’s Theme” – a masterpiece carried by an orchestra of violins, balalaikas, horns, woodwind instruments and the glockenspiel. Wistful and romantic, it perfectly sums up the longing felt between Yuri and Lara as they disappeared in and out of each other’s lives throughout the narrative of the film.

Blade Runner – Vangelis

A large part of what makes this cult classic so entrenched in film history is its dark yet gripping score by Greek composer Vangelis, which has perhaps made it the greatest in the sci-fi genre. The chilling environment of robotics and machinery in Blade Runner’s dystopian universe is reflected in the electronic, synth-drenched score, at once conveying both stifling alienation and suppressed yet heightened emotion.

If you’re both a film fanatic and music lover who’s searching for music lessons in Guernsey, you’ve come to the right place. The School of Popular Music offers tuition for all kinds of instruments as well as singing lessons. We cater for all levels, including beginners and those with more experience.
Contact us for more information about our music tuition in Guernsey and follow us on Facebook for updates!

The Most Skilled Multi-Instrumentalists

There’s talent, and then there’s talent. Learning how to play one instrument is already an achievement in itself – can you imagine being able to play 11 or 17? There are also many benefits that come with multi-instrumentalism: a better understanding of music theory, being able to cover a missing band member and an enhanced music listening experience, to name a few. As an establishment which offers both singing and music lessons in Guernsey, School of Popular Music has put together a list of the most skilled multi-instrumentalists today.

Beck

This gifted singer-songwriter is certainly no loser – he can play a stunning total of over 10 instruments, all of which he arranged and played himself on one of his latest albums Morning Phase. The latter included the ukulele, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, piano and synthesizer, amongst many others. His artistry was recognised when Morning Phase won Album of the Year at the 2015 Grammy Awards.

Trent Reznor

Even outside his work for Nine Inch Nails, Reznor is renowned for involvement in a multitude of different musical projects. Aside from providing vocals on many of his songs, he can also play more than 13 instruments, including lesser known ones such as the tuba, harpsichord, mellotron and marimba.

St. Vincent

Listen to any album by this this indie queen and you’ll hear a variety of different sounds and harmonies. Credited under her real name (Annie Clark) are the guitar, synthesizer, xylophone, triangle and the Moog.

Johnny Greenwood

Every member of Radiohead is impressive in their own way, and Greenwood is certainly no exception. Ostensibly the lead guitarist for the band, he has however referred to the guitar as nothing more than a simple tool, preferring to experiment with other instruments which receive less acclaim. To date, he is known to play the viola, recorder, harmonica, the organ and others including percussion instruments.

PJ Harvey

Harvey’s musical genius extends well beyond her lyrics and her voice – there’s a long, long list of musical equipment that she can play. Besides the piano, bass and the violin, she’s also pretty good with the saxophone, the cello and the trumpet. In her 2010 album Let England Shake, she even wrote and produced songs that featured the autoharp.

If you fancy trying your hand at any instrument or becoming one of the best multi-instrumentalists, contact us at the School of Popular Music for music lessons in Guernsey. Even if you know how to play one already, it’s never too late in life to learn something new! Our instructors can offer the best in guitar, piano, or violin lessons Guernsey has to offer.

The Benefits Learning an Instrument has on Your Child’s Brain

There’s no doubt that learning to play a musical instrument is great for developing brains.

It’s been scientifically proven that when children learn to play music, their brains develop “neurophysiological distinction” between certain sounds that can support literacy, which can result in improved academic results for kids.

Perhaps the most basic reason that every child should have an education in music is that music is a part of the fabric of our society. The crucial value of music for each individual is widely recognised in many cultures as every human culture uses music to deliver its ideas and ideals.

This success in society which goes hand-in-hand with music education results in success in education. Any music teacher or parent of a music student can swear on the effectiveness of music education in helping children become better students. The discipline learned through music commonly transfer to study skills, communication skills, and reasoning skills used in everyday life and in part of the curriculum. This discipline of music study, especially through participation in groups, helps students learn to work effectively in the school setting without resorting to violent or inappropriate behaviour. Music education teaches its students that all members are vital and must learn to cooperate as a team.

Music also improves pupil’s time management and organisational skills. Students need to organise themselves to be present for lessons. They are expected to attend punctually and also need to remember to bring the correct equipment to their lessons. This is assisting the child to develop basic life skills.

Success in school and in society depends on a range of skills. It has been proven that that some measures of a child’s intelligence are indeed improved with music education. There have been a variety of controlled behavioural studies and neurological research that show how music study can actively contribute to brain development.

Music students develop and improve these skills over time with the benefits reflected in their academic achievement and success later in life.

Interested in giving your child the skills that come with learning an instrument? Contact the School of Popular Music today to see what classes we offer for your young ones.

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates!

7 Positive Impacts Music Can Have on Our Lives

It’s a universal fact that music affects people’s behaviour. Music is so powerful it’s even possible to become addicted to it. But how can music improve our lives? School of Popular Music lists 7 positive impacts music can have on our lives:

1. Angry music boosts performance

Generally, we tend to think of anger as something that’s universally bad. Yet the emotion can also have its positives. Anger concentrates its attention on rewards, intensifies tenacity, makes us feel in control and more optimistic about attaining our goals.

2. Music reduces pain

When ibuprofen isn’t doing the trick, it might be time to listen to your favourite song. Research shows it can diminish pain: preferred music was found to increase tolerance and perceived control over the painful stimulus substantially. Moreover, it was also linked to decreasing apprehension associated to both the visual distraction and silence conditions.

3. Music can help you find love

All you need is love! Right? Well, apparently… Want to get the interest of that special someone? Play some romantic tunes. It was found that women previously exposed to romantic lyrics complied with the request more readily than women exposed to the neutral ones.

4. Music can save a life

Do you know how to give CPR chest compressions? Turns out, it’s all about timing. And how can you best remember the proper timing during an emergency? Simple: sing “Stayin’ Alive” by the BeeGees!

Dr. John Hafner of the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria instructed 15 doctors and med students to perform the 100-compression procedure on mannequins, while listening to this Bee Gees classic, and as he reported in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, their mean compression rate was an excellent 109.1.

5. If you have ADHD, noise helps you focus

A study proved how noise exerted a positive effect on cognitive performance for a group of ADHD participants. This indicated that ADHD subjects need more noise than controls for optimum cognitive performance. And music with positive lyrics makes you more helpful and collaborative.

6. Music can make you smarter

There is a heap of evidence that music lessons improve IQ. But there’s even research claiming that listening to classical music might increase brainpower too:

Within 15 minutes of hearing the lecture, all the students took a multiple-choice quiz featuring questions based on the lecture material. The results: the students who heard the music-enhanced lecture scored substantially higher on the quiz than those who heard the music-free version.

7. Music can make you a better person

Need to soften someone’s heart? Perhaps your own? Playing music can make you more empathetic: In a year-long program focused on group music-making, 8- to 11-year old children became noticeably more compassionate. The finding suggests children who make music together aren’t just having fun, they’re even absorbing a significant constituent of emotional intelligence.

So, as you can see, music doesn’t only say a lot about you, it also provides a myriad of ways to improve your life considerably. We hope this blog has inspired you enough to include music in some way or other in your life. And if you’re looking to start music or singing lessons in Guernsey, then we suggest you contact the School of Popular Music today to find out more about the classes we offer.

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates!

The Top 5 Girl Bands of the 90s

As promised in our previous blog, we’ve decided to give credit to the bands which gave a rise to girl power in the unforgettable era of the 90s.

The Spice Girls

The British pop group, Spice Girls ruled the music charts with their memorable and catchy lyrics, accompanied by their fierce attitudes. The group began with five young performers, under the identities of “Sporty”, “Baby”, “Scary”, “Ginger” and “Posh”, and exploded into a frenzy of choreographed dance numbers and Girl Power. Their hit song, “Wannabe,” sent the Spice Girls to the top of the music and fashion worlds, together with their 1997 movie, “SpiceWorld.”

The group broke up in 2001, when they chose to focus on their solo careers. However, to this day, their fan base still proves to be alive and kicking – they even reunited in 2007 for a sold-out tour.

TLC

TLC, the R&B trio launched to the top of the music scene, when they released their first single, “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg” in 1991. They sold more than 65 million records and won five Grammy Awards. The group created a mainstream stir with lyrics that both disapproved drug use and endorsed safe sex.

Their careers came to a standstill, when Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in a car crash in 2002 but instead of replacing her, the remaining members chose to continue as a duo. In 2017, they released their final album ‘TLC’; they have confirmed that they will not split up and will continue to perform.

Sugababes

Electropop-R&B girl group, Sugababes, blew away the industry with six number one songs, such as “Walk This Way” and “Freak Like Me.”

However, the Sugababes became famous for reports of bullying within the group, bankruptcy, line-up changes and eventually, the original girls of the group formed a new group called Mutya Keisha Siobhan, or MKS, in 2012.
The Sugababes remain on an ambiguous break.

B*Witched

The youngest girl group ever to notch a number one single on the UK pop charts were Ireland’s teen quartet B*Witched. Hyped even prior to its release, their first single, “C’Est La Vie,” topped the British charts upon its release in late May of 1998. They also partook in a British reality television series with 5ive, called “The Big Reunion.”

After their official breakup in 2002, the group came together again for a tour in 2013. Their third album, “Champagne or Guiness,” was released in 2014. B*Witched toured Australia in early 2017.

All Saints

Two parts British and two parts Canadian girl group All Saints formed in 1996, and a year later claimed worldwide domination with their two tracks, “I Know Where It’s At” and “Never Ever.”

The group won two BRIT Awards in 1998 for Best British Single and Best British Video and a highly-honoured Ivor Novello Award in 2001.

Splitting up in 2001, amid tales of group in-fighting, only to return for a short moment in 2007 with a third album, and are currently recording their fifth studio album.

If you feel inspired by this nostalgic article and music of the past, why not consider going for tuition in Guernsey? Visit the School of Popular Music or contact us here to find out how we can help you.

Remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates!

The Top 5 Boy Bands of the 90s

How many times have we bopped our heads to the familiar sound of a great pop song or a memorable, romantic ballad sung by amazing voices? We’re quite sure the answer to this is way too many times to mention. As devout music lovers, School of Popular Music in Guernsey wanted to take a melodious trip down memory lane by looking at the top 5 boy bands in musical history.

Savage Garden

Before they even met them, pop fans already knew they loved Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones of Savage Garden, dreaming them into life. The Australian duo launched Savage Garden 20 years ago! Earning top-charting singles with “I Want You,” “To the Moon and Back,” and the unforgettably addictive “Truly Madly Deeply.” The group continued its successful run with Affirmation in ’99, led by the single “I Knew I Loved You,” but sadly announced their split a couple of years later in 2001.

Take That

An English pop music group formed in Manchester, England in 1990. Take That currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. This British group took over Europe’s music industry in the 1990s, but success began to go downhill after the departure of bandmember Robbie Williams, who went on to become a mega solo-artist. But the band came back to the music scene in November 2014, with a seventh studio album entitled III.

Considered as the biggest-selling singles artists in British music chart history, Take That was placed at 15th overall, making them the most successful boy band in UK chart history. As of 2017, Take That had sold over 45 million records worldwide.

The Backstreet Boys

One of the pop groups with the most enduring legacy, BSB first rose to fame in Europe in the 1990s, picking up fans in Germany before they made a name for themselves in the US. A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell made an impact with the 1997 US release of Backstreet Boys before reaching massive success with 1999’s Millennium. Boasting hits such as “Quit Playing Games (with My Heart),” “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” “I Want It That Way,” and “Larger than Life,” the Backstreet Boys took a brief break in the mid-2000s before reuniting. In 2013, they dropped In a World Like This and toured for the record through June 2015.

*NSYNC

Sure, Backstreet Boys may have had the longevity, but *NSYNC reaped the glory. The popular boy band debuted in the late ’90s with *NSYNC and its accompanying singles “I Want You Back,” “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” and “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You.” Then came 2000’s No Strings Attached, led by the now-notorious “Bye Bye Bye.” A few synchronised dance moves later and Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, and Lance Bass were international celebrities. While Timberlake’s star power famously went on to eclipse that of his bandmates, the group has a spot in pop history.

Westlife

Irish lads Westlife sold more than 50 million records internationally, but after spending 14 years together as a group, they sadly called it quits for good in 2012. After going bankrupt, member Shane Filan went solo and lead singer Mark Feehily began his own catering business. Kian Egan moved on to become the winner of the reality television show, “I’m a Celebrity,” and a coach and mentor for Ireland’s version of another competitive reality show, “The Voice.” As for Nicky Byrne, he began a new career as a broadcaster, as did Bryan McFadden after a stint as a solo artist.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reminiscing on these nostalgic times with us. If you feel inspired by music, why not consider going for tuition in Guernsey? Visit the School of Popular Music or contact us here to find out how we can help you.

Keep your eyes peeled for our next blog where we’ll be looking at popular girl bands of the 90s…

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.