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You are here: Home / Archives for music

What is Being A Mom? & Garth Brook’s Concert Giveaway #GarthLovesMom

December 21, 2014 by Momstart 1 Comment

Listening to the new single by Garth Brooks “mom”  made me think of what it means to be a mom to me. I love being a mom, I think most of my identity is in being a mom. My blog is called momstart and in everything I write, I try to include a story about them because they are my life. I love my kids and can’t imagine life without them.

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Kids are unpredictable and constantly on. They are exhausting and some days I just want to pull my hair out or strangle them, but they are so rewarding. Miles and Zoe say all kinds of things that make me laugh and a hug from one of them heals almost any wound. Their laughter turns any frown upside down and hearing the words “I love you” just melts my heart. Our current thing that we do with each other is say “I love you most” and who ever says it first wins. Well they try to find other ways to say it and it’s just the silliest contest and I love to hear it. Even as I’m writing this post they are upstairs tickling each other and all I hear is laughter. I’m so in love!!!

What do you love about being a mom?

 

I was given a code to download Garth Brooks song from GhostTunes. GhostTunes is a full-service online music platform offering millions of songs, albums, products and creative bundles from artists across all genres. I was able to find quite a few albums that I liked in a few different genres, Country, Pop and Christian. GhostTunes also creates a gathering place for listeners, artists and the music that connects them with others like them. Founded by Garth Brooks, one of the world’s best-selling artists of all times, GhostTunes celebrates the personal connection between artists and listeners who live for and love their music. The GhostTunes platform gives fans the freedom to listen to purchased music on the device of their choice while providing artists with a new way to sell their music any way they dream. Experience more at www.GhostTunes.com.

ghosttunes logo revised cmyk

ENTER TO WIN:

We have an exciting giveaway to share with you. In celebration of Garth Brook’s brand new single, “Mom,” GhostTunes is offering one lucky mom and a guest the opportunity to see Garth in concert, complete with hotel and airfare! My MOM would LOVE to go, I wonder if she would take me.  For more information on the giveaway and to enter to win the contest, visit http://ghosttunes.com/landing/mom.

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Listen to the Single “Mom” by Garth Brooks:

 

http://momstart.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/5-Mom.mp3

FOLLOW SOCIALLY

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ghosttunes

Hashtag: #GarthLovesMom

Twitter – https://twitter.com/ghosttunes

Instagram – http://instagram.com/ghosttunes

 

 

Compensation was provided by GhostTunes via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Ghost Tunes or MomTrends.

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: Being a Mom, music, personal, tech

Casio CTK-2400 Sampling Keyboard: Give The Gift of Music!

October 15, 2014 by Beeb 5 Comments

Casio CTK-2400 Sampling Keyboard

Casio CTK-2400 provided for review.

If you’re looking for a special gift this holiday season that will keep giving back all year, I think the Casio CTK-2400 Sampling Keyboard would be a great pick for any music lover – especially those hard-to-buy-for individuals on your list, like teenagers and men. This is the kind of gift that is versatile for any kind of musical taste, and makes a cool, sophisticated gift. Jai, a self-taught pianist, was excited when I told him this keyboard was on its way to our house, asking me every so often: Is that keyboard here yet? So, when are we getting that keyboard? Always a good sign that something is going to be a hit!

The CTK-2400 has 61 keys and stands out for its ability to sample any sound played into the keyboard, allowing you to create all kinds of music, from living out those 1980s New Wave fantasies to dropping modern-day rap beats. It also has other instrument sounds built in, such as a plethora of drum beats; this would really make it an exciting starter gift for any young person who wants to experiment with making their own music at home.

Playing the CTK-2400

But fear not, parents: If modern music isn’t your bag, rest assured that you can also use the CTK-2400 to learn the classics. Another neat feature of this keyboard is the fact that it has several classical songs built in, and will show you the hand positions on the readout screen so that you can follow along and learn how to play the song. If you don’t have the time or money for piano lessons, this is a wonderful way to start picking it up on your own!

Check out our video below where Jai demonstrates more features of this keyboard, including how to play Chopin using a sample of a pig snort sound. 😉

In addition to being versatile, this keyboard is also lightweight and doesn’t take up a ton of room, which is helpful for anyone with space constraints.

The Casio CTK-2400 Sampling Keyboard is available on CasioMusicGear.com and is a bargain at $169.99!

Filed Under: 2014 Gift Guide, review Tagged With: music

Free Tickets to The #NFLFanRecord in Seattle: Watch Soundgarden & Pharrell Williams Perform!

August 27, 2014 by Beeb Leave a Comment

WP_20140325_20_11_46_Pro

Are you familiar with 1iota? They are a cool site that offer free tickets to TV show tapings and special events. I wanted to bring attention to a really cool event that our local Seattle readers are going to want to jump on: Right now, you can snag totally free tickets to the live taping of the 2014 NFL Kickoff at CenturyLink Field on September 4th, 2014 at 1:00 PM. Headlining this event will be live performances from Soundgarden (I love them!) and Pharrell Williams (I can’t wait to see him on The Voice later this month!). For more information and to snag your free tickets, click here to visit the 1iota website. And let us know if you end up going, this is sure to be a great show!

Filed Under: Pacific Northwest Tagged With: music, NFL

Practice On The Go: KMI’s QuNexus is a portable keyboard

October 5, 2013 by Momstart 1 Comment

We received a sample to review and donated it after we used it.

With numerous studies focused on the positive effects of learning a musical instrument (from boosting confidence, to studies to even IQ points), parents across the nation, are very interested in having their kids learn how to play an instrument at a young age.  Us included. We’ve had our kids in piano lessons for over a year now and my son started at age four. Kids can learn so much more than we give them credit for. image

However, the complexity of learning coupled with numerous distractions, makes practicing something that has become dreaded.  Until now……. 

Of course the QuNexus is fun but it took us a while to find an app that would work with Windows 8, but we did find one and my husband had fun playing with it. It’s small enough to fit easily into a backpack, KMI’s QuNexus is a portable keyboard that makes kids instantly feel like they are rock stars.  Featuring a keys that light up when hit to smart sensor technology enabling unprecedented expressive control, the QuNexus empowers kids to want to invest in playing instruments.  Plus, it is compatible with an iPad or Android Tablet so kids can capture their sounds and share them with friends, even while on the go.  Available for less than $150 at Guitar Center and Sam Ash stores across the country, the QuNexus (revered and used by bands including Vampire Weekend) may just be the answer parents everywhere have been looking for.

We have a rule that there is no TV or electronics until you practice and the QuNexus makes that possible even when we travel.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: KMI, music, Piano player, QuNexus, review

SleepPhones – The Most Comfortable Headphones I’ve Ever Worn!

September 15, 2013 by Beeb 5 Comments

Sleep Phones

Complimentary Sleep Phones provided for review. This post contains affiliate links.

Music is such a huge part of my life that I am rarely without it. Headphones have been my constant companion, from walking down the street with my Walkman in the 90’s to traveling with my bluetooth headset and iPhone today. I’m not one of those people who is oblivious to others while I’m listening to my music – I don’t wear them at times when my attention could be needed elsewhere; but if I’m on a walk by myself or sitting in the airport waiting for a flight, I will definitely be enjoying my alone time with musical accompaniment!

Having my headphones is a crucial part of traveling for me. Since I do a fair amount of international travel, I find that music is indispensable for not only passing the time, but helping me get sleep on 8-hour flights. It’s also so helpful to me if I am staying somewhere that’s noisy so that I can try to drown it out with something soothing. The most difficult part is trying to get comfortable with my headphones – tiny earbud headphones do not fit in my ears, quite literally; they fall right out when I try to put them in. Apparently, I have funny-shaped earlobes! 😉 So my headphones of choice are these giant ones, which have great sound but aren’t easy to lay down with. As you can imagine, it’s not comfortable to lay on my side with these big headphones, and if I wear them to bed I inevitably wake up in the middle of the night. So when I heard that there were a new type of headphones designed to address this exact problem, I absolutely had to have them!

SleepPhones are a fleece headband that contains two little speakers and can connect to most music players. They were designed by a doctor who dealt with patients late at night and had the same problem I do with trying to get comfortable sleeping in headphones. I was really excited to see how these would feel! The plug doesn’t fit a first-generation iPhone (A common problem for the 3 of us who still own an iPhone 2G!) but fits my iPhone 3GS perfectly. The headband is super soft and cozy, and can be worn on the forehead or pulled down over your eyes. This is my very favorite, because not only does it double as a sleep mask, but I found the sound to be best when worn this way as well! For my first test of these, I simply set my Maroon 5 playlist on shuffle and got nice and cozy listening to my music at bedtime. I can lay on my side and be 100% comfortable. I love it!!

I can’t tell you how amazing this is going to be on my next long-haul flight. When I fly home to England, my goal is to get as much sleep as possible on the plane, since that helps me minimize jetlag. I have to have my headphones so that I can relax and block out the sound from the plane, so after takeoff you’ll see me immediately don my headphones, put on a sleeping mask, and pull up my hoodie if I’m wearing one. SleepPhones will take care of both blocking out sound AND light while being a hundred million times more comfortable than my other headphones, which will in turn make it easier to get into a more comfy position on the seat to sleep on. Oh, and because these are so small and foldable, they’ll be effortless to tuck into my purse, instead of fumbling around trying to shove my giant headphones in my over-stuffed bag like I usually do.

Not to mention, this will be amazing when I have a hard time sleeping at home due to noise, or just regular old insomnia; there have definitely been times when I’ve turned on my own private music to drown out noise from the road, dogs barking, and so on. SleepPhones are designed to help you relax without disturbing others – you know how you can detect a little bit of sound when someone else is wearing headphones? Well, I did notice that these seem to be a little less audible when I took them off and set them on the bed than my other headphones might. I can’t tell you how much less intrusive to others they are, because Jai could sleep through anything and wouldn’t notice a difference, I’m sure. 😉

As for the sound when you are wearing them, it’s great; like a little oasis of music. How clear the music is can depend on how you adjust the headband in order to get the speakers directly over your ears; you can wear it a variety of ways, depending on whether you really want to rock out or want the volume lower in order to drift off to sleep. And of course, music is just the beginning of what you could use with this – I’ve recently been trying to learn more about meditation, and a few months back I tried setting my laptop near the bed to listen to a guided meditation, which wasn’t the ideal setup. Clearly, something like SleepPhones would be perfect for that – they also have a free app with soothing songs and white noise which you can download to drown out the outside world.

This is one of those products that cleverly solves a problem and fills a need for people like me who are inseparable from their headsets. I’m really excited that something like this exists and I’m going to get a ton of use out of these. They would be great for music lovers, travelers, people living on a noisy street, sleep-deprived parents (They were created by a busy working mom!), people with a snoring spouse – the list goes on. You can pick up a pair for yourself by visiting SleepPhones.com – they currently retail for $39.95. Sweet dreams!

Filed Under: review, sleep Tagged With: music

Tips to Get Your Child Interested in the Art of Music

June 26, 2013 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Top 4 Tips to Get Your Child Interested in the Art of Music

Guest Post

The benefits of introducing children to music are well documented, and while many parents are willing to introduce just about anything to help improve their child’s grades, the importance of developing a real appreciation for the art of music goes well beyond academics. Here are four tips to strike a chord with your kids:

4. Invest in Music Lessons

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Image Via Flickr By Zenia

When children are able to pick up a musical instrument and play for themselves, they have an alternative form of expression and entertainment. Not only is it good for their coordination, concentration, and emotional stability, it can also be a great way for them to make friends and socialize. Although instruments can be costly, there are many different options available including renting, borrowing, buying secondhand, and even grants from the school or local council.

If you encourage your child to stick with an instrument, it may evolve into a lifelong passion. Making music with a band or a pursuing a career in music are the positive effects of investing in music lessons.

And don’t shy away because you’re worried about your child’s future if they do indeed choose to become a musician. It’s now easier than ever to market your music online to a huge number of people. A career in music is now a real possibility with modern tools and technology.

3. Attend Live Music Events

Nothing spurs musical interest like taking a family trip to a concert or gig. By taking your child to  many, diverse live musical events you are able to open their ears to the world of music that they often do not get to hear on the radio. Children who attend concerts as they grow up tend to develop an appreciation for a wider range of music, and this can promote both their social and cultural development.

2. Encourage Listening

By playing music in your home when your child is around, they will be able to experience a range of different music styles. Listening to music as a family can help your children to develop their own taste in music based on the styles you introduce. The wider the selection, the better. Make a point to deviate from your personal favorites and include other genres to increase your child’s exposure.

1. Talk About Music

It may sound incredibly simple, but by making a point of talking about music when you hear it, you will help children to develop an understanding of its importance in culture. For instance, if you are watching a film and the music is playing an important role in setting the mood, mention it. Help your children to think about the way it’s being used.

Another way you can get children to appreciate musical instruments is by listening to music with them and getting them to listen for one particular instrument at a time. Have your children focus on the drums and then the guitar or trumpet. When they become accustomed to this, you can turn it into a fun game in which they can take turns picking out the sounds and identifying the importance.

So by following these tips, you should be able to at least engender a deep appreciation for music within your child. And it’s a gift that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. What other tips do you have for engaging your own child in the art of music?

Filed Under: parenting Tagged With: music, parenting

Creeping Into Halloween With Frankenweenie Products Toys and Music

October 3, 2012 by Momstart 7 Comments

Frankenweenie is barking electrifying yips into Claire’s and other stores around you with amazing funk. With books, music, snacks and plush, there is something for everyone. Zoe even loves the girl dog which surprised me a great deal. Black and white aren’t usually her colors.

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After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog, Sparky, Victor Frankenstein harnesses the power of lightning to bring his best friend back to life . . . with a few minor adjustments. Victor tries to hide his homegrown creation in his attic, but when others learn of Victor’s recent hair raising experiment, they too want their pets to come back from the grave! 

Pictured here: Pistachios, A dog collar, plush, sticker book, reading book, early reader, two cds, one inspired by the movie and the other is the Frankenweenie soundtrack. Jewelry, clothing and other accessories can be found at Claire’s.

Frankenweenie Unleashed!

1. Strange Love by Karen O
2. Electric Heart (Stay Forever) by Neon Trees
3. Polartropic (You Don t Understand Me) by Mark Foster
4. Almost There by Passion Pit
5. Pet Sematary by Plain White T s
6. With My Hands by Kimbra
7. Everybody s Got a Secret by AWOLNATION
8. Immortal by Kerli
9. My Mechanical Friend by Grace Potter featuring The Flaming Lips
10. Lost Cause by Imagine Dragons
11. Underground by Grouplove
12. Building a Monster by Skylar Grey
13. Witchcraft by Robert Smith
14. Praise Be New Holland by Winona Ryder

Frankenweenie: The Visual Companion (Featuring the motion picture directed by Tim Burton)

 

The Bridge Direct Frankenweenie After Life Sparky Plush

In Tim Burton’s "Frankenweenie" young Victor conducts a science experiment to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life, only to face unintended, sometimes monstrous, consequences. Enjoy a shockingly fun time reliving the film with this "Frankenweenie" Sparky "After Life" Plush Figure.

Disney / Tim Burton Frankenweenie " Persephone " Dog Plush Doll 12 Inches Long

 

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Just in time for the release of Disney’s new stop-motion animated film, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, this bundle has everything you need for the ultimate movie-going experience. Throw all your stuff in a plush Sparky backpack, then cozy up with a knit trapper hat and convertible gloves. Finally, slip on the 3D glasses and become face to face with the stars of the movie. Watch as the characters come to life and the action unfolds in this heartwarming tale of a boy who brings his beloved dog back to life.

  • Backpack: 18" L x 6 1/2" W x 13" H
  • Knit Hat: 100% Acrylic
  • Convertible Gloves: 100% Acrylic
  • 3D Glasses: 5" L

Filed Under: 2012 Gift Guide Tagged With: Frankenweenie, Halloween, holiday, music, Toys

Christy Nockels New Album Into The Glorious #IntoTheGlorious

April 9, 2012 by Momstart 16 Comments

Have you ever heard that you say what you hear? I know it’s true and it’s true from the moment we start talking. Children are parrots, and even if we don’t realize it we are too. I’ve noticed that when I’m around people that say bad things and use cuss words once in a while one will slip out of my mouth too. I noticed that happening in college and even back in college. Now I try very hard to surround myself with positive people and positive words.

Christy_IntoTheGloriousMy favorite radio station right now is Spirit 105.3, it’s the local FM Christian radio station. We also listen to our very vast Christian CD library. Before we went on the Dave Ramsey financial plan, if we wanted a new music CD we just went out and bought it, now we have to put something into our budget every month. So getting a new CD of music is a very special treat which is one of the reasons I was so happy to sign up for this blogging campaign. Christy Nockels new album Into the Glorious is amazingly uplifting and powerful. I listened to it while I was traveling last week and plan on listening to it again as I travel to Florida later this week. Join Christy here and listen to her tell the story behind the album Into The Glorious:

Christy Nockels – Into the Glorious from sixstepsrecords on Vimeo.

You can also check her inspiration behind the song Ever Lifting:

Christy Nockels – Ever Lifting from sixstepsrecords on Vimeo.

 

You’ll have to read my parenting post, listening to Into the Glorious inspired me to put myself all out there.

 

If you would like to find more information or get your own copy of Christy Nockels NEW Album "Into the Glorious” Check Itunes, Amazon. Follow Christy Nockles on Facebook and on twitter.

 

This post is part of a paid campaign with Momma Findings and I received a digital download of the music.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: cd, Christy Nockels, Into the Glorious, music

Hanes Rewards: Win Tickets to See Train!

October 23, 2010 by Momstart Leave a Comment

imageThe band Train is teaming up with Hanes for a special giveaway! Everyone will receive 5 free points from specially marked Hanes products and can enter to win a trip to see Train live in concert during their 2011 tour. The prize pack includes two concert tickets to see Train, at any venue of the winner’s choice, the opportunity to go backstage and meet the band, and round-trip airfare for two. Winners can also receive two signed copies of Train’s latest CD “Save Me San Francisco”, two Train concert t-shirts, and a one night hotel stay. Follow the link (http://comfortrewards.com/rewards/sweeps/view/27) for a chance to win this special opportunity

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: band, Hanes Comfort, Hanes Rewards, music, Train

Motown meets Corneille

March 24, 2009 by MomStart 5 Comments

Before I even put the cd in to listen to I read Corneille’s story. His story is a very tragic one where he lost his family and his music is where he hid until now.

Corneille was born in Germany, but both of his parents were from Rwanda. He lived in Germany for seven years before meeting his home. He then lived in Rwanda feeling like a stranger, because of his Western upbringing. 10 years after moving there, he was lucky to survive the genocide of 1994. This was when he lost his entire family.

Instead of hating the world he decided to embrace life and the fact that his family showed him nothing but love.

“Music has been the place where i could go to hid and forget about the world. I couldn’t make sense of a majority of the things that happened to me, so i used music as a shield. But over time, music has become a vehicle to channel out everything that I’ve been keeping from myself for all these years. And the new album is definitely the most honest, real assessment of everything that’s happened in my life, because I’m not trying to hide as much.”

So now I introduce Corneille – The Birth of Corneille

CorneilleAlbumartwork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listening to his music, especially the first song Back to Life, I can hear his appreciate for the friends in Germany that took him in after he lost his family. I mean, he has lived his music. He has a soft sound and defiantly fits in with the R&B music style. I have a great appreciate for his lyrics and his music. I think that artists that are truly able to express themselves show true talent.  

Filed Under: cd review, review Tagged With: Motown, music, R&B

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