The Best Free Training

Hurry! These gifts will be gone by the end of the 2008 Holiday Season!

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Topic: The origins and evolution of Aaron Copland’s uniquely American musical sound
Format: Interactive website with narrated slides, musical samples, archival photos, and unique, “clickable” time line
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

From the website: “Explore the sights, sounds and influences that brought Copland to write music that gave Americans a sense of their own identity and created a truly American sound. With excerpts from the original 13-instrument version of Appalachian Spring.” This interactive website is fascinating, fun, and inspiring. It’s beautifully produced, with clean visuals and a surprising collection of musical samples that allow you to hear the musical roots and traditions from which Copland’s powerfully American masterpieces were created.

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Are your kids complaining they have nothing to do this summer? Then get them online and connected with one of these great free learning challenges! In this post, you’ll find links to reviews of 40 free training items that will blow away their summer boredom. Items are arranged in these categories:

• Get Up, Get Moving & Do Something
• Beef Up Your Computer Skills
• Do Some Research
• Use Your iPod & Learn Stuff
• Play Some Games
• Learn a Language
• Take Some Academic Challenges!
• Learn to Handle Money

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Topic: Popular music, including performing, producing, and the music business
Format: videos, MP3s, print articles, diagrams
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com
This is a collection of introductory lessons related to all aspects of the popular music business. This includes performing, producing, music production technology, writing and arranging, improvisation, and careers in music. (Continued in Comment.)

Topic: How to create and edit a podcast
Format: Printed lessons with videos & opportunities for discussion [free registration required]
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

[NOTICE: On April 18, ‘08 CNET announced that it would end its free online courses May 1, 2008. The content of this training, however, may remain in CNET’s Tips & Tricks section. Click here for more information.]

Six detailed lessons, from CNET, developed by an expert: 1-Getting Started with Podcasting, 2-Plan a Podcast, 3-Podcast Recording Software, 4-Record Your Podcast, 5-Edit Your Podcast, 6-Publish & Test Your Podcast. Quick, easy lessons provide all the info you need to create you own podcast. (Continued in Comment.)

Topic: basic guitar, beginner’s guide to playing the guitar
Format: videos, print articles, photos, diagrams
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

If you are an absolute guitar beginner — you just bought your new guitar and need to learn how to hold it, tune it, pick it, and get started making music — then this training is for you. Clear, simple, professionally produced videos and supporting info make getting started easy! (Continued in Comment.)

Topic: How to obtain, convert, and distribute digital music (mp3 files, etc.) throughout the home
Format: Printed lessons with graphics & opportunities for discussion [free registration required]
Reviewer/email: Mike G – greers_pm@yahoo.com

[NOTICE: On April 18, ‘08 CNET announced that it would end its free online courses May 1, 2008. The content of this training, however, may remain in CNET’s Tips & Tricks section. Click here for more information.]

Six lessons, from CNET, developed by expert Brian Fenton: 1. Digitize your music collection, 2. Organize your music and burn mixes, 3. Optimize your computer for music, 4. Digital music in the living room, 5. Digital radio, 6. Fun with audio editing. (Continued in Comment.)