Music is an everlasting weapon--a tool that when you master, will certainly take you places.

Playing and teaching it requires practice, discipline, time, and skill.

Now there's something else that requires the same kind of focus and effort. This something requires, like learning music, requires focus and practice, but it's something where simply listening to music will help you along the way. 

That is: learning a new language. Larry Ferlazzo understands all of these similarities and uses them to his advantage when he teaches English as a Second Language.  He makes sure music is readily available with his students because as they use those same skills used to learn a language (practice, discipline, time, and skill) they can also use listening to the music they love as a weapon to pick up that language.

Put two and two together and you have something that is completely and utterly rewarding.  

Larry Ferlazzo, an ESL teacher at the Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento and creator of a website and blog that offers amazing tips and suggestions on how to learn English effectively,  already knows how and he's teaching his students and now, teaching us.  Let's see what he has to say. 

Album Name: Orange Days on Lemon Street
Artist: Lex Land
Year/Label: 2009 / Intelligent Noise Records
Lex Land - Orange Days On Lemon Street
Buy at Amazon!

Songs include: voice, acoustic guitar, piano, drums, bass, electric guitar.

Review by Amy Lotsberg, Producer of Collected Sounds

God, I love this record. You have no idea. I love everything about it. The album art, the name, the lead vocals, the melodies, the musicianship, hell, I love the font used on the liner notes. This is MY kind of record. Once in a (great) while I have that thought, ‘why do I keep doing this?’ then I get a record like this and I remember.

Now why would a music theory and production expert like John Jinright, be interested in an Ibanez guitar? Sure, he could be a guitarist.  By why Ibanez?

Apparantly, many years ago, he sold them. Yep, you heard right. John Jinright sold Ibanez guitars to the public and the yearning musician. 

Here, he tells us his story: 

"I was hired right out of college to work at a large regional music dealer in Birmingham, Alabama. In those days, full-line Hoshino dealers sold Korg synths, Ibanez guitars, Tama drums, and Marshall Amps.

Read More

The Guitar Hero series on Jemsite features interviews with guitarists and musicians who may not have star status YET, but their current situations have shaped them to be who they are--determined, fond of their craft, and heroes in their own right.  Perhaps you'll see in these upcoming entries the next Jimi Hendrix, Melissa Etheridge, or Duane Allman.  Or perhaps they'll become household names by doing what they do best--ripping a mean riff!

Jemsite is experiencing a lot of firsts.  We just interviewed a company that has to do with mobile devices and the music industry but are not musicians, teachers, guitarists, or performers themselves.  Now, our first un-guitar Guitar Hero!

Let me explain. Pedro de Alcantara is not a guitarist.  What he IS is a musician that has coached other musicians (including guitarists) with a special technique that he has become an expert in.  

The Alexander Technique, according to Wikipedia, is an educational discipline focusing on bodily coordinatio, including psychological principles of awareness.  It helps to recover freedom of movement, mastery of performing arts, and general self-improvement affecting poise, impulse control, and attention.  Pedro now helps students use this technique to become better musicians.

Holy Mozes! For the first time, we're not interviewing a band or a musician or a guitar player. 

Lucky for you, this company can offer you an amazing way to get the most from your favorite entertainers, whether or not you actually meet them.  

The Mozes network is a great way for musicians to communicate with and reach out to their fans even when their schedule is completely hectic. Using a mobile device, the band can interact with both text and voice. 

The idea has quickly grown to be more successful than any band, singer, or musician ever imagined!

We had the opportunity to interview Mozes VP of Marketing and Communications Greg Estes (who believe it or not has had his own local success in the music industry, playing with a slew of local bands) and he gave us the lowdown on the world of Mozes.

Bobby Disorder isn't your average Guitar Hero.  Not the kind we're used to featuring on Jemsite, anyway.

And yet his humor, unconventional wisdom, and expertise in video games and music have made him an asset to the Audio Porn Central family. 

Audio Porn Central being the ultra sassy music blog dedicated to hot, juicy downloads, comments, and sounds. Don't let the name fool you. It's actually quite intense.  

And Bobby Disorder is actually quite witty. With a name like his, who wouldn't be? 

We had the chance to check out BD and his digs on the Audio Porn site and we liked what we saw so we had to get the goods first hand from him. First up on the list, what makes you think you're cool enough to be a Guitar Hero anyway.  

We liked what we got!