Summarize the following:
In order to calculate the BPM of a song accurately, it’s important to know how many beats are in a bar (measure). While many songs have 4 beats per measure, this is not always the case. For example, waltzes have 3 beats to a measure. Listen for a repeating pattern of steady beats to try to figure out the number of beats in each measure. As you are counting, pay attention to the strongest beats. This will help you get a sense of when to start over again at 1 (for example, in a 4/4 song, it will feel natural to count “1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4” and so on). Once you have a sense of the time signature of the song, you can easily calculate the beats per minute by counting the number of bars, or measures, that go by in a minute. To begin, start playing the song and begin timing it with a stopwatch at the same moment that you hear the first beat.  You can use a simple hand-held stopwatch, look at a clock with a second hand, or use the stopwatch feature on your phone for this purpose. You might need to practice a few times to get the hang of starting the song and the stopwatch at the same time. As you’re listening to the song with the stopwatch running, make a mark on a piece of paper every time you hear the first beat of a new measure (the downbeat). Stop counting and stop the stopwatch when you hit the 30 second mark. You may end up stopping the stopwatch partway through a measure. For example, you might count 10 and ½ bars. If this happens, indicate on the paper that the final count was for only ½ a measure. After you turn off the stopwatch, count up how many measures you heard. Multiply this number by the number of beats in each measure to find out how many beats there are in 30 seconds.  For example, if you heard 12 measures go by and your song has 3 beats per measure, then the number of beats in 30 seconds is 36. If you ended in the middle of a measure, add however many beats you heard in the last measure to the total number of beats from the full measures. For example, if the time signature is 4/4 and you heard 10 and ½ measures, you heard 40 beats plus 2 more, for a total of 42. Now that you’ve calculated the number of beats in 30 seconds, all you have to do is multiply the result by 2 to get the number of beats per minute. For example, if you counted a total of 36 beats, the BPM of the song is 72. You can also count the individual beats of the song if you prefer, but keep in mind that you will need to listen for the steady beat of the song. For example, if you count every beat and flourish you hear in the song’s drumline, you’ll end up with a lot of extra beats. with 2 songs at once. Even if 2 songs have the same time signature and overall BPM, the beats may not match up exactly. This is especially true when you’re working with live recordings and vinyl instead of digital tracks. Start by taking songs that you know well and that have the same (or similar) BPMs, and listen until you find a good cue to guide you as you sync the songs up.  For example, maybe your B track has a loud bass drum beat on the first beat of each bar. Line up the first beat of the bar you choose with the first beat of another bar in the A track. Concentrate on your cue and listen for places where the beats of the 2 songs no longer line up because of changes in tempo. From there, you can decide on the perfect spot to make the transition from one song to the other. Most DJ software has built-in features to make the beatmatching process easier. However, being able to beatmatch by ear will help you deal with tempo variations the software may not pick up on.

summary: Determine the song’s time signature. Start the song and a stopwatch at the same time. Make a mark for every full measure that you hear in 30 seconds. Multiply the number of measures by the number of beats per measure. Double the resulting number to get the BPM. Practice beatmatching


Summarize the following:
The easiest breathing exercise is to simply inhale, hold your breath, and exhale for longer counts. First, increase your count to 5, then 6, and eventually work your way up to 10. Do 3 or 4 sets of inhales, holds, and exhales for each count. Make sure to maintain the proper breathing techniques by filling your belly and keeping your shoulders down for this and any other exercise. Inhaling for a shorter count and exhaling for longer is great exercise for your diaphragm. Start by doing a few sets of 6 count inhales and 8 count exhales. Proceed to counting to 5 as you inhale and to 10 as you exhale, then gradually work your way up to inhaling for a 2 count and exhaling for a 20 count. Work on filling your lungs with air in a shorter amount of time and controlling your exhale to blow out in a steady stream for a longer amount of time. For this exercise, imagine there’s a candle in front of your face. Your goal is to blow out so slowly and gently that your breath doesn’t make the candle flicker. Fill your lungs with air, then exhale through your imaginary straw until you empty your lungs. Repeat this exercise 10 times. Start adding vocalizations to your breathing exercises. Say “B,” “F,” “S,” and “Sh,“ as you exhale. Extend the sound throughout your entire exhale by saying, “Beee-,” or “Esss-.” Try mixing up your counts for this exercise. Inhale for a 4 count, exhale for 8, then inhale for 2 and exhale for 6. Randomize your counts to mimic how you’d have to switch up your breathing during a song. Hum at a note in your middle register as you exhale. You can also try pronouncing syllables, like “Ba,” or “La.” Extend the sound evenly as you exhale: use your breath to keep the tone and volume steady throughout your exhale. Once again, try switching up your inhale and exhale counts for this exercise.
summary: Increase each of your counts as you practice proper breathing. Decrease your inhale counts and increase your exhale counts. Exhale very slowly as if you were blowing through a thin straw. Add letters and sounds as you exhale. Introduce tone by humming as you exhale.