I’ve been trying to improve my singing in various ways over the last couple of years and surprisingly I’ve found that one of the most effective ways to practice (and improve) is by playing The Beatles Rock Band. What I really love about it is that I can also practice my harmonies with it because it has a special harmony mode (unlike any other Rock Band game) which lets you pinpoint the actual harmonies that John, Paul, & George sang in their classic songs.

When using the game for singing practice I think it’s best to go into expert mode and then go into the “training” part of the game so that you can practice a particular part of the song over and over again until you get the notes and the timing exactly right. Of course after enough practice you can move to the regular part of the game to see if you can run up a big score on expert mode over the course of a full song.

I definitely recommend sticking with expert mode because that way you can see how well you are doing, you can see if you’re hitting the notes right on. The other modes are too easy on you and you won’t really be able to tell when you’re off. Although if you are a total beginner to singing and you’re having a real hard time staying in key perhaps you could move it down to an easier level for awhile just to build up your confidence.

The game comes with over 40 Beatles songs to choose from which is definitely plenty to get started with but you should also note that it’s likely that eventually all of The Beatles songs (or at least most of them) will be available for download. As of this writing I believe that Abbey Road & Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (the entire albums) are available to be downloaded along with the songs that come with the game.

Along with practicing my singing, I also practice my drumming with this game. I have read about people who learn how to play the drums on Rock Band really well and then they are actually able to move right over to a real drum set without much of a hitch. Playing the drums on this game I can totally see how that can happen. On expert mode every single drum hit that’s in the song is in the game so if you can hit them all in time on the game then you can do so in real life too. It’s really great practice.

And what sets Beatles Rock Band apart from other Rock Band games when it comes to drumming is that it has a really great drumming practice mode that takes from the most basic beats to much more complex beats and (very importantly) you can change the tempo. You can start off playing at a slow tempo to get it down and then increase the tempo as you improve.

I should also mention that along with being a great way to improve one’s singing and one’s drumming, this game is a whole lot of fun too!

The big 4-0 is a birthday most people live to forget, but if you are throwing an over-the-hill birthday bash for a friend or family member, there are lots of great ideas out to insure that their 40th birthday is unforgettable. Here are some classy and fun ideas to get you in your party-planning grove.

Casino Night. This is a great theme, especially if you and your friends like to play cards or enjoy going to a casino. You can make the invitations look like $100 bills or large poker chips. Encourage all your friends to dress in their finest, and you can serve cocktails and finger foods. You may even consider hiring someone who knows how to deal black jack and Texas hold’em . You can have a buy in and play for cash, or you can just play for fun! However, you and your friends would feel the most comfortable doing it.
The Way We Were. The best way to do it is to have the party center around the era when your friend or family member was born or was a teenager during. If they were born in the 70’s, you can have a 70’s theme birthday party. If they were a teen during the 80’s, why not consider an 80’s themed party? Be sure to have lots of pictures and maybe even show their favorite movie from that era. This theme is guaranteed to have everyone laughing or reminiscing from start to finish.
Game Show Party. What’s your friend or family member’s favorite game show? Why not center a party on that? This is a great theme, because a lot of your favorite game shows are available for purchase in board game form. You can send out invitations that say, “You’re invited to be a constant on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ in honor of Lisa’s birthday!” Your friends and family are guaranteed to jump all over the chance to win cool prizes and celebrate your loved one.
Tribute Band Birthday Party. A great idea is to rent out a local restaurant, hall, or function center and book a tribute band that plays the music of your friend’s favorite 70’s or 80’s band. There are lots of tribute bands that play in honor of bands like ZZ Top, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, or the Beatles. If you aren’t sure how to book them, call up some of your local bars/pubs and see if they know of any tribute bands that play in your area regularly. This will be a fantastic opportunity for you to enjoy some good music and celebrate your friend.
The Gift That Keeps Giving Party. This is a great party theme for the friend that has everything. Have your friend choose their favorite charity, and if they don’t have a charity they give to frequently then maybe you could suggest one like Ronald McDonald House, Susan G. Komen For The Cure, Make A Wish Foundation, or The American Red Cross. After you decide on a charity, you can throw a traditional birthday party but invite all of your guests to bring a monetary donation that will go to your friend’s selected charity. You may even consider providing pamphlets and information about the charity your friend or family member has chosen and maybe decorate using the color that signifies awareness for that particular illness or need.