On June 1, the founders of Keep Music Alive will launch Volume 1 of their new book series, 88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life. 88+ Ways is filled with more than 150 inspirational stories, quotes and anecdotes from musicians, music educators and music lovers from all over the world; their stories are designed to make readers laugh, cry and remember the power of music.Contributors include more than a dozen Grammy-winning and platinum-selling artists, composers and songwriters. Among them are Rob Parissi (songwriter and vocalist for "Play That Funky Music" for Wild Cherry), Bobby Kimball (original vocalist for Toto with "Hold the Line," "Africa," "Rosanna" and more) and Vanessa Carlton ("A Thousand Miles" and "White Houses").

Keep Music Alive was founded last summer to help raise awareness of how important music is educationally, therapeutically and for the overall happiness of society. According to cofounder Vincent James, the organization was created in response to three changes that have made music less valued. They include cuts in music and arts education in schools, fewer venues available for musicians to perform live and the recent changeover to the streaming business model. The latter has affected how musicians and songwriters are paid, and effectively lowered their income potential.

James says, "I really felt we needed to do something to help turn this ship around a bit, so society as a whole will remember how important music really is in all of our lives."

88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life will be available on Amazon.com beginning June 1 and on BN.com shortly thereafter. 88+ Ways was authored by KMA cofounders Vincent James and Joann Pierdomenico. 

For more information, please visit www.KeepMusicAlive.org, call (610) 812-5231 or e-mail.

SOURCE:
Keep Music Alive

April is National Stress Awareness Month and Casio America, Inc.is encouraging everyone to pick up an instrument and play to help alleviate stress. Whether you are practicing scales, playing a favorite song or improvising a tune, incorporating music into your daily routine can help improve physical well-being and shift moods.

Research from Michigan State University (MSU) indicates that listening to music and playing a musical instrument stimulates the production of opiates and endorphins, the 'feel good' hormones in our bodies, which can result in improved blood flow and blood pressure. Further studies from MSU show that listening to music and playing a musical instrument are frequent strategies used to deal with stress[1].

"Music can be an extremely powerful outlet for stress relief and can be used to improve emotional health, whether someone is playing, listening to, or singing along with their favorite tune," said Stephen Schmidt, Vice President of Casio's Electronic Musical Instrument Division. "Casio is proud to offer a variety of digital pianos and keyboards that can help reduce tension and facilitate relaxation. There is no better time than now to start playing an instrument and taking the time to unwind with music."

Casio's portfolio of electronic musical instruments offers a comprehensive feature-set geared to enrich the overall music experience for both beginners and experts. For example, Casio's Privia PX-150 digital piano features a combination of keyboard action and a powerful sound engine to provide a new level of detail, nuance and expression for a superior grand piano experience in the lightweight and stylish design that Privia is known for. Other features of the Privia PX-150 include the following:

• Casio's proprietary sound source, "AiR" (Acoustic and intelligent Resonator), which delivers unmatched realism and detail
• 88-note Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard
• Ebony and ivory textured keys to reproduce the touch feeling of an acoustic piano
• 4 Layer Stereo Piano
• 18 built-in instrument tones including strings, organs, electric pianos and bass
• Duet Mode to split the keyboard into two equal ranges, allowing both student and teacher to use the piano simultaneously

To learn more about Casio's line of Privia digital pianos or full portfolio of electronic musical instruments, please visit www.CasioMusicGear.com. 

About Casio America, Inc.
Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Established in 1957,Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to fulfill its corporate creed of "creativity and contribution" through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit www.casiousa.com.

About Privia
Casio's Privia line of digital pianos redefines the digital piano category with unprecedented sound quality and performance features in stylish, elegant designs that are supremely portable. Featuring superb grand piano sounds and a new Tri-Sensor 88 note scaled hammer action keyboard and some models weighing only 25 lbs., Casio's Privia digital pianos are versatile enough for any home, studio, or stage. The award winning grand piano sound in Privia has been dramatically improved and now utilizes more than three times the memory of the previous generation for a more natural piano tone. In addition, Casio's new proprietary sound source "AiR" (Acoustic and intelligent Resonator) provides unmatched realism, detail and seamless dynamics for a remarkably expressive and powerful performance. For additional information on Casio's Privia digital pianos, please visit www.CasioMusicGear.com.