The Radiance of Knowing

The Chesapeake Bay, with more than two thousand miles of shoreline, is the largest estuary in the world. Despite its size, it is basically a shallow body of water. There are deep spots (some greater than 90 feet deep) but there are lots of spots where shallow-water anglers can enjoy world-class angling.

The upper Bay includes the waters from the Susquehanna Flats to the Bay Bridge. Middle Bay runs from the Bay Bridge south to the Honga River on the east and Solomons at the mouth of the Patuxent on the west. Finally, the lower Bay includes Crisfield on the east and Point Lookout at the mouth of the Potomac on the west including Tangier Sound, to the mouth of the Bay.With the recent cooler temperatures, you would think that Fall was here. It isn’t. There will be plenty od hot days left on the Bay, but Fall is just around the corner, and can be a very productive time on the Chesapeake Bay rivers.

Cooling waters trigger increased feeding activity, so many anglers focus on breaking schools of stripers because it’s visual, and quite productive. In early September, surface breaking schools of striped bass are common in the early morning and from midafternoon to dusk. We catch a lot of 15 inch fish at this time, but larger fish are possible. Small glass minnows, or bay anchovies are the predominant bait at this time, so small lures or flies work well, but recently we have had luck with some Swimbaits, and big Salt water Rat-L-Traps.

Try crank baits such as a Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow or a similar “slim minnow” floater diver. Small spoons like Hopkins Shorties are always good. Soft plastics of all kinds are excellent choices, but a Bass Assassin with a 1/4-ounce head is a favorite of many anglers that fish the bay. When blues mix with the stripers, tie on a 4-inch wire tippet. For the fly rodder, small white poppers are always good, and a 2/0 Clouser Minnow or Deceiver with plenty of flash gets good action.

Some of the best fall spots to try along the western shore in the upper Bay include Abbey Point at the mouth of Bush River. We have always found that an outgoing tide is best here. Pooles Island, off the mouth of the Gunpowder River, has lots of underwater structure and is pretty shallow well out from shore, so be careful here. The area where the Seneca, Dundee and Gunpowder rivers come together is productive most of the year. On the eastern shore, try Worton Point at the mouth of Worton Creek.There’s a lot of structure here, including old duck blinds and piers. Fairlee Creek is a hotspot on the upper eastern shore. Baitfish pour out of the mouth on an outgoing tide.

Bloody Point and the mouth of the Chester River has a big tidal rip and is another community hole type spot that produces. Anglers fishing the middle Bay should try Bay Bridge. The waters around the bridge pilings to the north and toward the eastern side are almost always productive. The western shore has spots with tidal rips, and all can hold breaking stripers. Try Hackets Point, just below the Bay Bridge, near the mouth of Whitehall Creek, and try Tolly Point at the mouth of the Severn River. In southernmost mid Bay, the Solomons area at the mouth of the Patuxent River is a top spot on the western shore.

Just south of Solomons is a series of targets used by the Navy, and a favorite spot for andglers in the fall. Along the eastern shore, Kent Narrows is a narrow cut that joins the Chester River with Eastern Bay. The shoreline nearest the Bay in the Narrows proper is usually the best spot, but it’s hard to fish. The water against the shoreline is a lot deeper than the water between it and the channel, and running aground is a possibility.

Eastern Bay has schools of breaking stripers and sometimes bluefish in early fall. Just drive along and look for gulls, but if you can’t find surface-feeding fish, don’t worry. You can cast around the points, humps and tide rips for both stripers and seatrout. Poplar Island, at the mouth of Eastern Bay, has lots of structure with good fish habitat, but spoil dredging to restore the island to its original size may have had an adverse effect.

For many years, Tilghman Island and the mouth of the Choptank have been fall hotspots. Again, breaking fish offer the best possibilities, and the points at both the north and south ends of the Choptank are usually the best areas. Farther south, the northeast end of Tayplors Island is loaded with timber and underwater stumps. Next up is the Honga River. The mouth of the Honga is a favorite striper spot year-round, but particularly in fall at both the mouth and farther upstream. The shoreline has lots of structure here. The lower Bay’s western shore, from the Potomac to the mouth of the Bay, offers great fishing from mid to late fall. It’s a hotspot for stripers and blues, and in early fall, Spanish mackerel should be plentiful. As the season goes on, and these fish move out, fishing for breaking stripers and blues, and deep-jigging for seatrout gets better.

Along the eastern shore from Crisfield to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, not only are breaking stripers plentiful, but October and early November offer some good structure fishing. Most of the islands have underwater stump fields that hold striped bass. Great Fox Island, south of Crisfield, has stump fields along most of the western side and around the southern tip. Watts island, south of Great Fox Island, offers similar structure along its west side. Smith and Tangier islands, in mid Bay, both have great shoreline structure consisting of undercut banks, shallow flats and underwater stumps. In addition, both islands have channels defined by rocky jetties at their entrances. We have taken decent fish right against the rocks on both tides.

Winter is the worst time for fishing the Chesapeake. However, a few places hold fish, mostly along the western shore. On mild days, you can find stripers around power plants. In the upper Bay, try the Carroll Island Power Plant near the mouth of the Seneca River, or better yet, Baltimore Harbor. We don’t reall prefer these areas, but in the winte, they are one of the few spots that offer some action at time

Spring is when the annual shad run of both hickory and white shad starts in the Susquehanna River, at the top of the Bay and draws anglers from everywhere. Deer Creek and Octoraro Creek, two tributary streams a mile or so below Conowingo Dam, have good runs of hickories, while the main river has both hickories and the larger white shad.

But the main event is the 6- or 7-week catch-and-release season for striped bass on the Susquehanna Flats. Usually beginning about March 15 and ending in early May, this season increases your chance of catching a really big striper on bass tackle. However, heavy spring rains upstream in Pennsylvania and New York can turn the flats into a muddy debris-filled mess; but when the water clears the fishing can be great, as you can tell by some of thephotos here at our site’s album, of the fish caught in the bay. Once stripers complete their spawning in the upper Bay, most follow deep channels to migrate northward up the coast, and are targeted by anglers trolling deep with multi-line umbrella rigs on heavy tackle. A little farther south, the Crisfield area offers the same fishing, and some of the shallow flats around Janes Island and Fox Island offer a chance to take croakers on artificials in shallow water.

Considered a bottom fish, these tough fighters feed in the shallows much like the larger redfish. By early June, seatrout will be available at many areas from the Crisfield area to the mouth of the Bay, and, beginning around Memorial Day, spotted seatrout become the most popular species for many Virginia fishermen. These fish are widespread, but the cuts and channels of Lynnhaven Bay, right below the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, can be a good bet. Tautog are also available if waters stay cool. One popular spot is by the sunken World War II concrete Liberty Ships that forms the breakwater near Kiptopeake Campground near Cape Charles on Virginia’s eastern shore. Any of the spots that produce during the fall will hold fish in summer as well, but if there is one summer pattern to remember it is to fish during the cooler morning and evening hours. For whatever reason, by summer the “sub-aquatic vegetation returns to the popular Susquehanna Flats.

Gone for almost 30 years, largely due to efforts by the state to control the grasses somewhat, the last two years has seen an enormous resurgence. By July, you can practically walk on the stuff, and it’s difficult to work a boat into the area. Because of the grass, the water is clear and full of baitfish, stripers and largemouth bass. Fishing the open pockets is the key to success here. In recent years, croaker numbers have relly gone up, and they are widespread from early June through August around bottom structure.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) is really a 17-mile-long fish structure. The longest bridge-tunnel in the world, it’s undoubtedly the most productive manmade structure in the Bay. Rocky riprap forms islands that support the bridge and the bridge pilings hold fish almost year-round. In all but the coldest weather, striped bass are caught here on large plugs right against the rocky shorelines of the manmade island supports. From spring through fall, a cast right against the rocks will almost always result in a striper. From November into late December (and sometimes later) bigger stripers move into the deep holes to winter-over. You can catch giant fish then, if you can deal with cold, windy weather. Where the bridge is closest to the water, striped bass line up at the shadow line waiting for baitfish to be swept into range. If you anchor up in the shadows and fish uptide, you will actually be able to see the fish take your bait.

A Bay in Peril

Commercial overfishing has hurt many of the Chesapeake’s marine species. Soft-shell clams are gone, oysters are down to about one percent of historical populations, and blue crabs are disappearing.Pollution compounds the problem. More than 150 sewage treatment plants empty directly into the Bay. The Susquehanna River has a large number of non-compliant sewage plants along its 600-plus-mile course through New York and Pennsylvania, eventually reaching the Bay.

The poultry industry, on the Delmarva Peninsula, is America’s largest chicken farm, and thus, adds enormous pollution from chicken waste products into Chesapeake waters. Also, the poultry industry depends on menhaden to produce food pellets for chickens,and menhaden are the sole remaining filter feeder of note in the Chesapeake. In the early 1900s it is estimated that the total volume of the Chesapeake’s water was completely filtered in eight hours by filter feeders-principally oysters and menhaden. Today, the same level of filtration takes more than one year.

Since the oysters are all but gone, the only filter feeders left are menhaden, but relatively few of each year’s hatch make it past Reedville, Virginia, because one company, operating a number of large menhaden trawlers, working together with spotter planes, takes almost 65 percent of the entire Atlantic coast’s menhaden stocks. This does two things. First, menhaden are strictly filter feeders. They swim around in dense schools consuming vast amounts of plankton along with all sorts of detritus. You can’t live without a liver, which pretty much tells you what will happen to the Chesapeake should the menhaden slaughter continue. Menhaden are also the main food fish for striped bass. With the reduction of available menhaden, stripers have turned to other food sources, notably silversides and bay anchovies which lack the oil and protein of the menhaden. As a result, we are now seeing more skinny stripers that are slowly starving.

Gamefish Status for Stripers

Many Atlantic coast anglers feel that nothing short of gamefish status will ensure a recreational striper fishery. Stripers Forever, a non-profit organization, seeks to eliminate commercial fishing for stripers through a federal bill (H.R. 1286) introduced by a congressman in New Jersey. The bill seeks to bring gamefish status to stripers in the extended economic zone, waters more than 3 miles off the coast, and affect time and area closures for commercial fishing methods such as gill netting during the striper migration. Stripers Forever is really trying to help the bay, and if you want more information on them visit www.stripersforever.com

The Chesapeake Bay is our home water, and although we primarily fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass, we must all try to do our part in saving all the species of marine life in the bay, by any and all means necessary. That means getting involved, so we can all enjoy what the bay has to offer for Centuries to come.

Steve vonBrandt

Sponsored by: GYCB (Yamamoto),Okuma, Delaware Tackle, TTI-Blakemore, and Ambush Lures.

Steve is the owner of Reeltime Anglers Guide Service in Wilmington, Delaware, Anglers Radio in Delaware and New Jersey, Reeltimeanglers, Bass Lure Review, and Delaware Tackle in Delaware. He also is a tournament angler and freelance outdoor writer. He has over 40 years of fishing experience in the Northeast, 5 years exp. in California. He has fished freshwater and saltwater since 1962, and has devoted to freshwater only since 1989. http://www.reeltimeanglers.com

Comments Off

Inflatable boats, also called rubber boats or dinghies, have been around in one form or another for thousands of years. They now come in many different sizes and models and include inflatable kayaks, sport boats, and inflatable catamarans. Their versatility and relatively low cost have contributed to their popularity, and more and more water enthusiasts are discovering the advantages of owing an inflatable boat.

Evolution of the Inflatable Boat

Historical records indicate that the first inflatable boats were animal skins filled with air. Over the years, many cultures have created various versions of inflatable watercraft, and in 1839, the Duke of Wellington tested the first inflatable pontoons. In the decades that followed, many new designs were introduced and some of them were utilized by European military forces.

The inflatable boats were used to transport torpedoes and other cargo. They also allowed troops to make discreet landings in shallow water, and their compact size and storability made them easy to bring with, even on overland marches where it would not have been possible to bring a traditional boat.

One of the models, the Zodiac, grew to be very popular with the military and contributed significantly to the rise of the civilian inflatable boat industry, both in Europe and in the United States. After World War II, surplus inflatable boats were sold to the public and the general population had a chance to experience how easy and enjoyable these boats can be.

Since then, inflatable kayaks, sailing inflatables, inflatable canoes, sport boats, and belly boats have been added to the mix. Some inflatable boats run 45 feet in length or more and may include inboard steering, luxury features, and even full cabins. Inflatable boats have evolved so much that today, the only thing inflatable on some boats is the collar around the perimeter gunwales of the deck.

Hull Designs & Types of Inflatable Boats

Inflatable boats come in rigid hull design and soft-bottom style. Soft-bottom boats have floors made of fabric and slats (usually wood) running across the beam. This design is generally found in smaller inflatables ranging from about 6 to 8 feet in length only.

Rigid hulls, or RIBs, were introduced in 1967 by Tony Lee-Elliott and advanced by Admiral Hoare and the Atlantic College in Wales. As opposed to soft-bottom boats, which have a fabric hull with inflatable or wood keels, RIBs have hard fiberglass or aluminum hulls and large, inflatable tubes. This allows for a combination of the best features from both types of boats.

Some RIBs incorporate the V-shaped bow similar to that of a traditional boat. This design consists of a separate inflation tube running the length of the boat beneath the floorboards. Once inflated, it pushes the floor materials down to form the V-shape that helps in steering. The flotation collars on many RIBs are removable, making them easier to store and to clean.

RIBs typically range from 10 to 30 feet in length and are propelled by either by an outboard motor or an inboard motor turning a water jet or z-drive. They were first used as lifeboats in 1970, and later as dinghies or tenders on larger pleasure yachts. Many of today’s sport boats used for fishing and water skiing are made with RIB designs.

Inflatable Sport Boats

Inflatable sport boats generally describe recreational boats that are used for fishing, water skiing, and other activities where a motor is required. Depending on the size of the craft, an inflatable sport boat can be used with a motor that generates up to 40 units of horsepower They can be deflated and packed away for easy transport or used with a trailer to avoid having to inflate at each use. Inflatable sport boats typically cost much less than their traditional counterparts and, because they are lighter, use much less gas.

High Performance

Several companies also make high performance inflatable boats that are used for racing, rescue, and other activities where speed is essential. These high performance boats generally have additional inflation tubes that lift the boat up off the water and create additional hydroplaning effects. They typically use larger motors, sometimes up to 400 horsepower. Because of their speed they are more difficult to navigate and require an experienced captain.

Inflatable Canoes, Kayaks, and Other Personal Watercraft

On the flip side are the inflatable canoes and kayaks that rely on human power and are used by one or two people at a time. These watercraft often look similar to their traditional counterparts, but have inflatable bodies, making them much lighter and easier to transport. They are often less expensive as well.

In more recent years, inflatable sailboats and inflatable catamarans also have been introduced. They usually range from 12 to 14 feet in length and, like inflatable canoes and kayaks, only accommodate one or two people.

Belly boats are yet another category of inflatable personal watercraft. These floats are sometimes called pontoon boats, but are not to be confused with the large, flat-bottomed craft often seen carrying large numbers of people on area lakes. Belly boats were specifically designed to be used for fishing and often look like floating donuts with a seat. Some may have two small pontoons with a seating area suspended between. Most are less than eight feet long and have room for just one person.

Yacht Tenders

Falling in between inflatable kayaks and other personal watercraft and the larger sport and performance boats are the Yacht Tenders. These are typically inflatable boats that range in length from 6 feet to 20 feet and, as the name implies, they are often used as lifeboats and runabouts on larger vessels. Yacht tenders can also be used for fishing, general boating, river rafting, and other activities where a motor is not essential. Many tenders can be paired with a small electric motor if needed.

These categories of inflatable boats provide a general overview of the choices available. There are many variations and unique designs within these categories. In addition, some larger models of inflatable boats have inboard steering stations, cabin areas, and other features similar to traditional yachts.

As the inflatable boat industry continues to advance and grow in popularity, we are likely to see many new and innovative designs in the future, providing even more opportunities to find the inflatable boat that fits perfectly with your budget and boating needs.

About the Author:

C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Inflatable-Boats-N-kayaks.com, providing consumer information on

inflatable boats and

inflatable kayaks. She and
her family make frequent fishing trips to Canada’s backcountry. The numerous
portages required to reach some of the smaller lakes have made her especially
appreciative of the lightweight, compact design of the

inflatable dinghy.

Copyright 2005 Inflatable-Boats-N-Kayaks.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if the
author’s byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

Comments Off

Halloween and fly fishing may seem like an odd mix, but not for true anglers. Yep, I’m talking about the ultimate test of your abilities and nerve.

Dracula’s River

Okay, everyone knows the story of Count Dracula. The book is huge and has been turned into more than a few scary movies. The one the frightened me the most was the recent edition in which Keanu Reaves attempted to speak with an English accent. Truly scary. Anyway, the interesting thing about Dracula is that it is based on a real person.

Vlad the Impaler was a nasty man by any definition. By Vlad, I mean the Romanian Prince, not the Angels outfielder that blasts home runs…except in the playoffs to my dismay. With a nickname like “Impaler”, I shouldn’t have to recite his resume, but will mention that he had a thing for long sticks with one end buried in the ground and the other end sharpened to a point. It was very wise to stay on his good side - “Vlad, did you lose some weight?” and so on.

Vlad ruled Romania during his reign and was such an enthusiast for impaling that those in the lumber business look back upon him with sighs of happiness. As anyone knows from the book, Vlad had his home office at Bran Castle in the Carpathian Mountains although he maintained branch offices in London. In fact, the castle stands today and you can spend your hard earned tourist money strolling about the grounds, buying fake fangs, garlic and so on. What isn’t widely known, of course, is Bran Castle was never the home of Vlad, who apparently didn’t care for the overly religious décor and garlic garden in the backyard.

The true home of Vlad the Impaler is Dracula Castle, which sits on the Arges River. The castle is not a hot tourist destination. Perhaps this is because the only things left are a few stones sticking out of the ground. Nonetheless, below the castle runs the Arges River.

Known in antiquity as the Ordessus, this is the spot where Vlad did some of his top-notch impaling and supposedly tied a unique fly or two. Even after all these years, the fish remain influenced and it takes a brave angler to hit the spot.

Body armor, garlic and a shield are not typical equipment for fly fishing. If you’re going to fish with Vlad, however, each is a must. The fish are odd. The locals with missing fingers and hands will fill you in. The “Impaler Pike” is known to react to being hooked by accelerating towards the angler and leaping from the water in the direction of one’s nether region. The Arges Cutthroat, of course, needs no description, but the Big Macks definitely give rise to the need for garlic. Finally, the Vlad Muskie can be caught, but an older gentlemen with only one ear suggested this isn’t necessarily a good thing. All and all, one doesn’t so much catch a fish below Vlad’s castle as survive the experience.

You may be wondering about the best flies to use in such circumstances. The old stand by Woolly Bugger? Perhaps a Clauser’s Minnow? Nope. According to locals, just nip a finger, rub the blood on a hook and off you go!

Happy Halloween!

By the way, you really can fly fish on the Arges below Vlad’s true castle. No armor needed, but garlic keeps the mosquitoes off.

Little blood suckers.

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Fly fishing journals are great fly fishing gifts for anglers and fly fishing trips and vacations. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more fly fishing articles and stories.

Comments Off

Choosing a good rod is a major decision for the fly fishing angler.
Shopping for that new rod can also be allot of fun. But how do we know what the right rod is? Here are some tips to help you make your purchasing decisions.

Fly rods are about the action, casting speeds, weights, and many more factors. You generally want a soft or slow casting rod. Softer is often better because the line will land in the water with less impact. The faster your rod is the harder the impact.

You need to purchase a rod that suits the type of fishing you do. If your into bass fishing you will need a strong rod and one that’s longer. Fishing for more active fish will generally require a much stronger and longer rod.

Shorter rods are great when your around trees and objects. You need a much shorter length in order to avoid getting caught in objects.

If you like to fish where there is lots of action and rough waters your going to need something that is much heavier. This will provide a much faster casting speed. The only problem with this is that its not beginner friendly. If your new to fishing start by fishing for small fish in a calm environment.

These are just some beginner tips for choosing the right rod. Remember to ask the stores sales person when buying your rod. If you plan on buying one online most stores have guides to help you with your decision. Don’t be afraid to email them with a question either. Most online stores will be happy to respond.

Tyler Casselman Reviews fly rods at Fly Rods Guide.

Comments Off

How come most resolutions don’t survive past Valentine’s Day? What gives a few determined people the will to continue, while so many drop off at the sidelines? How can you make sure that you will have the “right stuff” to stick to a resolution?

Being from the health / fitness / wellness industry, I have seen droves of enthusiastic and health minded clients come through the doors in early January. Within a month, or two, many of them were gone. When I worked at Ocean State Fitness, some of the personal trainers would bet on the odds of a client making it to February.

Below, I have outlined a preliminary game plan for anyone who wants to succeed at anything. This doesn’t just apply to fitness, body building, weight loss, Yoga, martial arts, or quitting smoking. The principles below apply to everything you can attain in life.

Write your resolution down, and put it somewhere you will see it every day. If you plan on a New Year’s Resolution, do it as soon as possible. Plan it out in your mind and understand that you will be at a few parties between now and then.

Design a realistic short-term goal and a long-range goal. Be prepared for some set backs, pick yourself up, and move forward. For example: If you made a resolution to lose weight, do you think you will eat perfect all year. There’s going to be at least one kind of junk food you will crave.

The worst thing you can do is get depressed over being human. If you overate, smoked a cigarette, or drank too much, get back into your new healthy lifestyle right away. Eventually, you will be less self-indulgent, but remember, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

The biggest difference between people who persist, and those who don’t, is consistency. You won’t see any big changes in your health in a single day, so don’t beat yourself up over skipping a workout, unless you make it a trend. If you find yourself having trouble, get professional advice.

Talk to your family physician, consult a personal trainer, Yoga teacher, or life coach, and adjust your plans to fit within your lifestyle. Talk is cheap, so make a plan, and take action based upon what you learn. Maximize your potential by using the knowledge that you pay for.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Comments Off

What if the human raced evolved to the point that they understood that killing ones own species sets a very bad precedent? What if we could use some other method to solve impasses of nation state’s political will in negotiations? What if we declared wars on things, which are not threats of mankind against it’s own but rather events occurring against all nations and all peoples? What if we declared war on the short water supplies or a war on Poverty and human rights abuses? What if we simply said we have had enough of these Typhoons and Hurricanes and declared World War III on Extreme Weather, which kills tens of thousands per year? Declare War on the Weather; a genuine Herculean effort to stop Hurricanes like Katrina, Wilma, Andrew and Rita and a commitment to the human race to win that war once and for all?

How about a war on Cancer? What about a war on the confines of Gravity on our species, freeing us from being imprisoned on this little oasis and allowing us to travel the solar system and beyond? Why not declare a war on the issues, which truly plague us all? A war on Earthquakes and vibrational anomalies, which cause them and trigger Tsunamis, could be a start. We can start by declaring a war on lack of knowledge that affects the safety of the people and search for ways to predict them and eventually stop them.

We can still build weapons of war, but let’s pick a common enemy to build our team. Let’s pick those things, which threaten all life on Earth, things such as Asteroids hitting the Earth or plagues destroying populations. We can win these wars if we work together, without repeating the death and destruction of the past and we will be all the better for it. Think on this tonight, we can do this.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Comments Off

About the time of the American Revolution, European society was also changing. In the arts, the simple lines and elegance of the ancient Greeks and Romans were being used by artists, architects and composers. Like the architecture of this time, music of the Classical period presented clean lines and was uncluttered and balanced in form.

This was in contrast to the Baroque period that preceded it with exaggeration and complex detail that glorified those who paid for it - kings, queens and wealthy business people. During this period of Enlightenment the political rallying cry was Jean Jacques Rousseau’s “Back to nature.”

Western History, Greek democracy, and the Roman Republic were seen as models for the new age of Enlightenment. Eighteenth century artists and musicians were inspired by the ideals of beauty, order and simplicity from this ancient time, and tried to return to those ideals.

This philosophical movement originated in France by those who wanted to build systems of government free of tyranny. It was an important time that restored government to a process allowing for creativity and diversity. It was under this influence that the American Revolution was born. Eventually victory over the British created a new country, the United States of America, founded on the idea that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, America’s Independence Day. Powerfully written by Thomas Jefferson, it expressed the ideals of the Classical period and inspired the French Revolution (1789-1799).

The composers of the classical period were Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), and early works by Beethoven (1770-1827). Some historians include music by all composers from the mid-1700s to the early 1800s as part of the Classical period.

During this time changes in the political structure of society allowed for the emergence of a wealthy middle class who could afford to buy concert tickets. This meant that composers no longer had to rely on rich patrons for financial support. They began to market their music to a larger audience who enjoyed simpler melodies they could remember. Composers gained popularity by writing music that would be easily identified with their name. It was during the classical period that the Sonatina, or “little” Sonata, was perfected.

With a Main Theme, followed by a Variation of this theme and finishing with a restatement (or Recapitulation) of the theme, it was simpler and more memorable than the longer Sonata Form. A favorite of piano students today is Muzio Clementi’s Sonatina, Op.36, No. 3.

Playing sonatinas is a great way for piano students to appreciate simplicity and the spirit of creativity that inspired the emergence of free nations.

Here is a quote from a Greek philosopher, Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

“Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it.”

So, take it from this wise guy - Encourage your students or children in piano to play piano sonatinas, and develop simplicity and creativity in their playing - and their character!

If you or a piano student you know would like to learn more about the Classical period, email cindy@tallypiano for a bibliography of music history literature written for piano students.

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

Comments Off

When you are just about to start to play cricket it’s not always easy to decide what you need to obtain. If you go into a sports retail shop and ask them what you require, you will in all probability finish up coming out with a great quantity of kit. So, it’s sensible to fathom what you will require ahead of you going shopping. That way you are considerably more likely to find what you demand, as opposed to what the shop manager suggests you need.

Below, is more or less a meticulous cricket equipment inventory, you do not require to get all the gear on this list, as several organisations will loan you equipment in particular at youth level:

Cricket whites, cricket bats, balls, helmets, gloves, batting (wicket keeping) inner gloves, wicket keeping gloves, batting pads, wicket keeping pads, box, chest pad, arm guard, inner thigh pad, cricket boots (bowling boots; batting boots), box (groin guard), stumps and bails.

For most cricket meetings you will ever participate in you will need to have your own set of whites. Cricket whites include white cricket trousers & a cricket shirt. It is therefore important to ensure that you purchase a correct pair of cricket trousers & also a good white cricket shirt & jumper as it can turn pretty cold if you are standing out on the pitch for a long time especially if you are going to play in England (the start and end of the season are the coldest). For the best deals on cricket equipment supplies, take a look at Sportswear-Equipment.com today.

If you can not rent kit from your club the other most critical items of equipment are a cricket bat & box. A good quality cricket bat is vital if you want to score a lot of runs & is a very personal piece of equipment, spend a few hours choosing your bat, ideally you would be advised to go to a store & test drive one before you buy so you know how it feels to hit with. When you know what you want you can often procure bats online a great deal cheaper). You need a good box to guard your groin from the ball, as getting hit down below’ is awfully painful, so investing in a good box before you start is a must - you can’t bat without one.

Related topics of interest include: F1 Merchandise & Toys.

Comments Off

Lately many people prefer getting their swimwear on the Internet; buying online is a very easy & appropriate way to shop in the warmth of your own home.

It’s imperative to check whilst acquiring swimwear online that it defiantly fits you perfectly. When you get swimwear on the World Wide Web always make sure that the store offers a useful quality sizing chart that highlights all of the sizes you need. With the help of a sizing diagram one can make sure to get a swimsuit or bikini that fits precisely, so reducing the need to exchange for an alternative size. The Majority of the online swimwear retail shops don’t agree to an exchange of goods so it’s always better to opt for a store where exchanges are allowed. Many online shops will accept the returns of swimwear if the tags & the original wrapping are also returned along with it.

Swimwear is an expected factor of the summer; nevertheless a substantial majority of full-figured females feel intimidated at the ideas of shopping for swimsuits & bikinis that fit properly. These women even think about wearing caftans by the swimming pool or at the beach rather than looking unpleasant. Designers and shopkeepers have indentified the fashion issues of the larger woman, & are at last beginning to feature a wide range of stylish bathing suit designs in XL sizes, & one of the best places to unearth such swimwear is to buy swimwear on the World Wide Web. Find eye-catching and sexy embroidered open thongs, rio bikins and beautiful g-strings from Lola Luna.

Comments Off

In this article we’re going to visit with a psychic who is still alive and predicting today. Her name is Elizabeth Baron.

Elizabeth Baron was born in Tennessee. She was an orphan as her father shot himself right in front of her when she was just 5 years old. During that same period she successfully won her fight with cancer, a tumor under her tongue, by laying her hands on local ministers in her neighborhood. At least that’s how legend has it. Supposedly, it was during this time that she got her gift of being able to look into the future.

Her mother died when she was a very young child and after than Baron was bounced around between 15 different foster homes as she was growing up. She has said many times that all the pain she suffered during those years was God’s gift to her in that it made her have compassion and empathy for others and prepared her to become the medium that she has become today. It is said that she can lay down on a couch, go into a deep sleep and give messages to up to 150 people at one time in her sleep.

After she graduated Crandall Business College with honors, her first job was working for the director of military personnel at the 14th air force. After that she worked for the Deputy Base Commander at Robbins Air Force Base as a secretary. While she was there she worked with prisoners of war from Germany. She also did schematics for the Jupiter space program that sent the first missile into orbit.

She moved to Chicago, Illinois at a very young age and took a job where she eventually became Assistant Advertising Manager for a private brand hosiery manufacturer. While she was there she met with executives from many magazines such as Vogue and Town and Country to try to get advertising for her company’s products. Eventually, with her husband who was a war hero, she opened up her own search firm and became President and CEO of two firms for 14 years where she oversaw 35 employees, most of which had masters degrees.

However, it wasn’t until a bitter divorce and being beaten half to death in a gang rape that her life really changed. While she was hospitalized after the attack, a spirit in white, who she believed to be God, came to her and said, “Come upon the mountain with me. It is time to do your mission. Remember, you gave your life to me when you were 13 years old.” It turns out that when she was 13 years old she gave her life to God, asking him if she could be one of his missionaries for life. At first she told the spirit that she wasn’t worthy but the spirit told her to let him decide if she was worthy or not.

The rest, as they say, is history. From that point she began teaching and counseling people all over the world. Today she works with people from TV executives to CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and is one of the most respected psychics in the world.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Psychics

Comments Off