This fall, Callum Hilton will join the ranks of some of Britain’s finest musicians, from theatre actors to classical instrumentalists to popular radio presenters, as a student at the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. But one thing sets him apart. The boy from Denton, Manchester is only eight years old, and he learned most of the craft on his own.

Callum began playing the piano at age five and became a self-taught expert in almost no time. He taught himself by ear, not being able to read music yet, and learned impressively fastHe couldn’t read music, so he taught himself by ear. He later began piano lessons with tutor Benjamin Powell, who said he was “one of the most remarkable young students” he had ever taught.

This year, Callum became one of only a handful of young musicians, many of them armed with years of professional training, to win a scholarship to Chetham’s. He will be studying the piano and the cello starting in September. For the moment, he is a student at Manor Green Primary School in east Manchester.

His natural talent came as a surprise to his parents, who said no one in the family had the slightest inclination to music. His mother Tracy admits they had no idea where Callum got the interest or the talent, but both parents fully support their son’s passion.

Callum says he is looking forward to beginning his music studies. He says he would like to learn more about music and composition, perform in concerts, and meet other musicians. All students at Chetham’s study at least two instruments and are required to attend choir practice. The school holds regular concerts at the neighbouring Manchester Cathedral, and its ensembles have repeatedly won awards.

Chetham’s School of Music, known colloquially as “Chets,” is located in the Manchester city centre and accepts students aged 8 to 18 years old. Founded in 1969, the school boasts a long list of notable alumni, including rock musician Mike Lindup, choral director David Hill, pianist and music professor Stephen Hough, pianist Peter Donohoe, and jazz musician Gwilym Simcock.

Admission to Chetham’s requires an audition in which aural awareness, sight-reading ability, and creativity are taken into account, alongside ability in playing a musical instrument. Despite admitting students solely on musical talent, the school receives high academic rankings compared to local and national schools. Most students go on to study at top music conservatories in the UK and abroad, or pursue higher education at leading universities.

For over 50 years now, early summer in Pittsburgh has been marked by the Three Rivers Arts Festival—a series of free live music events that pay tribute to the state’s musical traditions. This year, the event is sponsored by the Dollar Bank and will be held from June 3 to 12 at the Point State Park, located in downtown Pittsburgh.

The 2011 event will have the most “eclectic and dynamic” selection to date, according to Pittsburgh Cultural Trust president J. Kevin McMahon. So far only the headline artists who will be playing on the Dollar Bank Main Stage have been announced, but Mr. McMahon says there will be more exciting announcements in the next few weeks.

Dollar Bank, which operates throughout northeast Ohio and southwest Pennsylvania, is a longtime supporter of cultural events in Pittsburgh. The bank’s president and CEO, Robert P. Oeler, said the festival is a hallmark event in the city and part of its summer tradition.

The Three Rivers Arts Festival was founded by the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Women’s Committee in 1960, and has since presented more than 10,000 artists, musicians, and performers. In 2010, its 50th anniversary, it became officially part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Now in its 52nd year, the festival draws thousands of visitors every year, particularly to Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.  The Dollar Bank Stage has hosted the event for the last several years. Part of the Dollar Bank’s vision, according to Mr. Oeler, is to keep top-quality arts and culture affordable in the area.

Other sponsors include Giant Eagle, Duquesne Light, Port Authority, and World Environment Day. There are also individual and corporate donors, including the Colcom Foundation, the Buhl Foundation, the Grable Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Besides music, the festival also puts dance and visual arts on center stage. There is also an Artists Market, a perennial favorite featuring some 300 artists selling prints and original handmade art. Thousands of artists apply to display their art every year at what Sunshine Artist magazine named one of the top 50 art events in the country.

As per the tradition, all the performances at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival are open to the public. All the concerts kick off at the Point State Park at 7:30 pm, except for the Sunday numbers which start at 6 pm. More information on the festival will be released starting next week.

Blues Music, especially live blues music has a rich history in America, particularly with African American history.  Singing the blues was often a way to deal with adversity, regret or lost love and most blues music had its origins on plantations in the south of America during the early 19th Century.  Blues music was sung by the African Americans who worked in the cotton and vegetable fields and from there moved up the Mississippi Delta to influence other areas of America, namely New Orleans the birth place of jazz music.

Blues music can move the listener from great  joy to deep sadness unlike any other form of music which is why many people enjoy learning the blues and especially watching when performed live in great music venues.  The United States has many of the best live blues music venues with the top venues listed below.

McKenna’s Blues, Booze and BBQ is a great local hangout located in Omaha, NE which combines the smooth New Orleans Blues with great BBQ food such as steaks, ribs and chicken.  This venue gets great reviews due to the quality music as well as the friendly staff and the excellent food.  McKenna’s Blues, Booze and BBQ is open late all week and weekends with quality musicians playing long into the night.  This place is defiantly worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Danny’s Blues Saloon is another great live blues venue located in Oklahoma City, OK which is rated as the number one blues venue in this city.  The Saloon hosts live music every night of the week and features a great mix of local and international blues music performers.  This venue also has a house band that performs nightly and a Sunday night jam session that draws performers from all over the US as well as large crowds to match.

B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grille is located in the theatre district of New York, NY and this excellent venue attracts people from all over to experience a tribute to the blues legend B.B. King.  The music that is featured at this venue includes everything from blues, jazz, blue grass and on some occasions heavy metal.  This mix of music means that every night is a new experience and the venue hosts everything from tribute bands to live gospel music on a Sunday.  The food at this club has a home cooked feel and is second only to the entertainment on offer.

Click here if you want to learn how to play blues music.

New York has some of the best piano bars which range from the sophisticated to the more casual sing along friendly.  Piano bars are located all through the city so even the most hard to please person will find a great place to spend an afternoon or evening.  Below I have featured five of the best piano bars that are located in New York City.

The first of the piano bars is the Bemelmans Bar which is located on the upper east side on Madison Avenue.  The bar is named after the children’s author and the atmosphere in this venue is very classic old style New York.  A visit to Bemelmans Bar is definitely a must for anyone that is looking for a great venue to have drinks with friends in a friendly atmosphere where they can enjoy some quality entertainment.

Don’t Tell Mama is a great piano bar located between 8th and 9th Avenues.  This venue features a great variety of live jazz and the opportunity to sing along as well as featuring musicals, comedy and vocal groups.  Don’t Tell Mama is not your typical piano bar but the atmosphere, staff and the musicians are excellent.  This bar is defiantly worth a visit if you are in this area of the city.

The Duplex is one of the more popular piano bars in New York and is located on Christopher street in West Village.  This piano bar attracts people from all walks of life and has hosted stars such as Barbra Streisand, KT Sullivan and Lea Delaria.  The entertainment at the Duplex gets going at 9pm most nights with the staff performing and providing the opportunity for open mic performances and requests.

The Top of the Tower Piano Bar has the atmosphere of a relaxed piano bar with the advantage of a stunning view over New York city.  The bar is located on the 26th floor of the Beekman Tower Hotel and is open daily until quite late.  The Top of the Tower Piano bar is a great place to come to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, take in the art deco inspired furnishings while listening to great live music over a few drinks.

Brandy’s Piano Bar, located between 2nd and 3rd Avenue New York, is a lively venue where many patrons visit to have a drink and participate in the entertainment.  The piano bar area has a great ambiance and expect to be involved in the singing if you visit this bar.  Brandy’s Bar is open late and host all type of clientele looking for a great night out.

There is nothing better than seeing your favourite musician or band performing a live gig.  The excitement of securing a ticket to the event through to the anticipation of their appearance on the stage while you jostle for a position in the mosh pit with ten thousand of your closest friends.  Or it could be the intimate performance that leaves you with that hair standing on end feeling after witnessing something special. Whichever of these categories that you fit into it is generally the venue that helps your favourite musician or band provide a truly memorable performance.

The features of a venue that will provide the musician or band with the best possible sound are the same regardless of the size of the venue or the type of music being performed.  The best venues are the ones that generate a great sound, have adjustable lighting, have a great view of the stage from all areas of the audience and have some history or vibe about the place.  The United States has a long list of great venues scattered throughout the country which showcase live music at its best.  These venues include but is not limited to the following and feature both outdoor and small intimate venues.

Smalls Jazz Club which is located in New York is one of those venues that provides that special intimate feeling with great acoustics and live music nearly every day of the week and weekend.  This jazz club is located right in the heart of New York and is one of those venues that was just meant to have live music.

The Great American Music Hall is another of these great venues that only seems right if there is live music.  This venue has a rich history of live performances and fits into this category of great live music venues due to the great sound, the practical size and the history that is associated with the music hall having hosted the likes of Duke Ellington and Van Morrison.

One of Americas best outdoor live music venues is the Hollywood Bowl in California.  This venue provides concert goers with great acoustics and a fantastic view of proceedings on stage.  The Hollywood Bowl was opened in 1922 and has hosted countless concerts and shows with its distinctive shell like structure over the stage ensuring that the live music is heard at it best.