The Market Outfit

There is actually no official breed called Teacup Chihuahua or Tea-Cup. The name is some breeders came up with for the chihuahuas that are genetically bred to be smaller. This was probable to make the stand out and create more of a personal identity for these small creatures so they would become more valued. As to chihuahuas there are officially only two kinds, Long Coat and Short Coat.

The name teacup chihuahua has become so popular lately though that many are considering this to be a breed of their own. One help in their fame has of course been the celebrity Paris Hilton and her Tinker Bell dog.

These dogs are really small in size and some even discourage breeders from breeding these kinds of chihuahuas, at least the really small ones because they can easily become genetically disfunctional and create medical problems both for themselves and their owners.

The american kennel club in their standards describe as chihuahua as a compact, alert and graceful swift-moving dog that has terrier-like qualities of temperament. So beware that even though teacup chihuahuas can be small in size, their temper can something else.

Most people that buy these dogs though tend to buy them because they are easy to handle. Anytime you buy a dog it is a dog thing to dig into some study of the breed before making a purchase, that will make easier both for you and the dog in the years to come. People who buy dogs only with their eyes often tend to end up surprised or dissapointed when their pet turned out to have different characteristics than what they had expected.

A couple of words of advice if you decide to get yourself a teacup chihuahua is to invest in a coat for your dog. Many times because of their small size and lack of protecting layers of body fat they are vulnerable to cold. Another good thing is to invest in a harness rather than in a collar. This because your friend again can be somewhat fragile around the neck and is often more comfortable being out walking together with you in a good teacup chihuahua harness.

Many people appreciate their chihuahua because it is so loyal and loving. A good thing is to get them used to being with a mix of people early as they might show signs of jealousy later in life. They have also a tendency to be suspicious of people they are not familiar with. But I guess that is many times a human trait as well.

Kari Eriksson is an infopreneur and a dog lover since many years. Lately Teacup Chihuahuas have become a special interest and he operates The Teacup Chihuahuas Directory at http://www.teacupchihuahuasdirectory.com where you can find articles, links and useful resources.

It’s not what you play, it’s how you play it. These words summarize the art of piano playing in general and New Age piano playing in particular. You could take 2 chords, and, if you were in the moment and in flow, communicate the utmost emotion and power.

However, give the same two chords to someone who is more concerned with image than music and the sound won’t have the appeal - the attractive quality that pulls the listener closer like honey to a bee.

The secret is not how much you know or how good you think you can become. No. The secret to the art of New Age piano playing is being able to forget yourself and express yourself without ego. Then you will begin to understand the meaning of art. For it is only when we transcend ourselves does something real appear.

What comes out of you is something from you but it is also something greater - a spiritual something that says, “let go and let the music come of its own accord.” Can you create this kind of music? A music that is subtle yet very powerful. A music that can penetrate to the depths yet still remain lovely and light. Yes, you can do it. The secret? Get out of the way and let the music tell you where it wants to go.

After you learn technique and theory and a little bit of improvisation skill, you will be able to grow and create in proportion to your ability to get out of the way and let the music take over. To do this requires a listening ability somewhat similar to meditation. That is, you must be open and receptive to what comes next - never forcing, never trying to come up with something.

When you are in this listening frame of mind, wonderful things begin to happen. But when you try to create something, you set yourself up for blocks. Why? Because the trying blocks the listening, receptive attitude necessary for improvisation. The key to getting around this is to walk away and come back later. Believe me, you can try and try but if nothing is coming, it probably won’t come at this moment.

Art appears when you are in the moment. The art of New Age piano, like any other art requires you to learn the skills and techniques - then forget about them and begin to play.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music’s online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!