Ellington

I don't think I'm great at a lot of things, but I am confident I can do one thing well: make a mixtape or CD. I have spent most of my life learning as much as I can about music and different artists. Because of my lifetime of musical study, I can think of a song for just about any occasion. My wife and I recently developed a road-trip game where she asks me to play a song about something particular, and I must dial it up on the iPod. I'm rarely stumped.

A mix tape is a great Valentine's Day gift to your sweetheart because it's personal. The fact that it's something you made for them shows how much thought into it. Not to mention, mix tapes and CDs are also pretty affordable. You probably already have all the songs you're going to use, and you can purchase a pack of blank CDs for less than five bucks.

Now, before you go slapping a bunch of tunes on a disc, you should consider a few things. Here are some guidelines I use when choosing what should make up my mix.

Pick a theme. This seems simple enough. Since it's Valentine's Day, I'm sure the theme will be "love." Of course, your mix can be whatever you want. However, the best mixes are coherent. Chances are, you'll be using different songs by different artists, so the music should have a natural flow.

Strive for diversity. One of my favorite techniques in compiling a mix is using different genres and styles to keep listeners interested. Try to have a rock song followed by a jazz tune. Try a fast song and then a slower one. Maybe you can have a male singer before a female singer. This method will usually keep the mix intriguing as well as draw the listener in.

Fill it up. A blank CD usually runs around 80 minutes. That means you can include more than an hour's worth of music. Don't skimp and just put five or six songs on your mix.

Start strong/end strong. The first song or two should set the tone for the mix. This lets the listener know what this mix is all about. Once you make your statement, then settle in to the flow of music pertaining to your theme. At the end, go for the fireworks. Put a final song that will leave the listener knowing exactly what you are saying. For example, if you're making a mix for your significant other and you have a "special song," then it might be appropriate to go at the end. It is almost a reward for taking the time to hear your mix.

Make it personal. I believe the listener should know something about me by the end of a mix,. I not only try to include songs or music that I think they will like, but also bands and artists that I like. One of my great pleasures is introducing someone to music they may not know, so my mixes will usually contain a song or two by some of my favorite bands.

Sometimes making a mixtape or CD can be slightly daunting, but if you put the right amount of thought and time into it, you can make something far more lasting than a card or candy.