How do I share my iTunes music folder between two macs?

I am running an iMac and a Mac mini on a home network. I want to have both macs use the same music folder, so that I can rip, burn, update, and synch from either computer. My music folder is located on my Mac mini in the usual location.
I went to preferences/advanced on my iMac and changed the location of the music folder to point it to the folder on the mac mini. It then said it was updating the library. I still can't see all of the music that is my folder on the mini, from the iMac.
What am I doing wrong?

No, it's simpler, epecially if iTunes manages your music for you (default).
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with moving just media files as in
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
Quick answer if you let iTunes manage your music:  Copy the whole iTunes folder and all its subfolders and files intact to the other drive.  Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.
I'm not sure abot your model Mac but you might be able to do this with the computer in Firewire Target Disk Mode.
How to use FireWire target disk mode - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661 - includes description of hardware and software requirements.
Target Disk Mode - Mac OS X 10.6 Help: Transferring files between two computers using FireWire - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8443.html

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