Tracy Silverman: Defying Dogma with Electric Violin (Interview part 2) The first thing violinist Tracy Silverman did was to earn his degree from Julliard. The second thing he did when he graduated was to throw it all out the window and join a rock band…
Pilates for Musicians – What is it? Most people have an idea of what Pilates might be, and usually that idea involves lots of abdominal work in a group class at a gym. While that’s a common misconception, Pilates is a much larger method of movement involving specific equipment, springs, and over 600 exercises, created by a man named Joseph Pilates. While […]
Buffet Crampon’s New GALA Clarinet In 2020, Buffet Crampon decided to pursue the development a new instrument surpassing expectations both by the quality of its French manufacture and its particularly affordable price: the GALA clarinet. Its design takes full advantage of the latest research and is characterized by rich harmonics and an overall balance of the instrument’s range. This new […]
Jeff Stockham’s Past, Present & Future As a Horn Player Trumpeter/hornist Jeff Stockham is well-known to Upstate New York music fans. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and a veteran of the renowned Eastman Jazz Ensemble, his performance credits read like a Who’s Who of the upstate New York music scene. He has performed with the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, Salt City […]
Distortion Packs a Punch! Amps Explained with Christopher Ames; Part 2 Making Music Mag visited with Christopher Ames at Guitar Center where he shares practical insights about distortion with the help of and Orange amplifier, a Marshall amplifier and a Les Paul.
Gideon Waxman’s Ultimate Guide to Buying Cymbals Cymbals play an integral part of a drummer’s set up, and they are a significant investment. With a cymbal purchase, you will have to be completely confident that sound is right for you and your music. They cannot be altered or tuned in the way that drums can. So it’s imperative to invest in cymbals that will compliment the styles of music you play! In this guide I aim to provide as much information as I can about cymbals to help educate you on how to choose the perfect cymbals that are right for you, and what you need to consider when looking to invest in new cymbals.
Tracy Silverman: Defying Dogma with Electric Violin (Interview part 2) The first thing violinist Tracy Silverman did was to earn his degree from Julliard. The second thing he did when he graduated was to throw it all out the window and join a rock band…
The Workings of the Piano: For the Up-and-Coming Pianist If you want to get into playing the piano, it’s a good idea to get a basic understanding of how the instrument works. Before you even sit down at the piano bench, or sign up for lessons, educating yourself about the instrument gives you a base to start from, and may even help you decide if it’s the right choice of instrument for you.
How to Prepare Your Voice for a Live Performance By Stefanie August In my numerous years of working as a nightclub and theater vocalist, I always had to keep my voice strong and focused. We singers must be able to keep from sounding winded while singing, especially if we are dancing or playing an instrument. Below are some best practices for strengthening one’s voice […]
Where Did the Banjo Come From? Here’s a Timeline of Its History The banjo has evolved from its African roots, first as a minstrel instrument, and later as a jazz, bluegrass, and folk staple. At the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, you can see more than 300 banjos – the largest public display in the world. The timeline below includes just a few.
Double Bass Transport The RC Williams Co. dbl Bass Buggie is the easiest way to transport your double bass while maneuvering over most terrain whether indoor or outdoor. This American-made innovation will allow your instrument to stand upright during transport and can easily fit to any size bass from 1/10 to 4/4. Made for use either with or […]
Collapsible Wood Violin/Viola Shoulder Rest The Fiddlerman Collapsible Wood Violin Shoulder Rest includes height adjustable feet for a custom fit and also collapse so the shoulder rest can fit inside almost any violin case. The solid wood body of the shoulder rest is specifically crafted for a warm resonance and is built to last through years of playing. Each violin […]
Need a Gift for the Musician in Your Life? Check Out Our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide The Rite of Spring, A Percussionist’s Guide From the timpanist’s first triplet to the last sforzando G-sharp, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring is a percussionist’s dream. Dueling timpani parts, scraped tam-tam, antique cymbals, and unique bass drum rhythms distinguish the score that changed classical music and percussion writing forever. In this definitive guide, percussionist/timpanist Chris […]
Zither Handcrafted Wood Violin or Viola Stand with Bow Holder Show off your prized instrument in any environment with a finely handcrafted stand. The Zither violin/viola stand is handcrafted using premium solid wood — no particle board or laminate. Each stand is unique in color and grain pattern and has a hand-rubbed natural oil finish. Stands feature the USA-made String Swing cradle, which offers 31 […]
Clef Restorative Cleanser & Polish This instrument polish is formulated to bring back that shine and luster that your violin, viola, cello or double bass once had. It can be used to polish any fine wood finish. Designed by Upton Bass String Instrument Co., this polish is all natural, made in small quantities, and developed to be tough on rosin […]
Win a Pair of JBL Reference Monitors Enter below to win a pair of JBL 104-BT Compact Desktop Reference Monitors with Bluetooth The giveaway is free to enter and runs until July 24. JBL 104-BT compact reference monitors with Bluetooth, the newest models in the 1 Series line, draw from seven decades of JBL Professional engineering. They’re perfect for recording musicians, producers, […]
Distortion Packs a Punch! Amps Explained with Christopher Ames; Part 2 Making Music Mag visited with Christopher Ames at Guitar Center where he shares practical insights about distortion with the help of and Orange amplifier, a Marshall amplifier and a Les Paul.
To Touch Their Harps of Gold 22 Favorite Christmas Carols (arranged for harp) Gary Schocker’s third collection of Christmas carols arranged for solo harp, To Touch Their Harps of Gold, dives deeper into traditional carols across Europe, from Portugal to Scandinavia. This set of 22 carols augments his two previous collections: Joy to the World! (21 Favorite Christmas Carols) and In the […]
Basic Harp for Beginners Want to learn to play the harp? Basic Harp for Beginners by Laurie Riley is a basic, easy-to-understand, step-by-step method about playing the harp. Extensively illustrated, this book is for musicians of all levels, requiring only an interest in learning to play the harp. The material in the book can be applied to any type […]
Writing Well for the Modern Harp As one of the world’s most renowned harp soloists and a passionate champion of new music for her instrument, Yolanda Kondonassis presents a comprehensive guide and conversational text on composing idiomatically for the harp in her work, The Composers Guide to Writing Well for the Modern Harp. The book features 22 detailed chapters on a […]
Following the Star: Solo Christmas Carol Arrangements for Unaccompanied Cello Experience the magic and beauty of the Christmas season with these arrangements of solo, unaccompanied Christmas carols for cello in Following the Star Solo Christmas Carol Arrangements for Unaccompanied Cello by Myanna Harvey. Weaving melodies with lyrical supporting notes that embellish and imply harmony, these arrangements enhance and expand on the well-known carol tunes to make […]
The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece One fateful evening, journalist and pop-music critic Eric Siblin attended a recital of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suites—an experience that set him on an epic quest to uncover the mysterious history of the entrancing compositions and their miraculous reemergence nearly 200 years later. In pursuit of his musicological obsession, Siblin would unravel three centuries of […]
Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass, Vol. 1 It is rare in music pedagogy that something truly revolutionary comes along. Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass Vol 1 by George Vance and Annette Costanzi is the first English language method for beginning double bass to incorporate the innovative division of the bass fingerboard into six positions, developed by renowned French bassist François Rabbath in […]
Dave Sanborn, Legendary Saxophonist, Presents the First Season of His New Show “Sanborn Sessions” Dave Sanborn, the veteran saxophonist, and six-time Grammy Award winner, has announced he will soon present the first episode of his new music show, Sanborn Sessions. The new series is hosted by Sanborn and features a diverse roster of accomplished artists from a variety of genres and generations. In its initial season, Sanborn welcomes Kandace Springs, […]
Going the Distance: Intro to Intervals To confidently identify intervals, you’ll first need to master your understanding whole-steps and half-steps—also known as tones and semi-tones. A half-step (semi-tone) is two different notes with the smallest possible distance between them—for example, B up to C, or E down to Eb. Think of two frets right next to each other on a guitar, or two keys (including the black keys) right next to each other on the piano. A whole-step (tone) is made up of two half-steps—for example, B up to C#, or E down to D…
Clip N’ Save: Understanding Enharmonics Enharmonics are notes that sound at the same pitch but have a different name, such as F# and Gb. Here are a few tips on understanding enharmonics.
Clip N’ Save: Types of Cadences Cadences are chord progressions that either break up or conclude a particular section or piece of music. Here are a few different types of cadences.
What Are Strings Made Of? The Basics of Orchestral String Construction As a string musician, part of understanding your instrument and the sound you want to create includes understanding the strings you put on that instrument. From gut strings to steel core to synthetics, the composition of orchestral strings have changed through the centuries — and will continue to change as long as technology is used […]
Victor Wooten’s Music and Nature Camps Bass, Featured Article, Instruments, Musician Profiles June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 Freddy Villano 1 Comment
Taiko Drumming: Healthy Exercise for Music Makers Drums, Featured Article, Health, Instruments May 26, 2020May 4, 2020 Freddy Villano 0 Comments
Ukuleles that Aren’t Ukuleles Instruments, Other Instruments, Products July 30, 2019July 30, 2019 Freddy Villano 0 Comments
Roland Meinl: The Man Behind Meinl Percussion Drums, History, Instruments June 1, 2019June 5, 2019 Freddy Villano 0 Comments
America’s Capo: The Story of Kyser Capos Featured Article, Guitar, Products March 7, 2019March 29, 2019 Freddy Villano 0 Comments
How to Choose The Proper Keyboard Featured Article, Keyboards June 5, 2015July 22, 2015 Freddy Villano 2 Comments
Portable PA Systems & Their Components Featured Article April 9, 2015April 9, 2015 Freddy Villano 1 Comment
Fishman: The Man behind Acoustic Instrument Amplification Featured Article Sidebar, Guitar, Live Sound, Musician Profiles March 30, 2015May 31, 2019 Freddy Villano 0 Comments
Unique Guitar Techniques Featured Article, Guitar February 23, 2015February 23, 2015 Freddy Villano 0 Comments
Alex Skolnick: A Genre-Defying Guitar Hero Featured Article, Guitar January 1, 2015February 5, 2015 Freddy Villano 1 Comment
