The balalaika is the quintessential Russian folk musical instrument, easily identifiable by its hollow, triangular body. The soundboard (top of the instrument) is made of a soft wood, usually spruce or evergreen, while the resonator (back) is built from multiple – three to nine – wooden sections, usually maple. Balalaika Family Members of the balalaika […]
Music therapy is certainly one of those professions that can be considered a “calling.” Indeed, it is a field requiring the skill and training of a musician, combined with the clinical instincts of a medical professional, two very different sets of attributes. Tracy Wanamaker, MSEd, MT-BC, has some two decades of experience as both a […]
A guide to this small South American powerhouse If you were to take a mandolin, combine it with a ukulele and maybe toss in some oud or perhaps a bit balalaika, you might very well end up with a charango. So, what’s a charango? This diminutive, multi-stringed, multi-coursed, hollow-bodied axe offers up sweet sounds reminiscent […]
MakingMusicMag.com recently spoke with three open-mic hosts in the Syracuse, NY area about the unwritten “rules” at open-mic, and the benefits that participation offers.
Walk into any music store and you will almost certainly see, besides all the instruments and associated gear, a display of music books. Some might be instructional in nature while others may comprise collections of songs based upon a specific songwriter’s or band’s catalogue, or some other theme. Have you ever wondered what goes into […]
Greetings fellow musicians and music lovers! My name is Tom Wanamaker and I am the new Managing Editor here at MakingMusicMag.com. I am both a writer/editor and a musician, so perhaps I’ve finally found my niche! As a journalist, my experience is considerable. I have written for and edited a plethora of daily, weekly and […]
Alto Key, an independent London-based artist who makes indie/alt-pop music, is a musician whose work has the power to uplift your spirits, punch you in the gut, and squeeze a tear from your heart. He is also delightfully and hilariously funny on his various social media channels, and boasts over 6.7 million likes and 375,000 […]
Avery became involved with the local Syracuse Scottish Pipe Band. He was elected Pipe Major (director) within 6 weeks and has been directing the band ever since (1974). The band was initially a Grade 3 pipe band, but has since become a Grade 4 or 5 band, depending on the playing personnel each year thanks to Head’s influence. Since then he’s taught a number of players over the years, and some of them have developed into very noteworthy players and performers. Further, Avery has competed in numerous solo competitions over the years, and has earned a number of medals.
As an enterprising force in the world of indigenous and exotic instruments, Sandra further engages in collaborations with a many musicians working with diverse genres of music. Sandra goes on to create and personally facilitate musical study trips to different countries — leading people into the heart of individual folk cultures through the music and dance of each country. She strives to nurture a deep love of music and the arts in both children and adults.
Danish electronic musician and author talks with Making Music about creating his ninth book, Pedal Crush How do you write a guitar effects encyclopedia that is exhaustive but not exhausting? You dive down the rabbit hole of guitar stompbox pedals and see where it takes you, said Kim Bjorn, Danish electronic musician and co-author of […]