June 21st, coined Make Music Day in the US, may soon be the most auspicious day for recreational musicians all across the country. An international celebration that began with France’s Fête de la Musique in 1989, the holiday has spread to more than 460 cities around the world. In North America, Make Music days were […]
Category: Instruments
Manage Your Practice Time
As a partner at the Dallas School of Music (DSM) and one of the founders of the online music site Discover Learn Play (DLP) I get lots of questions about practicing, especially when new students begin at DSM, or online at DLP. Parents want to know how long their kids should practice each day and adult learners are anxious […]
How to Buy a Digital Piano
Graham Howard’s 7 Things You Must Know Before You Buy a Digital Piano is an extremely useful guide that breaks down everything from confusing terminology to simple tests you can do in a piano store before making a decision.
Pedals for Bass Guitar
Effects for bass aren’t as easily identified on recordings or in performance as they are for guitar. That’s mostly because effects pedals are used far less frequently on bass. Distortion or overdrive are probably the most popular and most frequently used. “All Around the World” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is a popular song […]
Facts You Need to Know About Vocal Health
Most singers at the recreational level have had little or no training. But, according to speech pathologist and voice consultant Joanna Cazden, this can put them at risk for vocal strain. “Who would run a half-marathon without learning a bit about running technique and pacing? Singing is equally athletic, just with tinier muscles! But people are […]
September/October 2012
PA Systems How to Memorize Music Bass Guitar Pedals Tips for Vocalists Music Therapy to Treat Parkinson’s Disease Nashville Music Scene Optimizing Your Practice Time
Building Guitars with Dean Zelinsky
Dean Zelinsky Since he first launched Dean Guitars in 1976, Dean Zelinsky has been a go-to guitar guru for some of the biggest names in rock—Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Nancy Wilson (Heart) and Def Leppard to name but a few. Known as the rock star of guitar manufacturers for his innovative use of Playboy models […]
Accordion Chat with Nawal Motawi
“Although we couldn’t afford piano lessons when I was in grade school, my mother bought me a John Thompson beginning piano book so I could learn on my own,” says Nawal Motawi owner of Motawi Tileworks in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recalling her childhood. “My mother also showed me the fingerings, bit by bit, for interesting […]
How to Join a Piano Society
What exactly is a piano society? Is it a club, shrouded in secrecy that requires a hazing or an initiation to join? Do they hold closed-door meetings about Frédéric Chopin and the hidden meanings behind his nocturnes? Not at all, at least not the former, but come to think of it, some may actually do […]
Musical Attractions in Nashville
Although people associate Nashville with country music, the city’s music scene is rich and diverse. Many bluegrass, classical, rock, country, and gospel musicians call the city home. In fact, there are few places in the country that offer the range of musical experiences available in Nashville