Nela Rubinstein was married for 50 years to one of the greatest pianists of all time, Arthur Rubinstein, but in the years after his death, her attention shifted to amateur pianists. Her husband had sometimes remarked that those who played piano for the fun of it were just as deserving of the stage as he […]
Category: Instruments
Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
It’s not “the summer of ’69” anymore and playing ’til your fingers bleed isn’t the greatest idea, no matter how sentimental it sounds. Taking care of your hands and wrists is important to get the most out of your music. Any musician who practices regularly can attest that overuse of the hand muscles can cause […]
Beginner’s Guide to Double Bass Drum Pedal
Considered the “heart of the drum kit,” the bass, or kick, drum is used to mark time in almost all styles of popular music, including pop, rock, and jazz. The appearance and functionality of this modern-day kit dates back to 1909, when drum manufacturer William F. Ludwig invented a practical bass drum foot pedal. Though […]
Pro Vocal Techniques
If you’re a singer, chances are there is that one performer who you want to sound like. It could be anyone from Andrea Bocelli or Charlotte Church to Janis Joplin, Barbra Streisand, or Freddie Mercury. Perhaps there’s a certain style you hear and love, regardless of the singer. Some singers are drawn to classical sounds […]
Actor Greg Grunberg Drums for Charity
Not many people can say portraying a superhero is their full-time job. Greg Grunberg, an actor on the critically acclaimed NBC series Heroes, spends his days playing likable cop Matt Parkman, an average Joe who wakes up one day to find he has the ability to read minds.
How to Make Drums from Junk
Percussionist Donald Knaack, 61, is a firm believer that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Always looking for new percussion instruments, dumpster diver Knaack finds his nest egg of sound in the most unlikely of places: junkyards, local maintenance departments, factories, and refuse from community farms, restaurants, and stores. Make Your Own Drum Kit […]
Musical Family Getaway at Country Dance and Song Society Camps
Family time is a precious commodity, and it’s hard to find something the whole family can do together. For music lovers both young and old, traveling to music camp often means leaving loved ones behind. Wouldn’t it be great to, instead, bring them along for the adventure?
Former Governer Mike Huckabee Says for Him, Music Is More Than Just a Hobby
Since announcing his intention to run for President of the United States this past January, the former Arkansas governor’s life has been a whirlwind of interviews, debates, speaking engagements, and fundraising events. But no matter where the campaign trail takes him, one thing is always sure to follow—his beloved bass guitar.
Talk Show Host Montel Williams Plays Bass and Piano as Therapy for Body and Soul
It’s hard to believe a high achiever such as Montel Williams would ever need to follow his own advice, but when he contemplates music making and the role it once played—and could still play—in his life, it occurs to him that he could use a little inspiration and impetus, to start playing bass and piano […]
Music Attractions in New Orleans
New Orleans is one of our nation’s top music destinations and despite the headlines of widespread devastation and disrepair from Hurricane Katrina, most of the areas of the city that tourists come to see are up to their pre-Katrina status.
Visitors can expect to experience live jazz, New Orleans blues, Cajun, Creole, southern rock, gospel, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and just about every other style of music.