Evans Level 360 Drumheads garnered a lot of buzz at winter NAMM 2013. They’re not so much a new product as new technology. Evans Level 360 fits flush with the drum’s bearing edge, resulting in faster, easier tuning, and maximum sustain across their entire line of drumheads.
Category: Instruments
New Instruments, Vintage Sounds
In the age of hi-fidelity, lo-fi seems to be making a comeback. Vinyl records, for example, have become all the rage once again, with many artists releasing special edition LPs, in addition to standard MP3 and CD formats. It’s the warmth associated with analog, which doesn’t exist in the digital realm, that appeals to these […]
You Rock Guitar: More Than a Toy
The YouRock Guitar is not a replacement to your regular guitar, but rather an addition to your collection. There are no strings on the neck, but rather raised ridges where sensors detect finger placement and respond virtually the same way as a regular guitar. It’s compatible with MIDI devices, and you can use it for […]
2013 Bach Trumpet
Behold: the latest trumpet from Conn-Selmer, showcased at the 2013 NAMM music trade show. This beautiful horn was co-designed by Jose Hernandez, the great mariachi trumpet player. If you’re looking for a bright sound with a clean staccato attack, look no further. For more information, visit the Bach website.
12 Improvisation Tips
Jim Oshinsky believes that every musician should improvise from the start, but that’s not usually the case.
Build Your Own Cajon
Looking for a fun musical crafts project? Build your own cajon drum! As much as we encourage making music, we also encourage making music instruments. Check out our video on building a cajon drum of your own, using Meinl’s Make Your Own Cajon kit.
March/April 2013
Jake Shimabukuro Profile Goodbye, Studio Fees The Wood Your Guitar is Made Of Key Mutations Taiko Drumming Great Music Camps
Music Camps Coast to Coast: Combining Music & Nature
Every year thousands of musicians of all types, levels, and ages head to one of hundreds of music camps held nationwide, and in Canada. This spring Making Music uncovered what the experience is like for campers at Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camp near Woodstock, New York, and California Coast Music Camp in Placer County, California.
Oklahoma City Music Travel
Oklahoma City was once a vibrant center for jazz. Its Deep Deuce neighborhood was home to Charlie Christian and Jimmy Rushing, however little remains of that important heritage but a few markers in the sidewalk. The heart of the city’s live music scene today is the Bricktown Arts and Entertainment district.
Best Piano Websites
With so many free resources online, why would you ever pay for piano lessons? Easy. Because many of the online resources are garbage. A basic Google search for “online piano lessons” returns a splurge of shoddy websites that look like they were designed on a calculator, and YouTube videos by decent pianists who tragically know nothing about video production. Lucky for you, we’ve dug through the junk, and located some buried gems. Here are the best piano websites.