The mbira is a wooden and metal musical instrument which comes from the culture of the Shona people of the southern African nations of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Shona have played mbiras for at least 1,000 years. Erica Azim, mbira player, teacher, and founder of The Mbira Organization (mbira.org), explained that in Shona culture the […]
The Saraswati veena is a plucked, stringed musical instrument from India whose origins date back to around 1700 BCE. This veena (also spelled vina), a member of the lute family, as are the chitra, vichitra, and rudra veenas. Dr. Tara Rajendran is a classically trained veena player (as well as a medical doctor – please […]
The sitar is a member of the lute family of stringed instruments; it is popular in northern India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and is used to play classical music in the Hindustani tradition. The word sitar is derived from the Persian word sehtar, meaning “three strings.” Origin and Construction The precise origin of the sitar is […]
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 […]
After nine months of COVID, maybe you’ve found yourself playing your instrument a lot more than in years past and, as a result, perhaps you’re finding some repetitive motion-type pains and injuries in your body. If you’re going to a doctor for an end-of-year checkup, and you want him/her to look at your music performance-related […]
Yamaha YTR-8310ZS Bobby Shew Custom Z MSRP: $3,396.00 Packaging: On opening the carton, a cardboard tray contains plastic bags neatly enclosing valve oil, slide grease, polishing cloth, owners guide, leather tag, shoulder strap, and case divider. Beneath this, there’s another bag containing the elegant leather-covered, zippered two-trumpet case. The case has a full-length side […]
Choosing the Right Drumsticks —The optimum drumstick for you will depend on your style of music and type of drum kit. To play your best, choose the stick that feels the best and suits your musical purposes.
The number of harmonica styles, brands, and variations can be daunting for a beginner. This guide to harmonicas can help you find the right harmonica.
It is important to consider the best airlines for transporting instruments and Department of Transportation guidelines when flying with an instrument
The benefits of learning a musical instrument are numerous. They range from improved social
interaction skills and increased empathy to refined time, money and people management skills.
The team at The Musician Lab went through all the advantages and produced an infographic listing
21 benefits of learning a musical instrument.