Do you want to lower your levels of stress and ward off occasional bouts of depression? According to a study at Michigan State University, people of all ages who take piano lessons are less anxious than others without that musical connection.
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm in a drag racing accident in 1984, right as the band was on the cusp of its greatest success. He was able to continue his career using an electronic drum kit, which uses piezoelectric triggers to activate sampled sounds.
One of the most expensive pianos ever sold is a Victorian Steinway Grand, which Christie Auction House sold for $1.2 million to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
The piano has a number of ancestral instruments, but the invention of the modern piano is usually credited to Italian harpsichord maker Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori. At the end of the 17th century, Cristofori created his first piano, and he showed it publicly in 1709.
Sitting with someone else while learning to play “Heart and Soul” may be one of the earliest memories a pianist has, but it is often one that they later share with others as well. What a simple song, and a great way to share a skill and a bit of fun with someone else.
According to a Columbia University study, students taking music lessons are generally more cooperative with professors and peers, have more self-confidence, and can express their ideas better than their peers can.
The foundation of all musical education is music theory, the study of how music is written and played. Music theory covers the elements of music, which include rhythm, harmony, melody, structure, form, and texture. Knowing music theory gives one a better understanding of music being played.
For piano players learning music theory, knowing the circle of fifths is critical. Essentially, this is a key signature circle that, when traveling clockwise, lets you know that each key is a fifth above the previous one, and while going counterclockwise, it is just the opposite. Enharmonic keys, located at the bottom of the circle of fifths, are different notes played by the same key.
There is something about music that is simply good for our souls. A traditional form of flute in the Native American culture has become a familiar sound to many who are seeking to relax and throw off the day.
Made by renowned violin maker Guiseppe Guarneri del Jesu in 1741, the “Vieuxtemps Guarneri” holds the record for being the world’s most expensive violin. Purchased anonymously for $16 million in 2012, the instrument was donated to Anne Akiko Meyers.
Did you realize that a saxophone may or may not be part of an orchestra pit? They are certainly much more common than not, but some orchestras do not use them.
The first violins in human history had shorter and thicker necks than the modern variation. These changes were made to enable a higher pitch and more volume for orchestras.
Researchers at the University of California studied a group of second graders – some were given music lessons and others were not. The group with music lessons scored 27 percent higher on proportional math and fractions tests than the non-musical group.
"Take heed, now, it is of no great import how this or that person tunes his violin or viola if only he can perform on it accurately, clearly and in tune". - Musician 'Praetorius’
Music has many benefits, and learning to play any instrument allows your brain to develop different skills. Woodwinds in particular require you to remember a large number of fingerings for different notes, thus giving you a memory work out.
When deciding whether to take guitar lessons, one of the most important things to keep in mind is whether you want to learn to play on a quiet, peaceful, acoustic guitar or a loud, roof-raising, electric guitar.
Woodwinds with tone holes, like the clarinet and some flutes, have an extra cleaning step that most other instruments don’t. Those tone holes can get pretty grimy and can affect the quality of your sound. Use a tone hole cleaner (or a pipe cleaner in a pinch) to clear out that grime for a higher quality sound.
Not only does playing guitar help mobile dexterity, but it also helps with memory skills. Chords and scales can seem very daunting at first, but once you have the chance to memorize them, you'll feel more confident in your playing.
There are two words that every violinist should learn at the beginning of their lessons. These words are "pizzicato" and "arco." What do they mean? "Pizzicato" means "to play a note plucked and without the bow," while "arco" means "to play the notes with the bow."
The Baroque period of music was a time of experimentation. "Baroque" is derived from the Italian word "boracco" meaning bizarre. This term is fitting for this time period as composers used several variances in instruments, styles and form.
The guitar has six strings, each tuned to a specific note. From the low bass string to the high string, the notes are E, A, D, G, B and E. There are numerous acronyms to help you remember the string names such as ‘Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears.’
Studies show that young people who take music lessons tend to perform better in math than students with no music background. Experts believe that’s because music helps to advance spatial intelligence, which is the ability to form mental pictures of things for problem-solving purposes.
There are three main components to successful guitar playing. Your technique, your attitude, and the tools available to you will greatly affect your journey in learning to play guitar.
Creating songs that included instruments along with vocals was discovered in 700 BCE. Before this time, music was in a simplest form using instruments alone to create a musical work.
