The acoustic guitar is a highly popular starter instrument. It’s affordable, easy to transport, quiet enough not to disturb others during practice, relatively easy to get a nice sound, and doesn’t need any additional equipment like amplification.
It can also been seen as a more ‘serious’ instrument to learn on first if a child ultimately wants to play electric guitar, as the skills and techniques can be transferred.
There are two types of acoustic guitar; classical (or ‘nylon strung’) and’ steel strung’ which is what is most often meant when someone refers to an acoustic guitar.
The classical guitar is considered to be best for beginners as it uses nylon strings, which are much easier to play than steel – the lighter string tension makes it much easier to press the string down onto the fretboard to sound a note.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
1. Guitars come in a variety of sizes and a full size one is generally suitable for ages 10 – 12 and upwards. Smaller sizes are available for younger students.
2. If you are a beginner ask the advice of your tutor and don’t buy the cheapest, spend a little more and get a quality one with a solid top if possible.
3. Take a guitarist with you when you go to buy it, someone who will be able to tell a if it’s a good one or not.
4. You should buy the guitar that plays, sounds and looks the best for you. The expertise of the maker and the degree to which an instrument is hand made are of major significance for the development of tonal quality.
5. Visit several music shops before you buy and find the people who are enthusiastic, helpful and knowledgeable.
6. Take your time, don’t rush out and buy the first one you see, you have to live with it for years so make sure it is the right one.
7. Buy guitar magazines that have reviews or get catalogues on the models you are interested in to research thoroughly
8. If there is a music trade show or convention in your area visit it, as there will be a variety of products to see and there will be people there with a wealth of knowledge you can talk to.
The ocarina is a simple instrument that offers quick success. Musical skills can be developed to an advanced level on the ocarina; these skills transfer easily when moving on to play other woodwind, brass or string instruments.
Ocarinas are round-shaped flutes with a pure sweet tone. English 4-hole and 6-hole ocarinas are easier to play than the recorder or tin whistle and, because of this, are used in many primary school classrooms for whole-class music.
The English 4-hole finger-system produces fourteen musical notes. The 6-hole ocarina has the addition of two thumb-holes that add two extra notes. These notes are useful, but are not essential for beginners. Plastic ocarinas are made in many colours and in one ‘alto’ size. They measure approximately 60 mm wide and 80 mm from mouthpiece to string-end, and are worn round the neck as pendants.
Music is a wonderful and engaging pursuit for any child and there is substantive evidence of the positive effects on children of music making.
Fact 1: Everyone is musical and nearly all of us have the ability to sing and to play an instrument. Of course some of us have more aptitude than others. That’s natural in exactly the same way that some people are more gifted than others in sport, or maths, or any other area of learning.
Fact 2: Because everyone is musical everyone can develop their musical skills to the point that they are able to.Very few of us will become professional musicians but most of us can have a life of enjoyment and achievement through making music.
Fact 3: There is no one way to learn to play an instrument. Over the years various methods and approaches have been developed. Each approach will suit one person but not necessarily another. Individuals need to find a style and approach that best suits them.
Fact 4: Music is often best enjoyed when it is shared with others. That ‘other’ can be a teacher or a member of the family. They can be friends, or a class of other players, a band or a whole orchestra. The important thing about making music is that you make your music with other people as soon and as often as you can.
Fact 5: All music is made up of the same core elements such as melody, rhythm, harmony and tone. These precepts of music are evident in all styles from classical to rock. There is no best music through which to learn nor is there any right order as to which style should come first. Success and enjoyment are more dependent on the learning approach and the student’s motivation and goals than whether you are playing Blur, Bhangra or Bach.
Fact 6: There are two major aspects to music, playing an instrument and understanding and being musical (some people call it music theory). These two elements are not separate subjects and should be integrated in the process of learning and developing as a musician.
UK Music Industry’s Own Economist Says Revenue Up 4.7%! But it sure doesn’t feel like that!
Consumers spent less on recorded music, down 6% since 2007, but concert ticket sales have grown by some 13% as the industry as whole slowly evolves and adapts to digital distribution.
Record labels and others in the music industry frequently lament that they can no longer make money, that piracy and illegal file-sharing has all but made their industry extinct, or so they would have you believe.
Piano Covers Online are proud to announce the arrival of the beautiful Fusion Guitar Bag range. Starting with the wonderful F4 range which is aimed at the serious amateur level, the prices and quality offer a great opportunity for customers to purchase a n attractive yet robust bag.
Fusion Guitar Bags from Piano Covers Online
Fusion has created a gig bag range where great care has been taken to design a product that fulfills the needs of the musician.
You will see immediately that Fusion bags have been given the utmost attention to detail, style and function.
There are four exciting ranges available in a choice of colours. The high end ranges offer quality and eye catching detail. They feature the Fuse-on concept where a selection of accessory bags can be attached to the main instrument bag. The lower end ranges offer quality and style and are aimed at student level.
If you want a gig bag that not only protects your instrument but looks good, Fusion is for you.
Checkout our Fusion F4 Ranges Online Here
The Bowley Soprano Ukulele arrives at Piano Covers Online. All solid Ukulele bearing the name of Samuel Bowley Barnes – a founder of popular traditional music in Victorian Britain.
Crafted from solid mahogany for the Top, Back and Sides, and equipped with open-gear machineheads and Aquila strings, The Bowley Uke is a superb instrument.
Specifications
- Solid Mahogany Top
- Solid Mahogany Back and Sides
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- High-Quality, Open Geared Machineheads
- Aquila Strings
All solid Ukulele bearing the name of Samuel Bowley Barnes - a founder of popular traditional music in Victorian Britain.
Why The Bowley? Samuel Bowley Barnes was one of the leading lights of Victorian traditional music patenting numerous accessories and improvements for the banjo whilst widely as a double act with Albert Mullins.
Naturally with S. Bowley Barnes being such an important part of Victorian Britis popular music, the instruments bearing his name must earn the right to bear it.
We believe that The Bowley is a superb instrument with solid timbers, superb strings and a clear pure tone. All things that Bowley Barnes would gladly put his name to!
Check it out on our store now!
Overstrung vs. Straightstrung
Straight Strung Frame
This refers mainly to upright pianos, as there are relatively few grands without overstrung frames.
In an overstrung frame, the diagonal lengths of most of the strings provide a richer sound than its straight-strung counterpart.
The manner in which grand pianos are constructed is, in principle, the same as an upright, but the size (length) varies considerably.
There are essentially 3 main classes, generally referred to as `Baby‘; `Boudoir‘ & `Concert‘. The smallest Baby grand can be just 4ft long (122cm), whereas the longest Concert grand measures 9ft 6in (290cm). The overall length is determined from the front of the keybed to the far curve.
BABY Grands are generally described as being 5ft (152cm) and under. (A near-5ft piano is sometimes called a `Large baby’).
BOUDOIR Grands tend to range from 5ft (152cm) up to around 7ft (214cm).
CONCERT Grands are usually around 9ft long, and the c.7ft 6in grand is sometimes called `3/4 grand’, or `Semi-concert’ or even `Drawing-room’, though the latter term is rarely used today.
In most Bechstein Grand Pianos (not the earlier models) the identifying number is cast in the iron frame near the far end underneath the bass strings.
Finding the Bechstein Grand Piano Model Number
Finding the Bechstein Grand Piano Model Number
Website offering unbelievable discounts uncovered and believed to be fraud
A musical instrument retail website offering impossible prices on high-end instruments has been uncovered, with suppliers immediately moving in to close it down. The website, vibemusicstore.cc caught the attention of Simon Young of the Vibes Music in Plymouth, initially because of the website’s name, but then caused alarm as the site was offering high-end musical instruments at something like 80 per cent mark down.
Young got in touch with MI Pro to ask whether we could alert the industry that the dodgy site had nothing to do with him.
Phishing sites are created to tempt people into transferring money, while no product is ever intended to be shipped.
