Olympia chosen for three-day consumer event in growing UK show calendar
New guitar show for London
A new consumer guitar show has been announced, adding to the growing number of consumer shows in the UK. Guitar Nation will take place from May 7th to 9th at London’s Olympia exhibition centre.
The show, for which organisation is credited to Music Nation Ltd, headed up by Georgina Morton as director and John Hill as musical director, is believed to be the brainchild of Clive Morton, Georgina’s husband and the founder of Mad About Guitars, the London Guitar Show and Drummer Live, the latter two ultimately merging to make up a significant section of the London International Music Show, which has now, in turn, been taken over by Future as the London Music Show.
The 10 hole Diatonic Harmonica, used by most Blues players is usually tuned to a major scale. Each Harmonica is marked with the key of the Major Scale to which it is tuned.
A Harmonica player, playing the notes of the Major scale, over a piece of music in the marked key of that Harmonica is said to be playing in “straight harp”, or “first position”. That is to say, to play “straight harp” over G, you need a Harmonica tuned to the scale of G major.
The 10 hole Diatonic Harmonica, used by most Blues players is usually tuned to a major scale.
However, the characteristics of, for example, Blues Music demand that the player is able to achieve notes not available in a normal Major scale, such as the flattened seventh tone and sharpened 2nd. Therefore, to play Blues, you need a Harmonica in a differant key to the key of the song.
A Harmonica marked in a key a perfect 5th below the key of the song will provide the sharpened and flattened tones needed to produce this Bluesy sound. Therefore, to play Blues in G, you need a Harmonica marked in C major.
Playing this way is known as “Cross Harp” or second position” and it is a vital technique in blues style playing…
| SONG KEY | CROSS HARP HARMONICA |
| A | D |
| A# / Bb | Eb |
| B | E |
| C | F |
| C# / Db | F# |
| D | G |
| D# / Eb | Ab |
| E | A |
| F | Bb |
| F# / Gb | B |
| G | C |
| G# / Ab | Db |
The Harmonica first appeared in Europe around 1820 when various inventors began developing existing free reed instruments such as the sheng. Although initially designed for playing European folk music, It soon found a place in a wide variety of genres – becoming synonymous with the Blues and other emerging American music. The Harmonica also suited itself perfectly to mass production, making it the instrument of choice for the American poor and earning it almost instant success and iconic status! Modern music has also embarced the Harmonica and its folksy, outlaw image. Popular culture figures such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young have ensured that it remains one of the most widely loved of instruments!
There are many types of Harmonica, from the most common;
The ten whole Diatonic Harmonica (The one you think of when you think of a Harmonica) to elaborate orchestral Harmonicas, gimmicky wierd Harmonicas and specialist Harmonicas with odd tunings and appearances!
It’s ideal to have your piano tuned four times per year, or once each season. Having two tunings per year has become the acceptable standard, but they tend to be pointless.
4 Times per Year vs. 2 Times per Year
Four times may seem like a lot, but the piano is essentially a stringed instrument, and stringed instruments will always stray off-pitch. A tuning every 3 months will allow the piano to return to its original state after being altered by both seasonal weather changes and play. Tune at equal intervals each season to keep pitch consistent.
Twice-yearly tunings require good timing and luck. This is especially true in areas that experience all four seasons. For example, if you tune in September after the hot weather has cooled, you might be out of tune by the time your indoor heat goes on in October or November. Tuning every six months is only ideal if you are an occasional player living in a stable climate.
Learn What’s Right for You
There are a couple things to consider when finding your tuning schedule:
- Local Weather
The piano’s soundboard is especially sensitive to weather changes; it expands and contracts according to moisture and temperature, causing the dependent strings to go out of tune.Changes in temperature and humidity levels are bad for pianos. If you can keep them at a constant ideal, you may be able to get away with two tunings per year.
- Consider the Piano’s Level of Use
Frequently played pianos require frequent tunings. Pianos used at least three times per week need a tuning once every three months. Pianos used for public performances should be tuned at least once a week.For moderately used pianos, six months is enough time for a problem to develop, but generally not long enough for irreparable damage to result from it. Two tunings per year is acceptable if you play once a week or less.
The Bottom Line:
No piano, used or unused, should go over one year without being tuned. Waiting this long sacrifices the piano’s overall health, and causes your next tuning bill to double. Read about how this happens, so you can learn how to prevent it.
Piano tunings are not quick, nor are they always convenient. But, they are necessary if you want to keep your instrument in good condition. If you do not keep a piano for musical purposes, consider how value relies on condition, in case you ever decide to sell.
Regular Piano Tunings Can Prevent Serious Damage
Pianos are complex instruments; if one part performs sub-par, the overall quality of the instrument suffers. Bad tuning can be a symptom of another problem, and out-of-tune strings are probably the most annoying indicators that you are in need of an overall tune-up.
Regular piano tunings can also prevent damage. Correct (and constant) string tension is important to the health of many delicate piano parts – parts which are very expensive to fix. Tunings help these parts work together smoothly, preventing damage to (and from) neighboring pieces.
If you own an acoustic piano – or you plan to buy a used one – you need to know the right room conditions in which it should be kept. Use the following guidelines to help you create or update a piano room to both complement and protect your instrument:
1. Maintaining the Right Temperature for a Piano
An ideal piano room is a constant 70-72° F (21-22° C); going too much higher or lower upsets tuning, weakens delicate internal glue, and contributes to long term wood damage. Make sure you can control the temperature of your piano room, avoid climate fluctuations:
- Keep your piano from exterior walls, drafty windows and doors, fireplaces, and climate-control vents.
- If your area has temperature extremes, keep the room protected and well-insulated, especially if your climate-control will be off at night.
- Placing an area rug beneath a piano is helpful on cold floors, and can also help balance out an overly-bright piano.
NEC Clarion event manager’s position pending consultation leaving show’s future uncertain
MI Pro has learnt that Music Live’s founder and manager, NEC Clarion’s Jason Hunt, is on leave pending consultations regarding his position.
NEC Clarion refused to comment on either Hunt’s position, or Music Live’s future, when approached yesterday, but said a statement is likely to be issued next week. The company said, however, that it should not be assumed that Music Live is going to be cancelled.
Great Value Stagg Standard Keyboard Bags
Our Standard range of black nylon keyboard bags from Stagg come with 10mm padding and are an affordable, cost effective solution for those needing a great value keyboard bag.
It can be difficult to find good quality Keyboard bags below £100 and it is often difficult to balance the cost and quality angles. However, we have ranges in stock to suit all budgets and all levels of quality.
Check out these latest additions here
Range & Dimensions:
- K10-104 – 104 x 34.5 x 13 cm (41 x 13 x 5 inches)
- K10-148 – 146 x 36 x 16 cm (55 x 12 x 5.9 inches)
- K10-097 – 97 x 37 x 13 cm (38 x 14 x 5 inches)
- K10-115 – 112 x 47 x 17 cm (44 x 18.5 x 6.7 inches)
- K10-099 – 99 x 42,5 x 16 cm (39 x 16 x 6 inches)
- K10-118 – 117,5 x 41,5 x 15 cm (46 x 16 x 6 inches)
- K10-138 – 138 x 30.5 x 14 cm (54 x 12 x 5.5 inches)
- K10-128 – 128 x 42 x 16 cm (50 x 16 x 6 inches)
- K10-120 – 120 x 47 x 19 cm (47 x 18 x 7 inches)
- K10-150 – 150 x 44 x 16 cm (59 x 17 x 6 inches)
- K10-130 – 130 x 43 x 15 cm (51 x 17 x 6 inches)
Accordion Bags from Piano Covers Online
Piano Covers Online are pleased to confirm that the latest range of Stagg Accordion Bags are now in Stock. With four in the range covering the popular sizes these offer great value.
They are manufactured in Strong black nylon with 10mm foam padding & shoulder straps. They also have an Internal nylon protection sheet and additional A4 size pouch for music scored.
Four sizes available are:
- ACB-100 – (HxLxW): 32 x 32 x 14 (cm) / 12.6 x 12.6 x 5.5 inches
- ACB-120 – (HxLxW): 33 x 30 x 19(cm)/13 x 12 x 7.5 inches
- ACB-320 – (HxLxW): 39 x 35 x 20(cm) / 15.3 x 13.8 x 8 inches
- ACB-520 – (HxLxW): 43 x 50 x 20(cm)/17 x 19.7 x 8 inches
As part of a major new project for the BBC – A History of the World - the BBC asked a history expert from Gloucestershire to help choose ten items to represent the county. Andrew Fox, who’s in charge of Gloucester City Council’s two Museums – the City Museum and Art Gallery and the Folk Museum – helped BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s managing editor Mark Hurrell to select the objects. According to Andrew there was much debate and friendly argument.
Piano designed by CR Ashbee and made by John Broadwood & Sons in 1900.
This piano designed by Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942) in 1898-9 and made by John Broadwood & Sons in 1900. The Guild he had founded soon established an international reputation for design and workmanship. In 1902, believing that ‘the proper place for the Arts and Crafts is in the country’ Ashbee and the Guild moved to Chipping Campden.