As the "keeper of the rhythm," the perucssion provides the foundation for the overall sound of music. The many instruments included in the percussion family include any instrument that is struck, shaken or scraped in order to produce the sound. Advanced percussion instruments include the timpani drums or kettle drums, the...

The viola is sometimes not as prominent as the other string instruments, it's smaller and larger family members.  Yet it's rich, dark timbre and interesting history deserve a closer look.  Do you know, for example, that Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven all played the viola?  Or that the famed instrument maker,...

The baritone is a brass instrument.  The sound is made by buzzing the lips into the mouthpiece like all the brass family.  It has valves like a trumpet but is twice as long.  It plays the same notes as the trombone and has the same size mouthpiece, but the trombone...

The baritone is played with the right hand on the valves. The left arm usually supports the bottom of the instrument. There are a number of shapes and sizes of baritones. Some have vertically angled valves with the mouthpiece attaching on the left side of the instrument. Others have diagonally...

Set-up Sound Longevity Set-up - Buy from a reputable brick and mortor store rather than the internet. They can make sure your instrument is properly adjusted, and keep it sounding as good as possible. A good setup is vital for any violin, both for playability and tone. The quality and...

The origin of the cello The bass viola da braccio No one knows for sure when exactly the first cello was created. However, based on the instrument's first mention in writing, we know that it was being used at the beginning of the 16th century.  At first it appears that...

6 essentials for a playable and payable violin, viola or cello http://ow.ly/xEKmz.  This is an interesting Youtube video about things to look for when buying a violin </iframe

Flute A melodic instrument for the most part, the flute has a clear and bright sound with a distinctive warmth, refinement, and subtlety to its tone. How to Play the FlutePlaying the Flute Breath Take a deep breath, and breathe out while slightly smiling, making a "too" sound.* Make sure...

ORIGINS OF CLARINET from Wikipaedia While the similarity in sound between the earliest clarinets and the trumpet may hold a clue to its name, other factors may have been involved. During the Late Baroque era, composers such as Bach and Handel were making new demands on the skills of their trumpeters, who were often required...

Is there any way to avoid teeth marks on the mouthpiece? The mouthpiece is a consumable item, and it naturally accumulates teeth marks, but a mouthpiece patch is one method of preventing this. However, when the teeth are making strong contact (i.e. there is a tendency to bite down), there...

What does it feel like to hold an Alto Sax?  It is supported by the right thumb, upper teeth, and strap The saxophone is held in three places when played. The lower lip covers the lower teeth. How it Feels to Hold it: Saxophone players always wear a strap to...

Alto Sax The saxophone is an instrument with a tone somewhere between a brass instrument and a woodwind. The sax is a must in all types of music from jazz, to classical, to pop, when a smooth and bright sound is called for. Invented by Adolphe Sax (1814 - 1894), a...

The viola is sometimes not as prominent as the other string instruments, it's smaller family member Violin and larger family members, Cello and Bass.  Yet it's rich, dark timbre and interesting history deserve a closer look.  Do you know, for example, that Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven all played the viola? ...

Violin Whether performing an elegant solo or being the heart of the orchestra, the violin is a "star" in the music world. The origins of the ViolinThe birth of the violin The eastern ancestors of the violin Instruments like the violin that use a bow to produce a sound are...

INTRO The cello has been delighting music lovers for hundreds of years now, thanks to its lively and vibrant sounds and warm tones that are similar to human voice qualities.  The cello comes from the violin family and is often referred to as the violoncello. It is a bowed string...

The violin has the following parts:   The Structure of the ViolinThe structure of the strings The violin has four strings From high to low, the strings on the violin are E, A, D, and G. They are made from a variety of materials including catgut (sheep intestine), nylon, and...

The string bass (pronounced like ‘base”) is the largest and lowest sounding member of the string family.   It is sometimes called contrabass, sound is produced by drawing a bow across the strings or by plucking the strings.   For the Acoustic String Bass, the maintenance includes wiping the body of...

Care and Maintenance of a ViolinDaily care and maintenance The golden rule: wipe after playing! The varnish on a violin is very delicate. The tone of violins, guitars, and other acoustic instruments is influenced to a great degree by the varnish, making it an important element of the instrument. Thus,...

How a Violin is MadeSelecting the right piece of wood Storing materials 24 hours a day, 365 days a year The wood that will eventually be used to make a violin is stored in a temperature and humidity controlled room 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to preserve...

The Structure of the TrumpetLearn the parts of the trumpet The trumpet is comprised of the following parts:   The Structure of the TrumpetHow does the trumpet generate sound? Sound is produced by buzzing the lips! The trumpeter produces sound from the trumpet by buzzing his lips. That said, it...

Trumpet The trumpet is characterized by its striking, triumphal sound and by the fact that it boasts the highest register of all the brass instruments. It does splendid work, single-handedly giving expression to heroism and jubilation. Trumpet Sound is produced by buzzing the lips! The trumpeter produces sound from the...

Care and Maintenance of a TrumpetWeekly care and maintenance Cleaning the slides Carefully remove the slides and wrap a polishing gauze around a cleaning rod so that the metallic part of the cleaning rod's tip is not exposed. Now proceed as follows: Remove the dirt from inside the middle and...

The Structure of the TromboneLearn the parts of the trombone The trombone is comprised of the following parts: * A tenorbass trombone is shown in the diagram.   The Structure of the TromboneThe trombone: The instrument that extends and retracts How exactly does a trombone extend and retract? One interesting...