Your go-to resource for all things band and orchestra
July 25, 2024
The former principal trumpeter for the New Jersey Symphony and current Music & Arts instructor talks foundational techniques, embouchure problems, practice routines and that time Leonard Bernstein thanked him personally. Equally warm and wise, the veteran trumpeter Lawrence Clemens — Larry, to his friends and students — is the kind of educator who always has […]
July 23, 2024
Double-reed instruments are some of the most unique members of the woodwinds family. Unlike the clarinet and saxophone, which utilize a single reed mounted on a mouthpiece, double-reed instruments feature—you guessed it—two reeds vibrating against each other to create an unmistakable sound. The most popular double-reed instruments are the oboe and bassoon, but the category […]
July 18, 2024
From affordable piano alternatives to analog sonic explorers, this helpful primer outlines the keyboard basics. There’s nothing like playing a real acoustic piano, but not everyone has the space or the budget to have the real thing at home. Fortunately, Music & Arts offers a wide variety of digital pianos, MIDI keyboards and synthesizers to […]
July 25, 2024
The former principal trumpeter for the New Jersey Symphony and current Music & Arts instructor talks foundational techniques, embouchure problems, practice routines and that time Leonard Bernstein thanked him personally. Equally warm and wise, the veteran trumpeter Lawrence Clemens — Larry, to his friends and students — is the kind of educator who always has […]
June 27, 2024
Famously, the late Buddy Rich didn’t push practice. The hot-tempered genius of jazz drumming, who began his career as a child prodigy, liked to say he learned his craft by performing. Rich also trash-talked rock drummers, though he did tackle arrangements of rock songs in his popular big bands. Which begs the question: What would […]
June 25, 2024
What were you doing when you were 10? For the clarinet virtuoso Julian Bliss, it was time to start studying music at the university level. So he packed his bags and moved thousands of miles away from his home in the U.K., enrolling in the Artist Diploma program at Indiana University. “It was the most […]
November 16, 2023
We sit down with Grammy Award winning sax legend Kirk Whalum in the second episode of our ongoing Music & Artists series. Renowned saxophonist Kirk Whalum, with his deep roots in Memphis, Tennessee, embodies a rich musical heritage that spans genres and generations. In a recent interview, Whalum delved into his musical upbringing, the profound […]
November 2, 2023
Melding Tradition with Innovation in Instrument Making From the delicate, meticulous work of a seamstress to the precision required in the repair of musical instruments, Miles O’Malley has woven together a life of dedication, craftsmanship, and innovation. Deeply influenced by the art of making things by hand, Miles is a testament to the idea that […]
