July 29, 2024
Steve Bello: Rock Beginner Basics
The revered shredder and dedicated Music & Arts instructor shares his favorite tips and techniques for aspiring rockers.
Category: Articles
July 25, 2024
Lawrence Clemens: Trumpet Fundamentals First
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
Overcoming the Challenges of Double-Reed Instruments
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
Keyboards, MIDI & Synth: A Beginner’s Guide
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 15, 2024
Essential Guitar Accessories: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
Whether you’re buying your first guitar or adding to your collection, there’s a world of accessories to explore that can help you get the most out of your instrument and playing experience. In this article, we’ll cover the top accessories every guitar player needs. First, we’ll look at essential accessories for all players, then explore […]
June 27, 2024
Greyson Nekrutman: Play Hard, Work Harder
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
10 Things We Learned About Julian Bliss
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 […]
June 17, 2024
Music & Arts and Gibson Present: Rock Road Show 2024
Summer is here at last, and it promises to be an especially thrilling season for guitarists and lovers of all things rock ’n’ roll. Music & Arts has partnered with Gibson guitars and D’Addario accessories to kick off Rock Road Show 2024—a new event series that will inspire musicians of all skill levels. At six […]
June 7, 2024
How to Choose the Right Drum Set for Your Child
So your kiddo came to you and said that their musical heart beats to the rhythm of a drum kit—congrats! Learning the drums is a fun, fulfilling endeavor that opens up a wide world of music and instruments to explore. It also comes with a learning curve—especially if you and your child are new to […]
May 24, 2024
6 Tips for Keeping Kids Engaged in Their Musical Instrument
Learning a musical instrument is a journey that can be both enriching and demanding, particularly for children. Besides supporting cognitive development and academic performance, music provides an outlet for creativity and self-expression, along with a shared language for connecting with others. But mastery of an instrument doesn’t happen overnight. It requires consistent effort and perseverance. […]