Category: Buyer’s Guides

High School Drummers

How to Recruit Top Talent for Your Band & Orchestra Program

Imagine that a gifted drummer, guitarist or pianist just started their freshman year at your school. The student’s middle-school teacher even passed along a note praising their abilities. As the band director, you’d love to get them involved in the music program. But so far, they haven’t shown any interest in joining. Most band and […]

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Clarinet Repair

3 Essential Quick Repairs for Clarinet

Imagine you’re backstage, minutes before the curtain rises on your school’s biggest concert of the year. Amid the frenzied last-minute preparations, your clarinet player walks up to you in a near panic and utters the four words every music educator dreads most: “My instrument isn’t working.” You’ve probably been through similar situations before and know […]

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Instrument Rental

Renting vs. Purchasing: Pros and Cons

It’s a question that confronts every parent of a band or orchestra student: Is it better to rent or buy an instrument? More questions follow: Will your child stick with it for a while? Will they want to switch instruments at some point? Will you need to start with a smaller instrument and upgrade as […]

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Woman playing the oboe

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 […]

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Digital Piano Lessons

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 […]

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Guitar Accessories

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 […]

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Employee Instrument Picks

Top Employee Instrument Picks – December 2023

Music & Arts is an excellent destination for musicians of all levels, offering an extensive array of instruments that cater to every need. Whether you’re a student, an enthusiastic intermediate, or a seasoned professional, their collection spans from elegant string instruments to robust brass, and from soulful woodwinds to iconic guitars. Each instrument is crafted […]

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When to Upgrade Your Reeds, Strings, and Mouthpieces

Every musician, from professional clarinetists to beginner saxophonists, understand the importance of high quality accessories. From reeds and strings to mouthpieces, every part of an instrument affects its sound. One thing that’s not so obvious, though, is when those accessories should be upgraded or replaced. From knowing when it’s time to replace reeds to understanding […]

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Musical Mom

The Best Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Your Musical Mom

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. And if mom is a musician, music teacher, or just loves music, we have some great Mother’s Day gift ideas for you. The perfect gifts for music lovers are those that help them enjoy music even more. Or show off their love of music in unique and interesting […]

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When Is It Time to Upgrade Your Trombone?

  As the parent of a trombone student, you’ve probably been to your fair share of student performances and had plenty of exposure to the pleasant (and not so pleasant) sounds of your child practicing. While you might think you know your way around your child’s instrument, there’s probably a lot you don’t know. The quality […]

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