January 16, 2025
Young Bob Dylan: Getting to Know the Complete Unknown
Elijah Wald, whose book Dylan Goes Electric! inspired the new biopic A Complete Unknown, talks about the musicianship of an American icon. Plus: Music & Arts Gear & Book Guide
Category: Learn Music
January 13, 2025
Gator Cases: Meet the Makers
When musicians of all stripes have gear-transportation problems, Gator has durable, smartly designed solutions.
January 7, 2025
Hal Leonard: Meet the Makers
Inside the history and industry-defining innovations of the world’s premier sheet-music publisher.
December 23, 2024
Upright vs. Electric Bass: An Educator’s Guide
Credits: Peter Freed (Patitucci), Robyn Twomey (Oh). Two of the greatest bass players on the planet, John Patitucci and Linda May Han Oh, share stories and strategies to help students and teachers navigate the electric-acoustic divide. Plus: Gear advice and accessories picks. For bassists, life typically begins in one of two ways: on upright, […]
December 18, 2024
Communicating With Your Child’s Music Teacher: A Parent’s Guide
Music & Arts teachers share best practices for building a successful teacher-parent rapport. When Andrew Kasab started taking piano lessons as a 5-year-old, his mother would sit in to follow along with Andrew’s progress and reinforce his lessons at home. Decades later, after Kasab became a guitar and bass teacher at Music & Arts, […]
December 11, 2024
Ludwig-Musser Education Percussion: Meet the Makers
William F. Ludwig and his son William Jr., both musicians as well as businessmen, represent the Ludwig brand, which bought Musser Mallet Percussion in 1966. Image courtesy of Conn Selmer. The history of Ludwig-Musser Percussion weaves together the stories of two pioneering companies and their visionary namesakes. From the beginning, music education has informed the […]
December 6, 2024
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Big Bad Master Class
As Yamaha clinicians, the swing-revival aces take their fun-loving approach to schools across the country. Glen “The Kid” Marhevka, featured trumpet soloist and lead clinician, reflects on music education and how the retro-swing movement changed the perception of band kids. When trumpeter and educator Glen “The Kid” Marhevka looks back on all the shows […]
December 3, 2024
Songbook Gift Guide: Pop Hits of ’24 & More
Looking for that perfect stocking stuffer to match a new keyboard, guitar or band-and-orchestra instrument? Check out these best-selling songbooks from hitmakers including Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish. Sure, you’re reading this on a screen, but we at Music & Arts continue to believe in the power of printed music. A great songbook can […]
November 14, 2024
Igmar Thomas & the Art of Big-Band Beats
Leader of the Revive Big Band and collaborator to rap royalty, the trumpeter and composer-arranger offers expert guidance on making hip-hop work for a large ensemble.
October 30, 2024
Sherrie Maricle: Secrets of Big-Band Drumming
The DIVA Jazz Orchestra leader on technique, teaching, gear and why stuffing a blanket inside your bass drum isn’t the answer. Plus: the 5 common pitfalls for developing big-band drummers For a young Sherrie Maricle, there was never any question about where to focus her efforts behind the kit. “It was definitely jazz, and it […]