Instruments

Currently, we have teachers for the following instruments: violin, piano, guitar, electric bass, and drums. To see teachers click here.

The first musical instrument to be reckoned is the HUMAN BODY. Clapping hands, snapping fingers, rubbing skin surface, whistling, singing, patting head or shoulders are all forms of music produced through the human body. The sound most recognized and acknowledged is singing, but all are musical.

HERE IS A LIST OF GROUPS OR FAMILIES OF INSTRUMENTS:

1. Human body
2. Percussion (pitched and unpitched)
3. Strings (bowed and unbowed)
4. Woodwinds (single and double reed, and flue)
5. Brasswinds (valved and non-valved)
(These are all acoustic--needing no electricity)
6. Electric and electronic (amplification; and circuitry re/produced)
(All six of the above have human participation)
7. Nature sounds (wind through trees, birds singing, etc.)

Some instruments have been standardized, and by that have been widely distributed throughout the world. European orchestral instruments are an example. Other instruments have not enjoyed standardization and are still customized. As a consequence, they are not widely distributed. Jamaican mento instruments are examples. Of interesting note is the fact that the Trinidadian steel pan is now enjoying wide distribution as a result of recent standardization.

2006 April 08
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PIANO

The piano is foundational, basic and rudimentary to music and musicians.

Here are five reasons for its importance:
1. It has the widest range of notes of the instruments
2. One can play many pitches simultaneously, even more than on the guitar or the violin
3. It has a predictable order of pitches both ascending and descending
4. On a piano, scales, chords, etc. are easily calculable
5. It therefore is a major tool for teaching theory of music, and for composers and conductors. In fact, most every other instrumentalist knows even a little practical piano playing.