Nina Simone was born on 21 February 1933 and her birth name was Eunice Kathleen Waymon. She was born in North Carolina, USA. She took the stage Nina Simone from the Spanish word Nina (it was a nickname from a boyfriend at the time) and Simone from the French actress Simone Signoret. Nina Simone received […]
Essentially there isn’t a difference between a violin and a fiddle in the instrument itself. The name of the instrument changes with how the instrument is played and the style in which it is played. There can be some subtle differences in the instrument if the instrument is a fiddle rather than a traditional violin.
What’s the difference between a Violin & a Fiddle? Read More »
How Much Do Music Lessons Cost? The cost of your music lesson will vary teacher to teacher, school to school, organisation to organisation. There is a union recommendation for teachers to charge, but this will vary depending on age, experience and circumstances of the teacher. Some teachers will offer lessons on a group basis to
Strangely, insuring musical instruments can be a bit of a grey area. There isn’t any rhyme or reason for this apart from the fact that instruments do lead a different life to other assets, and they can often be very high monetary and sentimental value to the owner. It is worth checking your home contents
Fun Facts About Stradivarius Violins Famous Name: Even if you don’t know much about violins, you’ve probably heard of Stradivarius—synonymous with the finest string instruments. Who Made Them: Antonio Stradivari, born in 1644 in Cremona, Italy, made over 1,000 instruments in his lifetime, mostly violins. Around 650 survive today. Golden Period: Violins made between 1700–1720s
Stradivarius Violin - Interesting Facts & History Read More »
Andreas Zeller Violin: Quality, Playability and Progress The Andreas Zeller violin is widely regarded as one of the strongest and most reliable student violin outfits available, offering a level of quality that comfortably supports players from their very first lessons through to intermediate study. It is equally well suited to beginners starting out and to
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Why a flute is so expensive is a question asked all the time. There are of course many reasons why a flute carries an expensive price tag. To answer the question, we need to look from the most inexpensive and work up, what exactly are you getting for your money as the price tag increase.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What
Comparing the Stentor I, Stentor II, and Conservatoire? Our expert review breaks down the critical differences in wood quality, ebony fittings, and tone. Discover why teachers recommend the Stentor II and how hiring a professionally set-up instrument saves you money and frustration.
Stentor 1 vs Stentor 2 Violin & Cello: Is the Upgrade Worth It? Read More »
[vc_row][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text]The John Packer 041 alto saxophone is a great saxophone for the beginner. It is well made, reliable and trusted by teachers. The John Packer is well made and will serve a beginner or returning player well. The difference between a student saxophone and professional saxophone is going to be largely down to the
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Yamaha YFL 311 Flute Review The Yamaha 200, 300 and 400 flutes are classed as beginner and intermediate level flutes. They have been carefully manufactured to enable the beginner and intermediate player to have the best start on learning and making good progress on the flute. The lip plate is designed to help beginners gain
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Trevor J James was established in London in 1979. The company is now one of the world’s most respected student and professional flute designers and suppliers. They have multi-award-winning flutes and are one of the leading brands amongst flutes. The flutes are distributed worldwide, and the company works closely with established flautists and teachers on
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="43132" img_size="large" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Overview How do you know what is a good tutor book for learning an instrument? (Children & Adults) Every teacher will have their favourite tutor book, or set of books, to use whilst teaching and there are several to choose from. You are perfectly entitled to pick your own book however
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="43130" img_size="large" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Best Tutor Book For Learning The Flute Every teacher will have their favourite tutor book, or set of books, to use whilst teaching and there are several to choose from. You are perfectly entitled to pick your own book however – there is no harm in having more than one tutor
When was the clarinet invented? It is believed that the clarinet was invented by Christoph Denner in 1690. It has been reported that it was made from boxwood and had two keys that were made from brass. Before this the Egyptians had created a single reed, instrument called the zummara. How many keys are there
20 Most Frequently Asked Questions about the Clarinet Read More »
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] What accessories do I need for my violin? Your violin ideally needs to be in a case, with a chin rest attached, a separate shoulder rest, a bow and some rosin. With all this in place you have everything you need to play the violin. [view parts of a violin] What are the strings
20 Most Frequently Asked Questions about the Violin Read More »
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There is no denying that violins/violas, like many things we purchase, are available for a lot less money than a decade ago. The question is whether they are value for money, or a false economy? You can buy small electrical appliances for £5 and they will fulfil their purpose but they only have one purpose;
10 Reasons Why a Cheap Violin/Viola Will Hinder Your Playing Read More »
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_video link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng" align="center"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text] Why learn to play an instrument? It's not too late to learn! Research has shown that adults who take up learning a musical instrument in adulthood gain benefits by learning. It has been proven that those who receive instrumental lessons showed significant gains in memory and verbal fluency. They also
Benefits of learning to play a musical instrument Read More »
Firstly; what is a closed or open hole flute? Basically, an open hole flute literally has holes in five of the keys, just like a Polo mint but a closed hole flute, you have probably already worked out, has full keywork. So, the question is why are there two options? As a beginner or intermediate
Open and Closed Hole Flutes – What Is The Difference? Read More »
You can easily find a violin or viola bow for £15 and just as easily £1000. If you search a little harder, you can find bows at £3000 and even more sometimes! So, you might be wondering why a violin or viola bow is can be so expensive. The first thing to remember is that
We are always on the lookout for new and exciting talent combined with someone who just shines a light on the world of music – and we’ve found one! Jess Gillam – a saxophonist! Wow, what an artist. She is only twenty years old but has done so much and is just such an amazing
The Alphasax is a small version of an alto saxophone but especially designed for little people. It is made by Trevor James and has been created to enable younger children who wish to play the saxophone the chance to learn. The Alphasax looks like a normal Alto Saxophone but is actually completely redesigned to enable smaller hands
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="21604" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]They look the same, so you’d be forgiven for wondering what the actual difference is. There are a few key points that separate the two instruments, and worth knowing just in case it’s the deciding question in a quiz! A Viola is Larger Than a Violin Starting with the simplest of differences
