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Have you ever wondered how the violin came to play such an important role in the history of classical music? Well, it starts with singing. The invention of opera, in late 16th century Florence, marks...
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The modern oboe most likely originated in France in the 1600's. The word oboe, which is the instrument’s name in both English and Italian, comes from the French name, hautbois, meaning “high wood,” or...
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Have you ever wondered how the violin came to play such an important role in the history of classical music? Well, it starts with singing. The invention of opera, in late 16th century Florence, marks...
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The members of the modern violin family are the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. These instruments are descendants of various kinds of medieval fiddles—fiddle, by the way, being an older word...
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During the 1920s, the sound of "rumba" music took over Cuba. Rumba was great to dance to, as it was played with many types of percussion instruments. The congas stood out as rumba's major percussion...
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Campana: A cowbell used in Cuban music. It is sometimes attached to another instrument called the "timbales."
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Claves: Two sticks used to make a simple rhythm in Cuban music such as rumba. It is used in many other forms of Latin American music as well.
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Guiro: A scraper sometimes used in Latin jazz. The Cuban and Puerto Rican form is made from a notched gourd and played with a stick.
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Congas: Drums played with the hands and often used in salsa and rumba music. Congas play a major role in Latin jazz bands.
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Bongos: Two small drums played between the knees, often used in Afro-Cuban music. The "Bongocero" is the name for a bongo player. Cencerro: A cowbell played by the "Bongocero," or bongo player. It can...