Learn about instruments and compositional techniques.
Document
Art History Music - One Minute Art Lesson Celia Cruz Hugh Masekela Igor Stravinsky Louis Armstrong Maria Callas Mary Lou Williams Scott Joplin Woody Guthrie Be a Music Critic Music - Write About It...
Interactive
INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the link above to access the Google Docs document. You can go under File and select " Make a Copy" to add to your own Google Drive or " Print." In Be a Music Critic, listen to...
Document
pitch – the highness or lowness of a tone rhythm –a pattern of long and short sounds and silences in music improvisation – composing music as it is being performed tempo – the speed or pace of a piece...
Audio
The double bass is the one member of the modern violin family whose roots are in the viola da gamba, or viol family. The next time you see a double bass, notice that its back is flat, like a viol’s...
Audio
When a percussionist says, “I’m playing bells in this piece,” he means he’s playing the glockenspiel. Glocke is the German word for bell, and Glockenspiel literally means “bell-play.” The modern...
Audio
The Trumpet is the highest pitched and most brilliant member of the brass family. Miles Hoffman discusses the history of the trumpet.
Audio
Here's a little secret: harpist don't use their pinkies even though they have 47 strings to play. In today's episode, Miles Hoffman describes how the Harp is played.
Audio
When the dance known as the waltz first became popular in Europe in the late 1700's and early 1800's, it was considered by many to be the ultimate in lewdness and licentiousness.
Audio
I’ve been talking this week about vibrato, the vibrato that string players use to warm up their sounds, and the vocal vibrato that’s the natural product of healthy singing. All vibrato consists of...
Audio
When violinists play, their left hands always seem to shake. But it’s not because they’re nervous. Violinists, violists, cellists, and double bass players all use a technique called vibrato.