When you have your music lesson, do you ever wonder how the instrument you are holding in your hands was originally created? In other words, what was the evolutionary path of your guitar, piano, or any other instrument?

Yes, we know, this is not a question most people ask themselves. Yet, it’s a very interesting subject because instruments, just like other objects, have an often-fascinating history.

Well then, let’s explore the origin and development of some of the musical instruments that are part of our lives.

Humble beginnings

Our interest in this topic was sparked by a recent report that cites a study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others. Their findings, based on years of comparing various measurements, X-rays, and CAT scans of hundreds of violin-like instruments dating back to the 10th century, indicated that the instruments underwent changes comparable to the Darwinian process of evolution by natural selection.

This led us to another study published in an Australian magazine called “Acoustics” (yes, we are clearly a very well-read bunch!). In it, a scientist at the Australian National University argued that the development of instruments depended on the materials available at the specific time in history. That was perhaps one of the earliest examples of recycling: people used whatever scraps they found and fashioned instruments out of them.

For instance, based on some archeological finds, thousands of years ago people drilled holes in bones and made flutes. And when termites hollowed the centers of eucalyptus branches, all kinds of wind instruments were created.

Historical records, however, don’t provide us with all the information because most instruments were made from perishable materials like animal skin. But as time went by, more and more instruments were created out of studier, stronger, and less degradable materials, such as pewter, brass, and bronze alloy, from which instruments like cymbals – and later other percussions – developed.

It is interesting to note that in those pre-historic times, nobody just sat down and decided to create a musical instrument. It was more a process of surprising – and often accidental – discovery. For example, blowing into a conch shell might have led to first wind instruments, while banging a sword against a metal object eventually led to the invention of percussions.

Old versus new

Let’s not forget the wood, from which our ancestors built most common string instruments – violins, violas, cellos, double basses, and guitars. Throughout the ages, wood was in abundance; the earliest instruments were made out of boxwood, holm oak, cedar, and many others.

By the way, there is an interesting fact about the violin that we’d like to share with you: the most famous maker of this instrument in history, Antonio Stradivari, used the wood that was slightly different from what is available today. It had something to do with the cooler climate in the 18th century Europe. That’s why the sound of the original Stradivarius is not easy to duplicate with modern violins. (However, many professional violinists say that modern violins are just as good –if not better – than the old ones).

Here and now

Would you like to find out more about the forerunners of our present-day instruments? There are many resources out there and they are all very interesting.

Needless to say, when our teachers come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home of office, they will not be carrying a conch shell or animal bone. And they have zero training in making music out of a hollowed tree branch.

However, when it comes to teaching the newer and more common instruments, our teachers are…highly evolved!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Riverdale Guitar School Delves Into the Origin of (Musical) Species appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

You’ve heard the saying “music is universal,” but can you come up with names of famous musicians who have actually proven this to be true?

One person who immediately springs to mind is the Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, who passed away last month. Maybe we wouldn’t even know what the sitar looks or sounds like if it weren’t for Shankar.

We also might not have had many opportunities to hear Indian music which is, both literally and figuratively, worlds apart from the Western sounds that most of us are familiar with.

As Shankar himself explained the difference, “Indian classical music is principally based on melody and rhythm, not on harmony, counterpoint, chords, modulation and the other basics of Western classical music.”

And the sitar, with its light and delicate sound, is the most popular string instrument of Indian music.

A different kind of sound

The instrument that Shankar played so beautifully is, to put it plainly, a long-necked lute with movable frets, played with a wire pick.

Its origins can be traced to the 10th century, when northern India fell under the Persian rule. As Persian culture and music were brought to the conquered land, a sitar-like instrument, most commonly played during religious festivals, appeared on the scene.
Throughout the centuries this instrument had undergone many changes, eventually emerging in its present form in the 18th century.

Over the years, the sitar has crossed over to the Western music. Shankar’s pupil, the Beatles’ lead guitarist George Harrison, introduced this instrument to pop music, playing it on the song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown”) and on the LP “Rubber Soul.”

Harrison’s sitar playing inspired Rolling Stones’ guitarist Brian Jones to learn this instrument as well, and he played it on the song “Paint it Black,” in 1966, and then a year later with Jimi Hendrix while recording the song “My Little One.”

Drumming it up

While the sitar is the principal string in Indian music, a two-piece percussion instrument called the tabla provides the main rhythmic accompaniment. Unlike the more conventional western drums, the tabla is quite delicate and can only be played with hands, rather than with sticks.

In its present form the kettle-drum-like tabla is a relative newcomer on the Indian music scene and is probably less than 100 years old, though a more primitive version is believed to date as far back as 200 BC.

Do the sitar and tabla play well together? Shankar, who was probably the best judge of the compatibility of these two Indian instruments, thought so. As he said, “the dazzling and rapid dialogue between sitar and tabla has the power to enthrall even the most uninitiated listener with its thrilling interplay.”

East meets West

We get it – the sitar and tabla are not exactly as popular (or well known) in New York City as they are in their native India.

But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t aspire to play either of these instruments or that you won’t find anyone to teach you.

We at Hey Joe Guitar are not limited to just a few most popular instruments. We can come to your home or office and teach you any of the dozens of instruments out there, regardless of how well known they are.

Look at it this way: with New York City music lessons, you can be the first on your block to play the sitar or tabla like the Indians do!

***

Photo Credit: Bradley Loos

The post The Sitar: From India With Love appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

The answer:  When it is a recorder!

True, to an untrained eye, the two instruments may look a lot alike and, in fact, they do have common roots – the recorder was a forerunner of the modern-day flute.

Although its heyday can be traced back to the late Renaissance and Baroque years (which is why Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and many other composers of that era featured the recorder in their music), it remains, to this day, a popular instrument with NYC Music School amateurs and professionals alike.  Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and Billy Joel are among the world-famous musicians who play the recorder.

Should you?

If you like soft and melodious sounds more suited to a chamber orchestra or a solo performance than to a rock band, and if you are looking for an instrument that is relatively inexpensive and easy to learn, then the recorder may very well be a great fit for you. (And yes, we can definitely teach you to play it in your New York City office or home – but more about that later).

Whistling in the wind

You guessed it – the recorder is a woodwind instrument that features a tin whistle. These days the recorders are most commonly made of wood or plastic, but four or five centuries ago, when preservation of wildlife was not yet a hot-button topic, they were often carved out of ivory.

Though there is some evidence that a primitive version of the recorder (made from a sheep’s bone) existed already in the Iron Age, this instrument evolved, and reached its peak, in the 16th and 17th centuries.

If you listen to the music of that era, such as cantatas, sonatas and operas, you will understand why the recorder (and woodwinds in general, along with the strings) was a popular instrument for the composers of that time.

As larger orchestras started to gain popularity, the recorder, which was not loud enough to play “bigger” and richer sounds like the percussion instruments, was slowly phased out and replaced by the flute and clarinet.

But as it sometimes happens with temporarily forgotten artifacts, the recorder got its second wind (no pun intended) at the beginning of the 20th century, and never fell into oblivion again.

Did you know…

… these interesting facts about the recorder?

• Its name came from the old English word recorden, which meant to “sing,” “practice,” or “warble.”

• In the Baroque era, when they were at the height of popularity, recorders were used to mark events such as “miracles,” funerals, marriages and love scenes.

• William Shakespeare referred to music produced by recorders in two of his plays: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Hamlet,” where it was described this way:

“Govern these ventages with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, 
and it will discourse most eloquent music.”

• After the recorder’s revival in the 20^th century, Led Zeppelin used it in their song “Stairway to Heaven;” Jefferson Airplane played the recorder on the albums “Surrealistic Pillow,” “After Bathing at Baxter’s” and “Volunteers;” and Rolling Stones used it in “Ruby Tuesday.”

Learn to play!

As we mentioned before, the recorder is an easy instrument to learn for children and adults alike. It might have become obsolete in the past, but one of the great things about living in the 21^st century is that you can find inexpensive recorders with no hassle, either in NYC music stores or online (if you are not sure where, just ask us!).

What about finding recorder lessons and music lessons in your neighborhood? We are glad you asked! We at Hey Joe Guitar will be happy come to your Manhattan home or office and teach you.

In no time at all, you will become a great whistleblower!

The post Breathe New Life Into Your Recorder appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

“When you work, you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.”

Mostly Wind

The post Manhattan Music Lessons Bring Magic to the Flute appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.