ion] A few years ago, researchers from the University of South Brittany found that women are attracted to men who carry guitars (leave it to the French to come up with a study like that!) You can read whatever you wish into these findings, but to us they indicate that playing an instrument – in this case, the guitar – is an appealing trait.

This made us think of all the musicians – too many to mention here – who not only excel at guitar playing, but also are emotionally attached to their instruments. It’s no surprise, really, given the important role the guitar plays in their lives – it is an outlet for their creativity, ideas imagination, and feelings. In fact, some musicians are so intertwined with their guitars that they give them names, simply because their relationship with their instruments is so close and personal.

He loved Lucy

In 1968, Eric Clapton gifted George Harrison with a red Gibson Les Paul guitar the Beatle named “Lucy.” He played the instrument for five years, including in the promotional video for the song “Revolution.” But in 1973, Lucy suffered a terrible tragedy: stolen from Harrison’s home, it was held hostage by a Mexican musician. After lengthy negotiations, the Beatle traded his Les Paul sunburst and a Fender Precision Bass for Lucy’s safe return. He kept her close until his death in 2001. Lucy is not to be confused with “Lucille,” the name B.B. King gave to his guitars. Throughout his long career that spanned more than half a century, the blues singer owned many Lucilles. And though it was not a one-of-a-kind instrument like Harrison’s Lucy, each guitar was, nevertheless, King’s faithful companion. Here are some other famous musicians and their beloved guitars: Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” and “Brownie ” Willie Nelson’s “Trigger ” Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “First Wife ” David Gilmour’s “Black Strat ” And many others.

Pulling on (heart) strings!

We are happy to have had this opportunity to showcase famous guitars, especially since April is the International Guitar Month. Of course, most of us don’t own iconic guitars, but that shouldn’t keep anyone from learning to play this string instrument. We have many excellent guitar teachers at our school and we can send one to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office for a lesson. And even though your guitar is just a “regular” instrument, you can “baptize” it! Whether you name it Emma or Ralph, or give it any other moniker, you two can be BFFs!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons Licence.

The post At Brooklyn Music School, We Love Our Guitars! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

At Hey Joe Guitar, we love the month of May – and not only because spring is in the air and summer is right around the corner. There is another reason we think May rocks: tomorrow, 5-22, is the National Buy a Musical Instrument Day. Now, you probably think we invent these “holidays” just for the heck of it. Not so! This occasion really does exist and we had absolutely nothing to do with its creation – honest!

It is an “unofficial” holiday (meaning you can’t take time off work or school) and its origins are unknown. However, that doesn’t mean that this occasion should not be marked; after all, its purpose is to purchase an instrument so that you or a family member can begin to take music lessons. You’ll get no argument from us!

Be a savvy consumer

Buying your first musical instrument is a momentous occasion. This means you re ready to embark on a new and exciting adventure. As New Yorkers, we are very lucky because our city has so many great music stores. Just as an example (and this is in no way an endorsement, just information), the historic “Music Row” on 48th Street is lined with many such shops. Whether you are a first-time buyer or you are looking to replace your current instrument, there are several things to consider because an instrument is an important purchase. First of all, determine your budget – can you buy a brand new instrument, or opt for a second-hand one? If you can only afford a second-hand instrument, don’t be discouraged –there are plenty of good, quality ones available, so make sure you purchase from a reliable source rather than from the back of a truck in a dark alley. How can you vet your seller? Ask your musician friends, other students, or music teachers for referrals. And always try out the instrument – touch it, handle it, and play it – before parting with your money. If you are taking the instrument home with you right away – a difficult task if you are buying a piano– or have it delivered by the seller or another party, get insurance. Accidents do happen, whether or not you believe in Murphy’s Law!

Make a list

As mentioned before, the best way to ensure that you are not buying a lemon is to deal only with reputable sellers who have been recommended to you by people you know and trust. This is all the more crucial when you are buying a second-hand instrument, which comes with its own history. It may look wonderful but looks could be deceiving, so make sure you ask all the right questions, which are pretty much the same you’d ask if you were purchasing a used car. For instance:

• Who owned the instrument and how many people played it?
• Who tuned it and performed maintenance on it, and how often?
• When not in use, where was the instrument stored?
• Have there been any major repairs? (Cosmetic flaws due to normal use don’t matter, but stay away from an instrument that had been broken or otherwise damaged – unless you are confident it can be repaired).
• Check the valves, keys, frets, strings, and all the other pieces to make sure they are in working order. Last but not least, play it! Does it sound right, as this particular instrument should, or does the noise remind you of a pack of banshees?
• Even used equipment often carries some sort of limited warranty, so get it in writing. And never, ever, buy an instrument “as is,” unless, as stated above, you don’t care about its condition because you are certain you (or someone else) can do the necessary repairs.

We are here for you!

Now that you brought your bundle of joy home (or had it delivered), the next step is to book lessons. We recommend that you choose your music school with as much care as you put into selecting your instrument. Questions to ask: which music school has well trained and highly experienced teachers? Answer: we do! And which school offers convenient private lessons right in your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office? That would be us again! Let’s put it this way: over the years, we have given thousands of music lessons to New Yorkers of all ages and proficiency levels, and have never had a single dissatisfied client – human or instrument.

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Manhattan Music School’s Instrument Buying Guide appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

The topic of this blog – recycling – may surprise you. But, as you will soon find out, there IS a connection between recycling and music. Yes, really! Now, unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, or just landed on Earth from another planet, you certainly know what the term “recycling” means:  making new products out of old materials.

Not only is recycling good for the environment because it conserves precious resources, but it also “breathes” new life into items that would otherwise be discarded, adding to the already toxic pollution. Think of it as a “reincarnation” of sorts: an old and seemingly useless object can, in a manner of speaking, be born again. And this is where the topics of recycling and music converge.

From trash to art

Recently, we came across a very interesting article about Gary Zimnicki, a Michigan luthier (a person who makes or repairs string instruments) who is using reclaimed floorboards and ceilings from dismantled vacant buildings to make ukuleles and mandolins. Zimnicki, who, as the article notes “has been making high end guitars, mandolins and ukuleles for musicians all over the world” for over 30 years, “began using old floorboards and ceiling joists to craft more than a dozen instruments.” Although the work is difficult – it involves cleaning off “decades of dirt and gunk and then sawing into the very hard wood,” Zimnicki says the effort is worthwhile: the 100-year-old floorboards “produce a deep, rich sound.” It goes without saying that Zimnicki is to be lauded for thinking out of the box, and for being so creative and imaginative.

Old instruments never die

If you are concerned about preserving the environment, you are familiar with the “three Rs” concept: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Zimnicki is reusing and recycling old parts and, at the same time, reducing potential waste so it doesn’t end up in a landfill somewhere, polluting the air we breathe and the water we drink. But you might be wondering what happens to old musical instruments once they emit their last sound? Can they be reused and recycled? The answer is yes…and yes. With a dash of creativity, you can turn old instruments into some very cool decorative objects, which will add a unique personality to your home. For instance, instruments and other musical accessories can be transformed into lighting fixtures, side tables, shelves, and other unique pieces. Yes, we know, this is not your conventional home decor, but it just shows that the love of music takes – literally – many different forms and shapes!

Let us into your environment!

Our Hey Joe Guitar teachers don’t care what your furniture looks like or, for that matter, whether you have any at all (okay, we take it back: a couple of chairs – even recycled ones – to sit on during a lesson would be nice). As long as there is an instrument (brand new, second-hand, or even made from old floorboards) and a student willing to play it, we will happily come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale home or office and give you or your child music lessons.

Photo by Darla Robbins

The post NYC Guitar School: The “Reincarnation” of Musical Instruments appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.