The name of Leonardo da Vinci is most often associated with his famous painting, the Mona Lisa. However, Leonardo was – literally – a quintessential Renaissance man, whose many talents encompassed mathematics, architecture, engineering, and other fields.

Among his many inventions was a little-known musical instrument, which he called “viola organista” – a string organ that can best be described as a blend of a harpsichord and cello.

The viola organista never really caught on, but recently a Polish musician used Leonardo’s 500-year-old design to build – and perform on – the mysterious instrument. Its sounds are truly unique and very beautiful.

Who knows how popular Leonardo’s invention would have become had it ever been mass-produced. It may not have ended up in the Louvre museum like the Mona Lisa, but it could have brought lots of pleasure and enjoyment to music lovers everywhere!

Playing their own tune

This is just one example of a little-known instrument, but there are many others. Unlike the viola organista, however, these instruments actually exist and are used – though not widely. Here’s a list of some interesting musical creations you likely never knew existed:

• The design of an instrument called the “gameleste” was commissioned by the Icelandic singer Björk for her 2011 album Biophilia. It’s a combination of a traditional Indonesian gamelan and a piano-like celesta. This hybrid instrument is quite unique and the sound it emits is ear-pleasing .
• The wheelharp is one of the newer kids on the block- it made its debut at the 2013 National Association of Music Merchants Show in California. An impressive piece of engineering, it has 61 strings that can be individually played and its sound is quite dramatic .
• The serpent is so called because it is shaped like a snake. Its sound , however, has nothing to do with hissing; in fact, to our ears it sounds more like a contrabass.
• And speaking of the contrabass, meet a device called the subcontrabass flute, which, at 15 feet long, is one of the largest instruments in the flute family. As you can hear, the sound it emits is quite dramatic in its intensity.

There are, of course, many, many more little-known but interesting instruments out there. Aren’t you glad we told you?

We’re not re-inventing the wheel

If you would like to have lessons in any the above-mentioned instruments, we’d better tell you right away: regretfully, we won’t be able to help you.

But if you are interested in learning to play the guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, mandolin, or have voice lessons – contact us.

One of our excellent teachers will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office and give you or your child music instruction. We may teach only ordinary instruments, but our lessons are truly EXTRAordinary!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

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NYC weather can be extreme sometimes – sizzling hot and humid summers and frigid winters. But what lies in between – fall and spring – is usually very pleasant.

Let’s talk about autumn. You don’t have to live in New England to enjoy changing colors – New York boasts some beautiful foliage as well, and you can observe how the golden-yellow and red leaves turn the sometimes gray city landscape into a beautiful burst of color. There is crispness in the air and the fragrance of freshly fallen leaves.

All this scenery makes us want to…sing! What is it you are saying – that there are no good autumn songs? We bet to disagree. Here’s Hey Joe Guitar’s Fall Playlist of our favorite fall tunes:

Warm and fuzzy…

“The Autumn Leaves” by Nat King Cole

“Forever Autumn” by the Moody Blues

“Autumn Changes” by Donna Summer

“When the Leaves Come Falling Down” by Van Morrison

“November Blue” by the Avert Brothers

Those are just some of our favorite autumn tunes – do you have any of your own?

Nature’s bounty

“There’s peanut dust and corn husks drifting’ through the air tonight
The marching’ band’s warming’ up under the football lights
There’s tractor-trailers backed up down by the elevator
Train track grain car will roll in later
Get filled up and head on out in the world.”

~ “Harvest Time” by Luke Bryan

The fall season conjures up images not only of changing and falling leaves, but also brings to mind shiny chestnuts, acorns, apples, corn, pumpkins, squash, and other seasonal delicacies.

Which brings us to the subject of harvest. Autumn is the traditional harvest time – the fruition of all that had been sown and planted earlier in the year.

And that is another reason to celebrate the fall with season-appropriate songs:

“Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

“Harvest Time” by Luke Bryan

And for a different vibe, listen to this upbeat reggae rendition:

“The Harvest” by Tribal Seeds

“Chill” out with Manhattan music lessons

As the air is getting chiller and nippier, and the days get shorter and darker, you probably like to stay indoors for your music lessons. No problem – our teachers will come to your home or office – not just in Manhattan, but also in Brooklyn and the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

They will not help you shuck ears of corn or carve the pumpkins, but they will definitely help you “grow” and develop your musical skills, so you can “reap” the rewards of what you have sown.

The post New York City Guitar School Will Bring You A New Crop Of Songs appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

In Mexico and some other countries, this holiday (El Día de los Muertos in Spanish), focuses on the remembrance of and prayer for departed family members, so it is certainly more touching and solemn in nature than the spooky events associated with Halloween. Yet, as many other celebrations that take place south of the border, the Day of the Dead has a cheery vibe to it. We will tell you about it in a moment, but for now, let’s have a quick look at the history behind this holiday.

A cultural legacy

Mexican traditions connected with this holiday include building of private altars honoring the deceased, and visiting, as well as decorating, their graves.

It is believed that the modern-day El Día de los Muertos celebrations have their origin in centuries-old indigenous observances and traditions, including an ancient festival dedicated to the Aztec goddess with a tongue twisting name of Mictecacihuatl, who was the ruling queen of the underworld and afterlife. With time, as Catholicism became the dominant religion in Latin America and Europe, the native Mexican customs associated with El Día de los Muertos spilled over to the commemoration of All Saints’ Day on November 1. In the United States, especially in areas with a high concentration of Mexicans, the Day of the Dead is also celebrated. In NYC, Mano a Mano, an organization dedicated to the promotion of Mexican culture, is planning a variety of activities for this week’s celebrations, which everyone, Mexican or not, is welcome to attend And there are festivities for children as well. El Día de los Muertos is such as big part of Mexico’s native traditions that in 2008 this festival was recognized by UNESCO as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which honors “traditions or living expressions passed down through generations in the form of oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, or knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.”

Grateful dead

As we mentioned before, even though it commemorates the decreased, there is nothing morbid about El Día de los Muertos. Black is not the dominant color in this celebration – in fact, the altars and graves are decorated in vibrant colors, including elaborate floral arrangements and even the departed person’s favorite food. And what about music? Forget gloomy tunes usually associated with death and funerals – Mexico’s Day of the Dead melodies are upbeat, with distinct drum, chime and guitar sounds, like these two folk songs: “La Calaca Flaca” by Oscar Chavez “Viene La Muerte” by Amparo Ochoa

Go “live” with Manhattan music school

We at Hey Joe Guitar love all folklore-rich festivities, especially the ones that feature great music. Not only do these events expose us to melodies we may not normally get to hear, but they also show how important music is in all kinds of celebrations. Hopefully, by hearing these sounds you will be inspired to make beautiful music of your own. Starting is easy – just contact us and we will send one of our excellent NYC teachers to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office. It’s going to be muy caliente!

Photo Credit: Felicity Rainnie

The post ¡Hola Mexico – with Manhattan Music School! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

We always talk about the benefits of music, but let’s be honest –it can be scary too!

And with Halloween just around the corner, prepare to be frightened, because we will share with you some of the spookiest songs on our playlist. As a public service, we are dividing this list into two parts: one (a less scary one) for kids, and the other one, for adults.

So put on your costume and let’s get the party rolling!

A sweet Halloween

Kids like dressing up and trick-or-treating. Make their Halloween a pleasant one (and only mildly scary) with these fun, childproof songs:

Five Little Pumpkins

Ten Little Monsters

Spooky, spooky

Too Spooky for Me

The little ones will have loads of fun with these tunes – just make sure they don’t sing with their mouths full of candy!

Boo!!!

Okay, so kids are now tucked in bed (unless they are hyped up on the sugar rush and are wide awake), and now it’s your turn to party.

Imagine that you are in a haunted house with creaky floorboards and masses of cobwebs hanging from ever nook and cranny. All of a sudden, you hear a ghostly / ghoulish shriek, and a black cat lands on your shoulder. The lights flicker off and on, and the cat morphs into an evil witch clad in black from the tip of her pointed hat to the hem of her dress. The witch points her gnarly hands at you, with sharp nails that have been uncut in several centuries and says: “If you don’t play some good music this very minute, I will put a spell on you!”

So, you have no choice but to bring out your iPod and start playing. For this occasion, may we suggest these frightfully terrific pieces of music?

“Thriller” – Michael Jackson

According to Billboard magazine, this is the most-downloaded Halloween-themed hit of all-time.

“Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker Jr.

This song topped the Hot 100 in 1984, the year when it was first released.

“Runnin’ with the Devil” – Van Halen

This 1978 hard rock hit is a classic Halloween song

“A Nightmare on my Street” – D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

In 1988, before Will Smith became a mega star he is today, he recorded (at the height of his “Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills” days) this hip-hop tune, which ranked No. 15 on the Hot 100.

Magic in your home

Halloween comes but once a year, but our Manhattan music lessons take place all year long. Whatever type of music you (or your child) want to learn, our teachers will come (but not on a broomstick) to your Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale (Bronx) home or office for private lessons.

Our instructors are among the best in NYC, but don’t be afraid that they’ll put a spell on you. They WILL, however, teach you some wonderfully bewitching music!

Photo Credit: Pedro J. Ferreira

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