Knowledgebase
Classical Music: Historical Periods, Forms & Style
Last Updated: August 11, 2026Classical music refers to the tradition of Western art music that developed over several centuries. Written notation, formal structures, and an evolving repertoire performed to the present day all define it. The term covers many historical periods, and each one carries its own conventions of style, form, and instrumentation. Understanding these periods and forms gives...
The Violin: Construction, Playing Technique & the Bow
Last Updated: August 10, 2026The violin is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the bowed string family. That family also includes the viola, cello, and double bass. It produces sound when a player draws a bow across its strings and sets them vibrating, though the strings can also be plucked. Valued for its expressive, singing tone, the violin holds...
The Flute: The Boehm System, Sound Production & Technique
Last Updated: August 11, 2026The flute is a woodwind instrument that produces sound without a reed, which distinguishes it from most other members of its family. The player blows air across an opening in the instrument and splits the airstream to set the internal air column vibrating. Although we classify it as a woodwind, the modern concert flute is...
Private, Group & Online Music Lessons: Formats & Effectiveness
Last Updated: August 11, 2026Teachers deliver music instruction in several formats, and each one has distinct strengths. The three most common are private one-on-one lessons, group classes, and online lessons over video. Understanding how these formats differ, and how they complement one another, helps students and families choose an approach. The right choice suits your goals, your instrument, and...
Learning a Musical Instrument: Practice, Progression & Skill Development
Last Updated: August 10, 2026Learning a musical instrument is a gradual process of developing coordinated physical skills, listening ability, and musical understanding over time. Progress depends far less on innate talent than on the quality and consistency of practice. Understanding how skills are built, and what effective practice looks like, helps students and families set realistic expectations and approach...
The Violin: Construction, Playing Technique & the Bow
Last Updated: August 10, 2026The violin is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the bowed string family. That family also includes the viola, cello, and double bass. It produces sound when a player draws a bow across its strings and sets them vibrating, though the strings can also be plucked. Valued for its expressive, singing tone, the violin holds...
The Clarinet: The Single Reed, Registers & Construction
Last Updated: August 10, 2026The clarinet is a single-reed woodwind instrument known for its wide range and versatile tone. It spans warm, mellow low notes to bright, penetrating high notes. The instrument produces sound when air causes a single reed to vibrate against the mouthpiece. Its defining acoustic feature is a cylindrical bore, and this shape gives the clarinet...
Music Theory Fundamentals: Notation, Scales, Keys & Rhythm
Last Updated: August 11, 2026Music theory is the study of how music is organized. It provides the vocabulary and notation that we use to read, write, and understand music. Its fundamentals describe how the page represents pitch and rhythm, and how notes combine into scales, keys, and chords. A working grasp of these fundamentals underpins nearly every aspect of...
The Cello: Construction, Technique & Musical Range
Last Updated: August 10, 2026The cello, formally the violoncello, is the tenor and bass voice of the bowed string family. It sits in pitch below the viola and above the double bass. It is considerably larger than the violin and viola, so the player performs seated. In this position, the instrument rests on the floor and sits between the...
The Piano: Anatomy, Mechanism & How It Produces Sound
Last Updated: August 10, 2026The piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound by striking strings with felt-covered hammers. Musicians classify it as both a string and a percussion instrument, because a striking action sets its strings in motion rather than bowing or plucking. The piano can play softly or loudly depending on how firmly you press each key....