The Future of Music?

8 February 2010 | No Comments »

For those of you that play clarinet: do you think these will be all the rage soon? If so, you might want to run to the produce section of your local grocery store.

Piano Recital – March 6, 2010

5 February 2010 | No Comments »

Debra Vergara is having a piano recital for all of her students on
Saturday, March 6 2010 at 11 AM.

It will be held at the Stars Theater, located at 1931 Chester Avenue.

This Weekend’s Festivities

5 February 2010 | No Comments »

This weekend features two musical events you should try to be a part of:

1) Frontier High School will be hosting the first Drumline PPAACC event of the year at the school (Allen Road and Olive Drive). The competition will start at 10 AM Saturday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids, and free for those 6 and under.

2) The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra will be holding a concert entitled Mahler and Much More. Composer Doug David from CSUB will be performing a new work.The concert is Saturday at 8 PM at the Rabobank Theater.

Be sure to come out and support our local talent!

This Too Shall Pass

5 February 2010 | No Comments »

Here’s something that’s guaranteed to brighten up your day! It gets better as the song progresses.

Jim Walker Flute Master Class Series/Concert — April 9

4 February 2010 | No Comments »

For those of you in Kern and Tulare County, internationally renowned artist Jim Walker will be in Porterville April 9 for a series of classes and an evening concert. Please see the flyer below for more details.

Jim Walker Flyer 1.25.10

The Yamaha YAS-62IIS — Our Test

4 February 2010 | No Comments »

Here is Steve Engel, one of our instructors, testing out the Dave Koz selected Yamaha YAS-62IIS in store. He gives his analysis at the end of the video. What are your thoughts?

Four Things To Know Before Buying an Instrument or Mouthpiece

3 February 2010 | 1 Comment »

Several years ago I figured out a method that never fails in making a decision to purchase an instrument or mouthpiece. After years of just handing a young customer an instrument or a mouthpiece, then watching them struggle with a decision to purchase an upgraded product (based on the fact that somebody told them to buy a specific model), I decided that knowledge is power. To help make the right decision, here are four things to know before making an upgrade purchase.

NOTE: It is very important to bring your own mouthpiece and instrument when testing in order to have a better frame of reference!

RULE 1: PLAY A SCALE.
The scale you choose should be both familiar and covers the instrument’s range. Listen for pitch accuracy and tone. Feel the response and make a mental note of how the instrument responds in the lower, middle, and upper registers. Ask yourself:

How does the instrument feel in my hands?
Are there any awkward key positions or anything hindering my playing?
Does the upper register close off?
Does it play in tune?
Is the instrument free blowing?
Is there too much back pressure?

RULE 2: PLAY INTERVALS.
Thirds, fourths, fifths, and octaves are a good starting point. Feel how the instrument responds. Ask yourself:

Do the notes come easy?
Do you overshoot the notes?
Is this something you like and can get used to?
How do the notes lock into their intervals?

RULE 3: PLAY DYNAMICS.
Play softly in all the registers while taking mental notes on how the instrument speaks. Play loud and see where the instrument ‘breaks up.’ Play a good crescendo. Ask yourself:

Do you want the instrument or mouthpiece to break up quickly or not?

RULE 4: PLAY FAMILIAR PIECES.
Play something soft, slow, legato, and articulate. Listen to the overall tonal color. Ask a friend to listen and ask them what they think. Feel the response of the instrument and where it responds differently than what you are used to.

Very seldom does an instrument or mouthpiece meet all the criteria we desire; it’s more like a process of elimination. For example, I play on a Schilke 31 mouthpiece. Although it doesn’t have a quick response like my previous Markcinkwicz, it does have a good response with better tone, an excellent range for that tone, plenty of dynamic room, and is comfortable to play. I would say that it is a great match for my Holton Farkas H179.

Most importantly, take your time in selecting! Don’t just buy something because somebody told you it’s better for you or that a salesman says this model is just as good as the model that was suggested to you by a friend or instructor.

With knowledge comes power and great responsibility. Use it wisely. You’ll be glad you did.