When the the piano was first developed back in the 18th century by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the famous Italian Harpsichord maker, the idea was to make it like a harpsichord with both loud and soft sounds. The strategy for creating it was taken from a combination of the clavichord’s expressive attributes and the magnificence of the harpsichord. This resulted in a wonderful pianoforte that could play a range of loud to soft notes.

The use of hammers on the piano forte were a substitute for the harpsicord’s quills, and the piano player’s applied force to their fingers according to the depth of volume they required. The piano’s hammer briefly struck the strings and that allowed them to vibrate freely. After this action, dampers were used to fall onto the strings and thereby immediately stop the vibration and associated sound. Two of Cristofori’s beautifully crafted instruments can be viewed in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and in Leipzig, Germany.

Cristofori’s master invention was used by the famous clavichord and organ constructor, Silbermann, who made two of them in the 1720s, and later gave them as gifts to Bach. A few adjustments needed to be made, and in Potsdam the late 1740s, Bach used a Silbermann pianoforte to entertain Fredrick the Great. Every pianoforte until this period was shaped like a harpsichord, just as with the grand pianos of our time.

By the start of the 19th century, the pianoforte evolved, and this resulted in different forms and shapes. The ones which received most attention, were the giraffe (cabinet) piano, the the now standard square piano, as well as pianos with an iron frame to provide a robust base. In the case of the latter, the tone and sound were generated via the wood (sound board), at the rear of the strings.

This page is dedicated on offering users some information about violins and their specific sound, which makes them some of the most acoustic and recognizable instruments in the whole musical world, making them the choice of so many musicians. Consequently, almost all operas and orchestras are featuring violins, exactly because of their very subtle yet powerful sound.

Be it amateur musicians or full-time professionals, the choice of violin as a musical instrument is quite common and it offers a great degree of leniency in terms of learning prospects and the potential outcomes. Being highly portable and playable in almost any environment or entourage, the violin with its wooden construction has an distinguishable sound, which is very difficult to be mistaken to other instruments. Featuring a large acoustic “case” and corresponding strings, it enables the player to modulate the actual resulting sounds quite easily, by simply touching and pushing the strings against the wooden peg that serves as a musical “partition”.

By alternating the position of the fingers on the strings, both longitudinally and laterally, the player can achieve impressive transitions for the resulting sounds, and this is accentuated even more by the way which the bow touches the strings. Therefore, a double modulation is possible, both through the bow, which delivers the main, core sounds, as well as through the movement of fingers on the strings, which can add an extra touch, almost like a nuance to the produced sounds.

Depending on the position of the wooden bridge, the length of the neck or the thickness and rigidity of the strings, the resulting sounds can be altered with almost endless possibilities, offering the musician a great degree of flexibility and ingenuity when playing the violin.

In addition to the classic violins, the electric ones feature a piezoelectric or magnetic pickup, which captures and returns the sound, by converting it to electric signals and distributing it to corresponding speakers.

Right up there with the violins, the cello, or the so called “big brother” of the violin, emphasizes a more powerful sound, often-times with a more pronounced bass and low tonality, making it the ideal instrument for adding drama and strength to any musical arrangement.

This page will offer an overview about cellos, their unique characteristics, similarities with violins and the numerous possibilities it offers its musicians.

Featuring a larger body and additional elements for ergonomics, the cello is considerably more powerful than the violin, yielding sounds which are rich in low tonalities and induce dramatic streaks in the musical compositions where it is being involved. Having a larger body means that the acoustic capabilities are significantly increased, allowing the capturing of more air in its chamber, providing more resonance and a more powerful output.

With a classic neck and string arrangement, such as the violin, the cello does feature thicker strings, which may be looser than the ones present on a violin, and this is the aspect that is determinant in terms of lower tonality and increased bass and power. However, due to the increased size of the cello in comparison to the violin, the first features an aiding device, in the form of a peg, which has the role of offering support and balance for the musician playing the cello, by leaving it supported on the ground and holding it with the free arm further away from the body than the violin.

Having the strings usually an octave lower than the violins, means that the cello will offer far more bass and power in its output, enabling its player to really stand out in the orchestra or musical ensemble where he or she would be playing.

As with the violin, the cello also features electric variants, which basically rely on the same principle of converting the bow friction to electrical impulses, through a piezoelectric device.

As with any other art form, music represents a great way for one to express his or her feelings, especially since music has always been considered as great means for conveying emotion and sensitivity from the human mind and soul, to actual sounds and compositions.

On the following paragraphs, a more in-depth look will be taken at the possibilities of choosing music as a hobby, and especially its particularities and characteristics that make it such a great past time activity.

Since music enables one to easily express what he or she feels inside, it’s no wonder why so many people rely to music in order to find their peace and tranquility, or quite the opposite, to be able to express their powerful ideas and even controlled anger in their musical performances. The ability to convey emotions into sound is wonderful and not found in almost any other art form.

Determining if one is inclined to music and playing musical instruments isn’t a detrimental step in choosing music as a hobby, since regardless if a person has taken contact with musical instruments or has heard musical compositions before, the initial contact with a given instrument or the first impact that hearing a musical piece has on a person, will most likely dictate if that person could find relaxation and leisure in such a practice.

To this end, the recommended process would involve listening to various musical genres, compositions and pieces and if one wishes to deepen even more the understanding of his or her musical “calling”, holding and trying various musical instruments is a good way to determine which might be the best choice.

All those who have entered the wonderful world of musical instruments have testified time and again about the numerous benefits and advantages this undertaking has brought in their lives, especially through the prism of expressing feelings, spirituality and emotion.

Once a particular person has decided that he or she would like to pursue music as a hobby or even as a professional endeavor, the next logical step is determining which might be the preferred or “adequate” instrument for them, their musical preferences, unique characteristics and requirements.

Some general guidelines will be provided on this page, which was designed in order to allow users to find the task of choosing a musical instrument, a far easier task than before.

• Determining what music type one person likes is the first step in determining which musical instrument would best fit that person. Listening to various musical pieces and genres is likely the key for establishing at least, the main area of attraction from the musical world;
• Imagining a specific situation in which the person would find himself or herself playing is another trick that can be used for narrowing down the choices, especially if one prefers a more quieter environment, unlike pubs or jazz venues;
• The costs and the allocated budget is yet another important factor, since it determines the quality of the selected instruments and the category as well, since there are great discrepancies in between musical instruments;
• The available practice environment will also dictate the characteristics of the musical instrument, since it induces limitations that can be detrimental for some instruments. A small chamber will not provide the best acoustics, when compared with a school room or even a larger, orchestra space;
• Availability of instructors for learning a chosen instrument will narrow down the choices even more, since it will allow the user to find what teachers are available in a respective area and, consequently determine the potential instruments that he or she can learn.
• Last but not least, the time factor plays a considerable role in choosing a musical instrument, as the amount of free time a person has determines the actual time that will be spent practicing a given instrument.

Opposite to other musical instruments, such as the piano, violin or cello, the drums produce a quite different sound and offer a different insight into the world of tonalities and sound. To find out more about the fun percussion instruments, users are welcome to read the following paragraphs, where more information will be provided about drums and their unusual nature.

Percussion instruments in general have a distinctive, clear sound, which definitely sets them apart from other instruments, making them a great addition to any musical ensemble, since they provide a way of expressing power and strength in sounds that cannot be achieved through other instruments.

Having an impressive history and going back to ancient times, when the first civilizations were discovering sounds and were making the transition from verbal sounds to the ones produced through other means, the drums have as their main characteristic, the repetitive hitting motion, which represents the driving force of their functioning. Initially coming from the human’s inclination of hitting objects, the drums were developed using animal materials, such as turtle cases or animal rawhide, dried out and wrapped around any acoustic assemblies.

Today’s drums have evolved significantly and their variety and diversity offers musicians all around the world the possibility to customize the sounds of their musical compositions to a degree that was impossible to achieve in the past. Being available in different sizes, means that by adequately combining multiple drums for a musical ensemble, one can easily achieve a wide range of tonality, since each size will offer a different sound, both in terms of power and nuance.

Furthermore, by altering the shape of the resonance room across which the membrane is wrapped, different sounds can be achieved and therefore even more variation put into the musical composition, this way enhancing the fun and excitement even more.

Choosing music as a hobby or profession and interacting with different musical instruments will offer all those who have decided to do so a great degree of accomplishment, both spiritually and artistically. On this page, more details will be offered regarding the positive influence that music can have on one’s life, especially in terms of increasing happiness and self content.

Making the transition from a different hobby to playing a musical instrument or just selecting an instrument for the first time and beginning to play can make a world of difference in one’s life. Not only music will soothe one’s free time, but also offer the chance to retreat into a world of peace and calmness, where sounds represent the means to express and communicate feelings or emotions which could otherwise be impossible to express.

Depending on the selected musical instrument, different states of mind can be achieved, as each instrument carries within it different sounds, tonalities, power or capabilities, this being translated into almost endless possibilities for achieving an elevated state. Be it drums, with their rhythmic sounds, violins with a more nuanced, suave sound or pianos, with a crisp and clear music, the choice of instrument will dictate the state in which the player will find himself or herself.

Those who are witty and have a fierce temper will surely find themselves into more aggressive and powerful instruments, such as drums or electric guitars. Those looking for a more dramatic or even sober representation of their feelings, and implicitly a more intense way of living the moment.

Finally, people who seek real tranquility and peacefulness, can resort to violins and cellos, which will surely offer more subtle accents and a more refined experience, regardless of the yielded sounds. This can prove to be a great way of achieving relaxation and a more happy state of mind.

For those who have had contact with musical instruments in the past, or those who have chosen to pursue a career into the musical world, reaching a certain level in their performances can prove to be a significant milestone, especially from a personal, achievement perspective. However, upon reaching a higher level, some might find themselves struggling to overcome that level and strive for even more results and perfecting their actual performance.

This page offers musicians some tips on how to improve their musical performances, regardless of their instrument of choice, through proper training and discipline.

Just like with any other professional performing activity, the musical performances can be improved by working hard and focusing on the important elements that constitute the core of any musical performance. This is true for any skill. For example, if you want to improve your knowledge about the upcoming football tournament, you’ll read all the info about the Euros that you could come across, prior to placing a bet. In music, you would do the same thing- hone your skill and knowledge to improve over time.

Identifying the areas where a musician might struggle or require improvements is one of the first steps that can be taken in order to increase the performance level. Although musical performances rely heavily on the inherent talent of the musicians, the degree to which certain training techniques and discipline can influence the performance is quite high. This is being complicated even more by the fact that most of the input from the musician is based on the inspiration that comes with the different playing environments and this can also have a great impact on the overall performance.

Adhering to a strict training routine and respecting several musical rules, in accordance with the different musical instruments, is another key element for preserving a high level of performance. Continually perfecting oneself through training and repetition will provide the basis upon which the inherent talent can come and complete the musical picture, by offering the much required “human touch”. Finally, adding the inspiration that comes momentarily and differently for each musician, musical performances can be refined even more.