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Latest News
NAMM Announces that Some “Believe in Music Week” Online Content is Still Available; In-Person Summer NAMM Set for July 15-17
NAMM announced that while its Believe in Music Week online portal has officially closed as of Feb. 28, some of the educational and entertainment content lives on, and those interested in accessing on-demand articles and videos can do so by going to namm.org. NAMM is welcoming attendees in person at its next major event, Summer […]
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New Philharmonic Presents Pianist Wael Farouk in Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos No. 1, 2 and 3
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. – Internationally acclaimed pianist, Wael Farouk joins New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), for “Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos.” This unprecedented concert program, conducted by Maestro Kirk Muspratt and recorded at the MAC’s Belushi Performance Hall stage, will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, then […]
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Murphy Music Press Releases Beginning Band Adaptable Series
Murphy Music Press’ Beginning Band Adaptable Series is now available. The first two volumes feature a collection of eight new Grade 0.5 compositions for flexible instrumentation.
Read More
Michael Mayo, Theo Bleckmann, and Human Rights Campaign to Join DC Jazz Festival’s “OutLoud!” Event on March 11
WASHINGTON D.C. – DC Jazz Festival and the Embassies of Finland and Sweden in Washington, D.C. are hosting a panel on LGBTQI+ experiences in the music industry. We are excited to announce the addition of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) as a collaborative partner, and international singer and Mack Avenue recording artist, Michael Mayo, and […]
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Hal Leonard Virtual Choir Toolkits Provide Audio Tracks & Licensing for Virtual Performances
For the past year, choir directors have been challenged with keeping their choirs singing together in any way possible. Hal Leonard and Shawnee Press have just released a series of Virtual Choir Toolkits that make directors’ tasks a little easier. Each kit includes downloadable demonstration, accompaniment, and part-dominant recordings along with licensing permissions needed to […]
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In Memoriam: Laurie Austin
The RPMDA shared the following sad news recently about the passing of RPMDA past president Laurie Austin at her home in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 22. She also served on the RPMDA board for many years.
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Ten U.S. Schools Named ‘Yamaha Institutions of Excellence’
Yamaha has named 10 distinguished colleges and universities to its inaugural Yamaha Institution of Excellence program, recognizing extraordinary commitment to innovation in the study of music.
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NAMM Foundation and Industry Leaders Announce Bernice Ash Memorial Award
Industry leaders Fred and Dinah Gretsch, Jerry Ash, and members of the Ash Family and The NAMM Foundation are announcing the creation of the Bernice Ash Memorial Award.
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Applications To Perform or Present at JEN’s 13th Annual Conference Now Open
The Jazz Education Network (JEN) invites those who are interested in performing or presenting at the group’s 13th annual conference to apply. The conference is set for Jan. 5-8, 2022. Applications are being accepted in the following categories: PERFORMANCES School Community Professional CLINIC PRESENTATIONS Classroom Teaching / Education Composition / Arranging Technology Improvisation Instrument Technique […]
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“Ukulele for Young Beginners” by Jake Shimabukuro
Anyone who’s attended a Jake Shimabukuro concert or workshop knows what a remarkable ukulele player he is, and how amiable and charismatic he can be. With all of these abilities, it’s no wonder he’s great with kids, too. This book also uses video lessons to help kids learn how to play the ukulele.
Read More
NAMM Announces that Some “Believe in Music Week” Online Content is Still Available; In-Person Summer NAMM Set for July 15-17
NAMM announced that while its Believe in Music Week online portal has officially closed as of Feb. 28, some of the educational and entertainment content lives on, and those interested in accessing on-demand articles and videos can do so by going to namm.org. NAMM is welcoming attendees in person at its next major event, Summer […]
Read MoreNew Philharmonic Presents Pianist Wael Farouk in Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos No. 1, 2 and 3
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. – Internationally acclaimed pianist, Wael Farouk joins New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), for “Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos.” This unprecedented concert program, conducted by Maestro Kirk Muspratt and recorded at the MAC’s Belushi Performance Hall stage, will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, then […]
Read MoreMichael Mayo, Theo Bleckmann, and Human Rights Campaign to Join DC Jazz Festival’s “OutLoud!” Event on March 11
WASHINGTON D.C. – DC Jazz Festival and the Embassies of Finland and Sweden in Washington, D.C. are hosting a panel on LGBTQI+ experiences in the music industry. We are excited to announce the addition of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) as a collaborative partner, and international singer and Mack Avenue recording artist, Michael Mayo, and […]
Read MoreIn Memoriam: Laurie Austin
The RPMDA shared the following sad news recently about the passing of RPMDA past president Laurie Austin at her home in Portland, Oregon, on Feb. 22. She also served on the RPMDA board for many years.
Read MoreTen U.S. Schools Named ‘Yamaha Institutions of Excellence’
Yamaha has named 10 distinguished colleges and universities to its inaugural Yamaha Institution of Excellence program, recognizing extraordinary commitment to innovation in the study of music.
Read MoreNAMM Foundation and Industry Leaders Announce Bernice Ash Memorial Award
Industry leaders Fred and Dinah Gretsch, Jerry Ash, and members of the Ash Family and The NAMM Foundation are announcing the creation of the Bernice Ash Memorial Award.
Read MoreApplications To Perform or Present at JEN’s 13th Annual Conference Now Open
The Jazz Education Network (JEN) invites those who are interested in performing or presenting at the group’s 13th annual conference to apply. The conference is set for Jan. 5-8, 2022. Applications are being accepted in the following categories: PERFORMANCES School Community Professional CLINIC PRESENTATIONS Classroom Teaching / Education Composition / Arranging Technology Improvisation Instrument Technique […]
Read More
NEC presents “Grow Your Art” Music and Business Residency and Performance with Maria Schneider
Multi-Grammy Award-winning composer and bandleader Maria Schneider will work with NEC students through Grow Your Art, a collaborative music and business residency and performance series set for March 2, 3 & 4. Maria Schneider and the NEC Jazz Orchestra will also perform on March 10.
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The Atlanta Music Project Presents Music of the African Diaspora Festival
The Atlanta Music Project’s virtual Music of the African Diaspora Festival takes place Feb. 25-28 on Facebook Live. The series of concerts kicks off Feb. 25 with The Next Generation: A Recital by the Young Musicians of the AMP Academy. Next up is Studio Sessions: An Evening with the Faculty of the Atlanta Music Project on Feb. 26. Then on Feb. 28, Songs of Solidarity: Chamber Music Ensembles of the Atlanta Music Project. All concerts start 7pm EST.
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PracticeFirst and Excelcia Music Publishing Announce Collaboration
To provide their subscribers with a robust selection of educational content, music software company MusicFirst has entered into a new collaboration with educational music publisher, Excelcia Music Publishing. This joint effort allows MusicFirst customers who have subscribed to their performance assessment software, PracticeFirst, to access Excelcia Music Publishing’s concert band, orchestra and choral titles in the app at no additional cost.
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Realtime Music Solutions May Have Your Distance Rehearsal Solution Today
For over two decades, New York City-based Realtime Music Solutions (RMS) has been delivering solutions for rehearsing music to the musical theater market. Through software products, RMS has helped countless national, regional, and local theater productions, in addition to serving the school musical production community. And like everyone, when COVID-19 hit, their business was hit hard. No productions means no rehearsals.
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JamKazam Just May Save Ensembles in a Virtual Teaching World
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JamKazam founder David Wilson was a band kid growing up. He started on trumpet then switched to euphonium. He raised band kids. His eldest son played sax and his daughter plays trumpet in the marching band at Baylor. JamKazam is an online real-time group performance platform for Windows and Mac OS computers. It allows musicians to hear and perform with each other with extremely low latency, and even stream the sum of that performance out via video to YouTube and Facebook Live.
Dorico 3.5: Innovation in Notation
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Steinberg’s music notation program, Dorico, has a fascinating history. From the outset, there were rumors and conjectures about what to expect from this new product, followed by an initial release that was clearly incomplete, leaving many to wonder if and when we would see a fully functional program.
Reference 4: Room EQ Made Simple
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If you follow any of the online groups on music production, you know a day doesn’t go by when someone doesn’t ask about what gear they should buy for their studios. The responses predictably include everyone’s favorite mics, plug-ins, and speakers.
Steinberg’s Dorico 3
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The latest version of Dorico, Steinberg’s professional engraving program, has been released, and it includes an impressive list of new features and improvements.
Soundtrap: Musicmaking and Podcasting for the Classroom
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Those of you who are old enough might remember Moore’s Law, the idea that computing power would double every 1-2 years.
Eventide H9 Max: Big Effects in a Small Package
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Eventide has a long history of innovation and quality. In the mid-70s, they were the first to bring a digital effects device to market with the H910 Harmonizer. By the 1980s, the H3000 Ultra-Harmonizer added intelligent scalar harmonization and became standard equipment in top studios around the world.
Steinberg Does Jazz
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Jazz has always been something of an afterthought in music technology. Other than programs like Band in a Box, support for jazz notation and performance practices has been somewhat limited and often required jazz composers to resort to convoluted workarounds.
Mastering Organization in Rehearsal Using iPads
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Chances are likely that you have heard of a few iPad apps for use in the classroom. Like me, you may have heard about so many of them that you can’t even remember them all — or you have made it so far as to download them and now hundreds of little icons have been left untouched in a folder called “Music,” sitting on your home screen.
ASSR Session Files: An SBO Best Tools for Schools 2018 Award Winner
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Wandering around the NAMM show is an experience in cacophony. Between product demos, artist presentations, and the thousands of attendees trying out the latest gear, it’s hard to hear yourself think.
Murphy Music Press Releases Beginning Band Adaptable Series
Murphy Music Press’ Beginning Band Adaptable Series is now available. The first two volumes feature a collection of eight new Grade 0.5 compositions for flexible instrumentation.
Read MoreHal Leonard Virtual Choir Toolkits Provide Audio Tracks & Licensing for Virtual Performances
For the past year, choir directors have been challenged with keeping their choirs singing together in any way possible. Hal Leonard and Shawnee Press have just released a series of Virtual Choir Toolkits that make directors’ tasks a little easier. Each kit includes downloadable demonstration, accompaniment, and part-dominant recordings along with licensing permissions needed to […]
Read More“Ukulele for Young Beginners” by Jake Shimabukuro
Anyone who’s attended a Jake Shimabukuro concert or workshop knows what a remarkable ukulele player he is, and how amiable and charismatic he can be. With all of these abilities, it’s no wonder he’s great with kids, too. This book also uses video lessons to help kids learn how to play the ukulele.
Read More
ISP Technologies “In Mask” Microphone System
ISP Technologies’ Classroom Infrared Amplification System promises to enhance voice clarity with a miniature microphone installed directly into the mask. The company says its design has an advantage over other systems that are designed to use a hanging pendant microphone, hand held microphone or over the ear microphone that amplifies an already-muffled voice.
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IK Multimedia iRig Pre 2 Mobile XLR Microphone Interface
IK Multimedia announces iRig Pre 2, the pocket-sized mic preamp and interface that lets creators, musicians and journalists easily use XLR mics to record, perform and stream with an iPhone*, iPad, Android device or DSLR camera. More details from IK Multimedia (www.ikmultimedia.com): The sequel to the best-selling mobile mic preamp of all time, iRig Pre […]
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DirectOut and Vivivaldy to Launch ViViD for Easy Internet Remote Production
MITTWEIDA, Germany – Following the recent announcement of their collaboration, DirectOut and Vivivaldy introduce “ViViD”, a customized service that permits audio professionals to easily setup remote productions using standard internet connections. More details from DirectOut (www.directout.eu): The increasing demand for remote interaction of artists and sound engineers has led the two companies to offer consultancy […]
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Paiste’s Signature Series Revival
Paiste has announced a new phase of Signature Series re-launches and new models, including 19“ & 20“ Power Crash models, 20“ & 22“ Power Rides, 14“ & 15“ Power Hi-Hats, the 14“ Heavy Hi-Hat and, for the first time, Paiste’s 22” Mellow Ride.
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Dixon’s Precision Coil Direct Drive Single and Double Bass Drum
Dixon Precision Coil pedals are a high-powered alternative to traditional rocking spring pedals, featuring the direct transfer of energy from its open coil helical spring to the footboard for increased precision and control. Precision Coil’s open-coil helical spring, enclosed in a cast aluminum chamber, connects directly to the beater hub for an extremely efficient transfer of energy, topped off with an adjustable aluminum beater.
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Yamaha DGX-670 Digital Piano
Yamaha’s DGX-670 digital piano features a modern, attractive aesthetic and a simplified user interface. The new “Portable Grand” ensemble instrument is a full, 88-note weighted action keyboard with exceptional playability, superb sound and visual appeal, making it ideal for beginners and accomplished pianists.
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’44 Melodious & Technical Etudes For Trumpet’ from Kendor Music
Read More44 Melodious & Technical Etudes For Trumpet offers 44 etudes, providing a wide range of different musical styles, ranging from technical drills to lyrical melodies.
