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Musical Instruments

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  • About Musical Instruments

    Musical instruments are devices used to produce musical tones or sounds. Anything that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument; however the term is usually reserved for items created with a specific purpose to produce music, such as a drum or flute. The specific study of musical instruments in an academic setting is... more »

Quick Guides: Musical Instruments

  • Piano Repair Basics

    Pounding out your favorite song can be a little difficult if your piano is out of tune or in need of repair. This guide will walk you through...

  • Piano Tuning 101

    Pianos require regular tuning in order to sound their best. Check out these expert articles and videos to help you maintain your piano's pitch,...

  • Pianos Guide

    In addition to being a beautiful complement to the décor of your home, the piano can emit sounds that vastly enhance the...

  • Sheet Music Basics

    The ability to read sheet music is essential for recreating musical details in the most accurate and efficient manner possible. Use these sheet...

Videos: Musical Instruments

Articles: Musical Instruments

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  • Musical instrument

    A musical instrument is constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the beginnings of human culture. The academic study of musical instruments is called organology.

    The date and origin of the first device of disputed status as a musical instrument dates back as far as 67,000 years old; artifacts commonly accepted to be early flutes date back as far as about 37,000 years old. However, most historians believe determining a specific time of musical instrument invention to be impossible due to the subjectivity of the definition.

    Musical instruments developed independently in many populated regions of the world. However, contact among civilizations resulted in the rapid spread and adaptation of most instruments in places far from their origin. By the Middle Ages, instruments from Mesopotamia could be found in the Malay Archipelago and Europeans were playing instruments from North Africa. Development in the Americas occurred at a slower pace, but cultures of North, Central, and South America shared musical instruments.

    Archaeology
    In pursuit of understanding who developed the first musical instruments and when, researchers have discovered various archaeological evidence of musical instruments in many parts of the world. Some finds are as much as 67,000 years old, but their status as musical instruments is often in dispute. Consensus solidifies about artifacts dated back to around 37,000 years old and later. Only artifacts made from durable materials or using durable methods tend to survive. As such, the specimens found cannot be irrefutably placed as the earliest musical instruments."Blades34">

    In July 1995, Slovenian archaeologist Ivan Turk discovered a bone carving in the northwest region of Slovenia. The carving, named the Divje Babe flute, features four holes that Canadian musicologist Bob read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical+instrument

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical+instrument

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