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Musical Instruments

    Musical Instruments Editor's Picks

    • 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 »

    • Grants for Musical Instruments for Children

      There are many individuals and organizations that provide money to purchase musical instruments for children. The correlation between musical activities and academic success has prompted additional music programs for children K-12. Studying music is greatly enhanced by the ability to explore and play a well-crafted instrument, and... more »

    • About the Different Types of Musical Instruments

      Music is an artistic form of communication that is created through the use of instruments. Musical instruments produce specific sounds and tones and together form a musical language. Learn about the historical evolution of various types of musical instruments. more »

    • About Molding Clay

      Molding clay comes in a plethora of types, colors and styles. It can be bought pre-made or made using very few ingredients. Molding clay has been used to make small or large sculptures, business models and pottery since ancient times. more »

    • How to Become a Music Entrepreneur

      If you are a musically-gifted person, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to earn a living from your talents. There are many different avenues that you can pursue. Jobs such as record producer and film composer are just a few examples. In the sections below we'll cover many of these job possibilities, and the steps needed to... more »

    Musical Instruments Quick Guides

    • Piano Repair Basics

      Pounding out your favorite song can be a little difficult if your piano is out of tune or in...

    • Piano Tuning 101

      Pianos require regular tuning in order to sound their best. Check out these expert articles...

    • Pianos Guide

      In addition to being a beautiful complement to the décor of your home, the...

    • Sheet Music Basics

      The ability to read sheet music is essential for recreating musical details in the most...

    Musical Instruments Articles

    Wikipedia

    Musical instrument

    A musical instrument is an object 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 considered to be a musical instrument is the subject of modern debate. Archaeologists tend to debate the matter in terms of the validity of various physical evidence such as artifacts and cultural works. An artifact 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 instrum read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical+instrument

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