West Music Company is celebrating being 70 years strong this year! Here’s some background on how the West Music Catalog Department started……

We've digitized the new 2011-2012 West Music catalog, and released it for free download! Now you can take a portable, digital version of the catalog wherever you go, or get a free copy anywhere that there's internet access. Every product is linked to a web page where you can place an order. Simply click on the product's Item number (i.e. 800965) to view an even more detailed description, along with options to add it to your shopping cart and place an order.

In case you are new to Finale or notation software, or you just haven’t paid attention to it for a few years, Finale® has expanded, like most families do. And there is a good chance it’s going to keep growing. Finale® now offers 6 types of programs, each with a unique way to help the user (you) out. If you are thinking about upgrading or investing in Finale®, please enjoy these handy descriptions! If not, well, still enjoy. I hope you find it useful! (Note: This list will be from the least expensive to the most expensive.)

When it comes to purchasing a microphone, with so many to choose from at so many different price points, it can be a long, frustrating process to acquire just the right microphone to best suit your need. We sincerely hope this buying guide will help you.

If you are an energetic performer and are tired of tripping over wires on your stage, then a wireless system is a must for you. The benefit is freedom of movement around your performing area. No more cables to encumber your performance sounds incredibly good, but there is more to using a wireless system than just plugging them in and turning them up. The purpose of this guide is to help you in making an informed choice when purchasing a wireless system.

West Music is doing a series of care and maintenance clinics covering the proper care of violins, violas, cellos, and basses. Read more to find out when they will be happening in your area.

Flat is great for home stereos, headphones and interstate highways, but sometimes not so much for church sound systems. On more than one occasion, I’ve been called to a church to inspect the facility for the purpose of designing a new sound system. Upon arrival, I discover that the church has perfectly adequate audio components that have been tuned and balanced perfectly inadequately. It never fails - when I inform the owner that the system is fine and simply needs to be properly tuned, I get the response that the church has just paid somebody several hundred dollars to tune the system with pink noise and a computer, and thus, it is as close to “flat” as possible.

Though I play the majority of the music in my music therapy groups live, I find that it is often beneficial to include one or two pre-recorded songs in a session to free up my hands so that I can effectively interact with my clients as well as provide hand-over-hand assistance as needed. I have also used pre-recorded music during lyric analysis interventions which is usually followed by playing and singing the song live with the client so that they may be able to be a part of the music experience and perhaps connect with the song on a more personal level. Out of all of the times that I have used pre-recorded music, I have typically avoided using it in a performance setting up until recently. 

Music Advocacy: Music Matters! Let your voice be heard about the importance of music education for every child! Find out more from the links on this page.

Sixteen, twenty-four, thirty-two, forty-eight, analogue, digital, set-it-and-forget-it...If this string of lingo rings a bell with you, then you may have been considering a new mixer for your sound system at your place of worship. Before you make your decision, allow me to weigh in on a few things I think you should consider before making a purchase.

Many people come to me asking which microphone is better: Condenser or Dynamic? This question is almost impossible to answer without knowing what the application is and where they will be using it. These two styles of mics are fundamentally different, and each has their own purpose.

If your sister is humming, it might be taken as a sign of happiness. But if your sound system is humming, it can be taken as a sign that someone has made an improper connection or placed wires where they don’t belong.

Learn how to avoid the error of purchasing and using an inadequate amplifier based on misleading wattage claims.

As an associate in West Music's Pro Audio department, John Baumgartner has heard some interesting stories from repair shop customers over the years. In this article, John discusses the ins and outs of blown loudspeakers.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but most frustrations that notation users have with these programs is the concept of using a MIDI controller/keyboard with it. Most feel that by plugging in the controller, they can press record and their notes and rhythms will magically appear in perfect form on the screen. Here is the bad news: it rarely ever works that way

27% of online shoppers who plan to buy holiday gifts online this year will look for ideas about what friends and family want on sites such as Facebook. And nearly one-half will use social networks to research items, compare prices, & look for special offers like free shipping. (Mashable)

“Technology” is one of those words that we use and believe we understand. However it’s a difficult word to define. Wikipedia.com defines the word like this: Technology is a broad concept that deals with human as well as other animal species’ usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt to its environment." New technology is always being applied as we create, use and adapt to new learning tools. Musical instruments are good examples of tools that are constantly in a state of change. We search for ways to make them easier to play, more sturdy, more unique and more fun. We learn from and adapt to these changes, and then find more ways to apply new technology – it goes on and on.