West Music Staff Blogs
Our Mission: To enrich people's lives through the participation in music!
Tag >> Band and Orchestra
 With the colder, drier months here, wooden instruments start to go through some changes. A common winter complaint for string players are that pegs no longer turn smoothly.
Traditional friction pegs are wood on wood (peg against peg box). As wood expands and contracts with the changing elements, pegs will no longer operate well. If you have been having problems with your pegs and have tried peg dope or refitting the pegs or peg box, another option is perfection pegs. Perfection pegs look just like friction pegs. However, perfection pegs operate on a 4-to-1 gear ratio and turn like planets. Perfection pegs are not affected by the changes in weather, and therefore, do not slip or stick. Since you are not forcing a stuck wooden peg to move, you are not risking any damage to the peg box or pressure cracks.
  Each of the kids listed below is not only a Band Hero but the winner of an iPod Touch. The winners were randomly selected from all of the students that rented or leased from West Music this fall -- one winner per store location.
Keep playing. Keep practicing. You're a Band Hero. And come back next year for a chance to win. Staci from Waterloo, IA
Elizabeth from Iowa City, IA
Tana from Benton, IA
Zachary from Albia, IA
Aaron from Bettendorf, IA
Posted by: Teresa Heitman in Twitter, Strings, Print Music, Piano and Keyboards, Percussion, Music Instruction, Music Education, Moline, Marion, Holiday, Hal Leonard, Guitar Accessories, Guitar, General Music, Facebook, Early Childhood, Drums, Coralville, Combo, Christmas, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Band and Orchestra, Amp, Accessories on
Nov 16, 2009
 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)
You'll find ideas, deals, & free shipping at West Music this season. Give the gift of music...and be sure to bookmark your favorite West Music Facebook Page.
These are some American Music Conference Offers Tips for Shopping Smart This Holiday Season:
 With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s time to start shopping for that guitar, violin, oboe, tuba, piano or whatever instrument your musical child is begging to receive as his or her top-choice gift. But first it’s important to be an educated consumer so that the new violin doesn’t wind up collecting dust under the bed or being returned to the store.
The first thing to ask yourself is, “Is my child ready to own his own instrument?” “You’re ready to purchase an instrument when your child shows enthusiasm for his or her instrument or instruments of choice, but owning a musical instrument is an asset at any age,” says Joe Lamond, President and CEO of NAMM, the International Music Products Association, the parent company of the American Music Conference, a leading national nonprofit organization that promotes the benefits of music education and music making for children.
Posted by: Joanie Mercy in Band and Orchestra on
Nov 13, 2009
“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.
When you go to a concert that has a spectacular pyrotechnic display, complete with lights and lasers, that take a crew 15 hours to set up, what are you expecting to hear? What about when the guitarists come in with long hair and you see famous musicians like Aerosmith and Joan Jett joining them on stage? Are you expecting to hear classical music? Probably not, but that is just what you will get with The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. (Listen to some selections below.)
 With the snow starting to fly (grr) and heaters turning on, wooden instruments are suffering because of the lack of humidity in the air. Tuning pegs are starting to slip or stick. Instruments that originally had no trouble staying in tune now need to be tuned constantly. The best thing to do right now to keep your instrument happy is to keep it humidified.
Dampits are the best thing to use during the winter months. Dampits typically start at about $9.00. They are a long, green sponge that can be inserted in the f-hole of your instrument. Simply soak the Dampit, wipe off the excess water, and carefully slide it into your instrument.
Play anytime - even when your family is sleeping! The mute's patented design gives you a remarkably free response and accurate intonation - in any range. Use the pocket-size ST9 play along with your favorite pre-recorded music by plugging in a CD player and use the output jack to connect to an external amp. System includes sound module, ear phones, and silent mute.
Ingles stands keep your instrument securely displayed when you're not playing. Having your instrument out of the case reminds you to practice and keeps it handy at the same time! It's the perfect place to store your instrument during gigs and other performances, too. Attractive, stable and practical!
Ingles Stands keep your instrument securely displayed when you're not playing. Having your instrument out of the case reminds you to practice and keeps it handy at the same time! It's the perfect place to store your instrument during gigs and other performances, too. Attractive, stable and practical!
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