Tag Archives: music

Twelve Drummers Drumming – Twelve Facts of Christmas

By Ryan | Published: January 5, 2011

Drummers drum simply because that’s what drummers do. If they weren’t drumming, they would no longer be called drummers. If a plumber stops plumbing and begins drumming, I would say at that moment, he is a drummer. Now, if that plumber was locked inside a sound-proof room with no doors or windows, with a drum, [...]

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Eleven Pipers Piping – Twelve Facts of Christmas

By Ryan | Published: January 4, 2011

On the eleventh day of Christmas, we get pipers piping. Now, I must admit I feel a little sorry for musicians who have chosen the bagpipes as their instrument. The bagpipes get the brunt of a lot of jokes. I play the banjo. I hear a lot of these same jokes, but I can only [...]

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Diphthongs and other vowel movements

By Ryan | Published: November 4, 2010

Imagine you were a visiting anthropologist from a different planet, on assignment to “live among the apes”. From the fresh outside perspective, many things about us would be fascinating. Our language, the multitude of sounds that emanate from our little naked-monkey heads, is rather amazing if you stop to think about it. From the corner [...]

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Stylistic Evolution of Classical Music

By Ryan | Published: September 8, 2010

Far too many people are quick to say “oh, I don’t like classical music”. Really, that’s a bit like saying “oh, I don’t like food”. There are so many different kinds of “classical” music that you probably just haven’t yet found the sort that appeals to your ears. Most people use the phrase “classical music” [...]

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Who put the polka in the polka dot?

By Ryan | Published: June 7, 2010

Here we are again, and it’s time for me to throw down another mind-blowing, universe-alternating fact. Polka music is not German. Not even Bavarian. It originates from the Kingdom of Bohemia. So much for stereotypes. Bohemia is the original name for what is now the Czech Republic. The lively dance music originated there around 1850. [...]

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Raise your glass to the music of the Armonica

By Ryan | Published: April 26, 2010

Should I find myself at a fancy dinner party I cannot resist the urge to wet my finger and slide it around the rim of my wine glass. At least I would have trouble resisting the urge, if I were ever invited to such fancy dinner parties. The sound of a resonating wine glass is [...]

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The original kazoo was made with spider eggs

By Ryan | Published: February 8, 2010

When I visited Buffalo, NY I was given a souvenir kazoo. Since 1912, they’ve been the promised land of kazoo making. Well, technically it’s the tiny town of Eden, just south of Buffalo, that is home to the Original American Kazoo Company. Just to be safe, I will back it up here and explain what [...]

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