Archive for January, 2010
Do you think that games like Guitar Hero are contributing to a lack of interest in musical instruments?
January 25th, 2010 | 
Author: I’ve heard both sides – that the games might spark an interest that was not there before and that the games are just "replacing" musical intstruments for young people. What do you think?
I think that Guitar Hero and Rock Band are creating the interest. After playing Rock Band, I had the urge to go play on my drum pad for a while. Lately, I have become more and more interested in the idea of picking up the drums again. I can see why people would think that the games would take away from the amount of people playing the actual instruments, but it is nothing in comparison. Playing an actual song on the drums is MUCH more rewarding than playing one on the game.
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Classical instrumentalists? What do you think of the electric guitar as a musical instrument?
The electric guitar is generally considered a pop music instrument and is used mainly for pop music, however, there are many electric guitarists who perform classical pieces are are heavily influenced by classical musicians particularly the violinists Paganini and Vivaldi.
What are some of your thoughts about this instrument, its sound and whether it is suited to classical music?
Once one accepts the theremin and ondes martenot as classical instruments, there’s no reason in principle why an electric guitar cannot be.
However, to the best of my knowledge, very little classical music has been written for it, and while I’m pretty sure Berlioz would have liked it (particularly the volume!) the typical sound of an electric guitar doesn’t fit into the natural sound of most classical music.
Can jellyfish hear musical instruments such as guitar, clarinet and flute?
I don’t know why I know this…
but jellyfish lack a brain and sensory organs, however, the cubozoan and scyphozoan jellyfishes (there are several different types) have small sensory structures (called Ropalia, if I remember right?).
These little sensors detect mostly changes in light and gravity, but it is debated that they can also detect odors and vibrations.
I doubt a jellyfish could hear the instruments like we do, but they may be able to feel the vibrations or resonance created by these instruments.
Why do I know this?! LOL 