Music History and Music Theory questions? Ask Mike!

You’ve always wanted to do more than just listen to music. You want to play a musical instrument yourself. Now you’re going to take the plunge. You’re going to organise music lessons and set aside time for practice. One question remains: which instrument will you choose to learn? … more about Which musical instrument should I learn?

The Rainbow Steel Band opened for business in 1957. Having emigrated from Barbados to the UK , steel pan aficionado Hallam Ifill chose to settle in Bath, Somerset. Other newly-arrived steel band enthusiasts made their homes nearby. A church hall was hired, rehearsals took place, and the Rainbow Steel Band was born. … more about Rainbow Steel Band celebrates 50th anniversary

Hold your hand side-ways in front of you and count your fingers and thumb. It adds up to five. There’s the reason. To find out how, we need to jump in a time-machine and travel back to France 1250 years ago. … more about Why does the musical stave have five lines?

Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is the Gaelic name for an evening of Scottish country dancing, accompanied by musicians playing a merry mix of traditional jigs, strathspeys and reels. … more about What happens at a Scottish ceilidh?

You don’t have to be a violin virtuoso to gain considerable pleasure out of playing a musical instrument. Music-making, both on your own and in the company of others, is a wonderfully satisfying form of self-expression. It is a positive, life-enhancing experience. … more about Why learn to play a musical instrument?

A Caribbean steel pan is traditionally made from a 55 gallon oil drum. The level base of the inverted drum is beaten into a bowl shape and the notes are formed by creating almost flat polygonal areas or facets within this bowl shape. … more about What is a Caribbean steel pan?

Brass bands and gospel music sit right at the heart of New Orleans jazz. The marching band is where this jazz tradition began.

… more about What makes the New Orleans trad jazz sound?

Hurricane Katrina may have laid waste to the city itself in 2005, but the spirit of the place lives on in the music. This statement was graphically realised at this year’s New Orleans Jazz Festival. … more about The spirit of New Orleans lives on at Jazzfest

It was the Festival of Britain in 1951 that propelled the Caribbean steel pan into the UK limelight. Trinidad’s contribution to the festivities was a performance by the Trinidad All Percussion Steel Orchestra. … more about Caribbean steel pan in arrives the UK

Did all musical instruments come into being through a happy accident? It’s difficult to know. The roots of most traditional musical instruments are lost in the mists of time. However, the Caribbean steel pan is such a recent innovation that we can still speak to those “in the know” to find out. … more about The origin of the Caribbean steel pan