20th Annual Arizona Musicfest

Valentine's Day

The Arizona Musicfest 20th Anniversary Celebration (January 31 through February 27, 2011) is a series of performances happening throughout the month covering a variety of musical genres - classical, broadway, jazz, pop - at several venues. The festival features artists such as Chris Thile, mandolinist from the Punch Brothers performing one of his own classical compositions, 2011 Artist-in-Residence trumpeter Ryan Anthony who will hold a special Trumpet Master Class, Composer-in-Residence Mason Bates, and the Festival Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Robert Moody. For more information about this month-long festival, visit azmusicfest.org.

In his play, "Twelfth Night," Shakespeare wrote "If music be the food of love, play on." In honor of Valentine's Day, we want to allow you to "play on" by offering all Love and Wedding songbooks at 25% off when you bring in the coupon.

Media on Demand from The Music Store

Karajan Music & Ear Trainer

Karajan is an easy to use music and ear training application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It provides lessons for learning to recognize intervals, chords, scales, pitch and tempo (bpm) with detailed statistics, 5 built-in instruments, and 4 play modes. The full version of this app is available from the iTunes App Store for $14.99. A free beginner version is also available so you can try it before you buy.

(Can't see the video? View it in a browser.)

This month, take 25% off all in-stock straps when you bring in the coupon. When shopping online, use Discount Coupon code "25STRAP".

Violin Fingering Tapes and Fingerboard Charts

For beginning orchestral string players, it can be difficult to know exactly where to place fingers on the fingerboard due to the absence of frets, keys, or buttons. It can also be confusing to understand why some fingers are placed close together (for a half step) or with a space between them (for a whole step). The use of finger tapes (available in brown and 3-color pack) for beginning players can be helpful in training muscle memory.

However, we were unable to find a product that shows the placement of each note on the fingerboard in an easy to understand chart, so we've created two of our own - one for the beginner player that displays only natural and sharp notes, and one for the advancing player that shows natural, sharp, and flat notes. The file we have created is non-copyrighted, so you are free to make copies as needed. You can pick them up on cardstock the next time you visit us, or print the beginning chart or advanced chart from home. Viola, Cello, and Bass fingerboard charts will be following in future newsletters.

Mark Nowak

Meet Michigan native Mark Nowak. Mark has been in the sheet music department of The Music Store for 5 years. In addition to music, Mark coaches gymnastics at the Phoenix Gymnastics Academy and is currently pursing his commercial pilot’s license.

Mark’s music expertise lies in the area of classical piano and is one of our experts in locating hard to find music. He can also help you locate any book in our store or help you place a music order.