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Mar 08 2021 
IWD | Musicians who inspired us to play
#IWD - Musicians who inspired us to pick up an instrument
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating some of the musicians who inspired and gave us confidence to play what are often seen as just ‘traditional’ musical instruments.
Encouragement comes from many places, from an approving nod from a stranger (or perhaps a nice comment on social media) to teachers, parents, peers, friends and siblings; those we trust and are closest to us are often our biggest supporters.
However, there’s something about seeing someone popular in the mainstream who you can relate to advocating and endorsing that thing you want to be doing. It makes us feel more assured that what we do will be positively received.
With this in mind, here are some of our favourite musicians who have inspired us and made us feel confident about picking up and playing our instruments.
Lizzo | FLUTE
Lizzo’s flute playing went viral after her iconic performance BET awards. You may not know that she’s a classical trained flautist and she’s inspired so many people that beginner flute sales were boosted by a third in 2019! Her Flute is called Sasha also has it’s on Instagram account #ICONIC
Watch her NPR Tiny Desk Concert here below.
Lisa Simpson | SAXOPHONE 🎷
Not all role models are real life people! Lisa is arguably the best Simpsons character. Summed up: “Her formidable intellect and insatiable thirst for knowledge make her a hero to brainy outcasts everywhere. She’s also been The Simpsons‘ moral compass as well, helping to ground her family’s more outlandish adventures in common sense and decency.”
Here’s Lisa and her idol who gave her his Sax playing together:
Alicia Keys | PIANO 🎹
Alicia Keys is an inspiration in more was then one but those instantly recognisable opening notes in If Ain’t Got You falling down the chord never cease to make you stop and listen.
Did you know Alicia started learning the piano aged 7? Watch below as she is gives a piano lesson and shares the story behind one of her most well known and moving songs. On a more classical side, here’s Alicia playing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata in honour of Kobe Bryant.
Nicola Benedetti | VIOLIN 🎻
Nicola was born in Scotland and won BBC Young Musician of the year when she was just 16 and has gone on to inspire and encourage music education across the world!
Watch her famous rendition of the Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams below. She’s got some great tutorials on YouTube which are soon to be added to.
Shelia Maurice-Grey | TRUMPET 🎺
Shelia aka Ms Grey is bandleader of KOKOROKO and has performed with the likes of Solange, Kano and Little Simz and studied at Trinity Laban. For a long time, brass instruments have been seen as a ‘male’ instrument and we LOVE that Shelia is breaking down that preconception.
In 2018, a Telegraph article reported that Anne McAneney of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, was the only female trumpet player in the world’s top 20 orchestras. This was a couple of years ago but there’s still lots of work to be done in encouraging more women to play brass instruments.
Here’s Shelia playing for Jazz re:freshed in 2018:
Laura Marling | GUITAR 🎸
It’s Laura’s effortless and often stark simplicity of what is most often just her voice accompanied by a guitar that made us want to pick up the guitar.
She has recently shared lots of amazing tutorials recently over on her Instagram. Watch her NPR Tiny ‘Home’ Desk concert below.
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Mar 04 2021 
Violin vs Viola: What’s The Difference? – Caswell’s Strings
Violin vs Viola: What’s The Difference? - Caswell's Strings
They look similar, and may sound similar too, but what makes the violin different from the viola and vice versa? String instrument specialists and Take it away music shop member Caswell’s Strings are here to help!
Read on to find out more about these fantastic instruments and which may be best for you to pick up and start playing…
This article was verified by the director of Caswell’s Strings, Lance Tunley who is an experienced purveyor of stringed instruments and accessories with over 30 years of experience in the field.
The String Family
The string family of instruments has a rich and respected legacy in the world of music. Although not the oldest pedigree of string instrument, the violin family now forms the backbone of the modern symphony orchestra and choosing an instrument from this family is a popular choice for beginners and intermediate level players alike.
The basic violin family is made up of four instrument voices: cello, double bass, violin and viola. Wait…violin and viola, but they’re the same thing, right? If you’re not a musician yourself or have never seen/heard the instruments compared then you can’t be judged for thinking this.
However, if your child expresses an interest in one and not the other then it’s time to get on board with the less than nuanced differences between these instruments. Understanding the unique variations can help you support your child’s choice more constructively.
Size 📏
Of the two instruments, the violin is the smallest. Measurement wise, a full-size violin body is about 36 cm (14 inches), but a full-size viola body is typically somewhere between 39 and 41 cm (15.5-16.5 inches). The body of the viola is also wider and deeper than the violin.
Bow 🏹
(Not that type!)
One of the biggest differences that you can also observe is that these two instruments cannot share a bow. The strings of a viola are heavier and need a bow with more weight to create the darker richer sounds.
Violin bows are, on average, a whole 10 grams lighter than a viola bow.
A little harder to spot is the difference between the bow’s ‘frog’ (that’s the part of the bow that players grip). On the viola bow, the frog is chunkier and often curved, compared to the straight edge on a violin bow. This impacts how the musician draws the bow across the strings, changing the sound created.
Strings 🎻
Typically, violins and violas both only have four strings (electric variations can have more).
Violin strings are tuned G, D, A, and E, with E being the highest, and G being the lowest. The strings of a violin are one-fourth down from each other.
The Viola is tuned one fifth lower than the violin. Viola strings are C, G, D and A strings, with A being the highest, and C being the lowest. The strings of a viola are also tuned one-fourth down from each other. They are also thicker and longer than their violin string counterparts.
Therefore, when compared to the violin, the viola produces notes of a lower range and this lower note range is often the choice of players wanting to play the alto voice in the orchestra.
Sound 👂
The sounds produced by the thicker strings of the viola are slower, deeper and more mellow than the violin. In an orchestral setting, the viola is the harmonic accompaniment. Ask any violist and they’ll point out that the sound of their instrument isn’t necessarily prominent in a full orchestra.
Yet, it doesn’t make the harmonising tones of their notes any less essential. Volume isn’t everything, and violas are key inclusions for balancing out the voices of other string instruments such as violins and cellos.
In an orchestra, the violin is the highest-pitched instrument, making them the obvious choice for carrying melody line and for solo parts. The notes are brighter and sweeter than a viola; one of the reasons it’s such a popular solo instrument as well as an ensemble one.
And there are a lot of violinists in an ensemble. Orchestras actually have first and second violinist sections, meaning their numbers far outweigh all other instrument groups. No wonder they’re so much louder and steal all the spotlight!
Clef 🎼
A Clef is a musical symbol used to indicate the pitch of written notes. Placed on a stave (the parallel lines you see on sheet music), the clef indicates the name and pitch of the notes on one of the lines.
The viola is a mid-range alto voiced instrument and is the only string instrument to use the Alto Clef for notation.
The violin is played in the Treble Clef. Violins are known for being the “soprano” (highest) voice of an orchestra or ensemble.
Alto Clef is not some mysterious, difficult to conquer form of reading music (all sheet music looks like alien jargon to non-musicians after all). Switching between the clefs can be difficult but can be done should your child ever wish to swap between the instruments.
Which is easier to play?
This isn’t a simple answer. The violin family is notoriously difficult to learn given the amount of precision and focus that goes into creating a tone that doesn’t make cats wail. Not only does the young musician need to conquer the positioning of their hold but also the movement of their fingers… all while running a bow across the strings in a specific way.
The two instruments do share a lot of similarities but there’s no easy route to either. The viola is the heavier and richer sounding of the two instruments requiring a stronger built player with above-average hand size.
How to choose which is best for you
The choice will entirely depend on personal preference and where your child wants to take their instrumental journey. Violins are more versatile and are used a lot in more modern music but there’s less competition for the viola player in orchestras.
The viola requires more reach and strength but if you can master the violin, you can often swap over to the viola if required. If your child desires the spotlight, the violin is probably best but it will always be a climb full of competition and challenges.
If the spotlight isn’t everything and your child could happily contribute to being part of a greater whole, then the viola makes more sense. Choosing a viola is about choosing to move away from the crowded world of violinists, and notoriously, having a sense of humour!
Why not have your child try out one of these instruments for themselves? Contact Caswell’s today on 01280 707140 or email sales@caswellsstrings.com
Caswell’s Strings is a Take it away music shop member based in Banbury that offers a wide range of instruments, repairs and more!
Find out more and get in touch by visiting their website: caswells-strings.co.uk
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Feb 08 2021 
The History of the Piano – Markson Pianos
The History of the Piano - Markson Pianos
Have you ever wondered how the piano was invented? Or what the differences between a clavichord, harpsichord and a piano are?
Us too! Take it away retailer Markson Pianos has put together a very interesting article on the origins of this majestic instrument…
Origins of the piano
The piano has a rich and storied history dating back centuries, but this history is founded on developments that go back millennia to instruments constructed in the time of the Roman Empire.
The earliest origins of the piano lie in the monochord family of instruments, which can range greatly in complexity from rudimentary guitars all the way to the development of the Clavichord.
Clavichord
The history of keyboard style instruments started with the organ, but the Clavichord represented the first step from the organ to the modern piano. Emerging in the renaissance, the Clavichord represented a highly complex monochord instrument that bears striking aesthetic similarities to modern pianos.The key distinction at work though is that Clavichord’s generate sound by striking the string with a brass rod instead of a hammer. The Clavichord was a technically impressive instrument that allowed a great degree of control over the note by making the string vibrate as long as the key was pressed, however it suffered from a delicate tone that would be drowned out by other instruments, and couldn’t adequately fill a large hall performance.
Harpsichord
The Harpsichord was developed around the 1500’s in Italy, roughly a century after the Clavichord. Instead of the brass rod method, the Harpsichord worked by plucking the string with a plectrum attached to a long stick of wood.The design of the Harpsichord obviously heavily influenced the design of the modern piano, the internal system of strings and the overall structure bear a striking resemblance. The Harpsichord improved on the delicacy of the Clavichord by having a rich full sound that could easily stand amongst other instruments but lacked the ability to control the dynamics of each note, reducing the technical ability achievable.
Cristofori
The modern piano is generally agreed to have been invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) sometime around 1700. He was famously unhappy with the lack of control the Harpsichord offered and sought to marry the bombastic sound of the Harpsichord with the precision and control of the Clavichord.His creation of the modern piano hinged on his ingenious design of using a hammer instead of a plucking mechanism, which could then return to its resting position instantly. This was the fundamental problem that plagued the Clavichord, the tangent remained in contact with the string which dampened the sound. By creating this system of fast resetting hammers it ensured that the notes would be able to breathe as well as being rapidly played in succession, creating the degree of power and precision that is known and enjoyed today.
Markson Pianos are a Take it away music shop member based in London who offer:
- Piano restoration
- Piano Tuning
- Long term hire
- Event hire
- And of course sell a range of pianos including upright, grand, digital and acoustic!
Find out more and get in touch by visiting their website: marksonpianos.com
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Dec 08 2020 
Take it away this Christmas
Take it away with 0% finance this Christmas
As the end of the calendar year draws near, it’s time to start thinking about challenges and opportunities in the year ahead! Has your child been recommended a new instrument? Have they outgrown their current violin? Is it time for a upgrade in preparation for a grade up?
Give the gift of music and inspire a life-long love this Christmas 🎶
Good quality instruments, equipment and tuition can be expensive and have a large upfront cost. Take it away is an Arts Council backed scheme and we’re here to help break this cost down.
We provide interest-free loans which allow you to pay for your next instrument, piece of equipment or tuition in simple monthly payments. No extra cost – no fees, no interest.
Start browsing and get some top advice from any of our 130 music shop members across England and Northern Ireland. Feel confident that your child has a good quality instrument that will last and help them progress.
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Oct 14 2020 
Reshape Music – Take it away Consortium
Reshaping Music - Beyond the Baseline | IAMM
Reshape Music: A report exploring the lived experience of Disabled musicians in education and beyond sets out the significant barriers faced by Disabled musicians to access music education and music-making in the UK.
We are really excited to share the news of this new publication by our partners at Youth Music. Mary-Alice Stack, our Chief Executive at Creative United writes:
“The publication today of Youth Music’s Reshape Music report marks a significant milestone for Creative United and our Take it away Consortium partners. Written by Sarah Mawby and a group of Co-Researchers, the report takes as its starting point the ‘Make Some Noise’ survey data collected by the Take it away Consortium in 2018/19, which sought to build a picture of the barriers to participation and learning in music experienced by disabled people.
Over a period of 5 months from September 2018 to January 2019 we worked hard to gather the perspectives of disabled musicians, the parents of disabled children, music teachers and other professionals working in the music education sector as well as staff employed by retailers of musical instruments. This was the first national survey of its kind, and an important first step for the Consortium.
The survey findings, originally released in May 2019 as a statistical analysis only, were effective in establishing a baseline against which we could measure the impact of our work going forwards, as well as evidencing the gaps and shortcomings of existing provision.
18 months on, what the Reshape Music report has done so brilliantly is to bring that data alive through the involvement of a research team with lived experience of disability who have interrogated, questioned, reflected and responded to the findings, allowing us to take our understanding of the issues well beyond the baseline.
It’s rare to find a research report infused with the individual perspectives and personal experiences of the research team. And that’s what makes this report so powerful, and so valuable as a piece of essential reading for anyone involved in the music industry, whether that’s in learning and participation, retail, music production or performance.
And that goes for me too. I’m incredibly proud of the work that has been initiated by Creative United through the Take it away Consortium but, as the report shows, we still have a lot to learn – and a lot to gain – through the direct involvement of disabled people in understanding and responding to the issues around access and inclusion that we are trying to address.
Clearly, there is still a long way to go in reshaping the music sector to be fully inclusive and accessible for disabled people – but thanks to this report the pathways to making that vision a reality are clearer than ever.”
– Mary-Alice Stack, Chief Executive
Find out more about the IAMM initiative (inclusive and accessible music making) by heading to our news page here.
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Oct 05 2020 
IAMM Webinars
Webinars | IAMM
Last month we were thrilled to have been invited to speak about our work around inclusive and accessible music making (IAMM) with two great organisations: the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) and Latimer Group.
The ISM panel discussion featured our Take it away manager, Sophie Ogunyemi, who spoke alongside Rachel Wolfsohnn from The OHMI Trust, teacher and musician Ruth Montgomery, and Sarah Mawby, independent researcher. Watch their discussion on adaptive musical instruments, inclusive practise and more below! 📺
ISM Webinar panel: Inclusive and accessible music-making with adaptive music instruments
Our CEO, Mary-Alice Stack, gave a 20 minute talk and overview about our Inclusive and Accessible Music Making Initiative, from how it all started to our current projects. Watch the Latimer Talks session followed by a very interesting Q&A below. 📺
Latimer Talks with Mary-Alice Stack on Inclusivity in Music
Tell us what you think and join the conversation: @Takeitawaymusic
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Sep 03 2020 
Back to School with Take it away
Back to School with Take it away
A new school year brings new challenges and opportunities! Will your child be picking up a new instrument? Have they outgrown their current violin? Is it time for a flute upgrade now they’re working on a higher grade?
Good quality instruments, equipment and tuition can be expensive and have a large upfront cost. Take it away is an Arts Council backed scheme and we’re here to help break this cost down.
We provide interest free loans which allow you to pay for your next instrument, piece of equipment or tuition in simple monthly payments. At no extra cost – no fees, no interest.
Start browsing and get some top advice from any of our 130 music shop members across England and Northern Ireland. Feel confident that your child has a good quality instrument that will last and help them progress.
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