tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661Mon, 07 Oct 2024 04:06:27 +000020th Anniversary CelebrationChristmasCoda bowsbassbeginning acoustic guitarbeginning electric guitarcarbon fibercellocheap acoustic guitarcheap electric guitargiftskids guitarslearning to play musiclive musicmusic giftsmusiciansmall guitarsviolaviolinGot questions about music, musical instruments, or Piccolo's Music store? Dr. Mel Odious is ready with the answers, always funny, often acerbic, and sometimes even true!http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)Blogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-2410783456327836761Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:02:00 +00002010-11-22T15:52:49.404-08:00Christmasgiftsmusic giftsmusician...or what happens when you procure an electric guitar for a minorDo the words, "Only 43 more shopping days until..." send a shudder down your spine? Are you dreading the daily avalanche of mail-order catalogs brimming with monogrammed pastel polo shirts (in "our finest ever cotton pique!") and polar fleece ear warmers? Depressed over the thought of spending your money on another round of http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/music-gift-that-really-does-keep-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-4478483075761324061Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:01:00 +00002010-11-13T12:20:47.020-08:00Don't leave your guitar in the snow.Weird October weather for Montana. Still in the 60s, and no frost yet here on Helena's Upper West side. I can't remember such an extended Indian summer in Montana in the last 30 years. Usually we see at least one snow storm in September (or late August)--this year, nada.I must have a biological clock, linked to my musical instruments, though. I keep http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/hum-ditty-for-humidity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-8007343806411913329Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:03:00 +00002010-10-04T12:57:12.350-07:00beginning acoustic guitarbeginning electric guitarcheap acoustic guitarcheap electric guitarAt some point, nearly everyone decides to take a stab at becoming a guitar hero. They buy the cheapest guitar they can find, learn two chords from a friend, and three months later the guitar is back in its case, slid under the bed or lost behind never-worn clothes in the back corner of a closet. Sound familiar? Sadly, many people never get beyond this first washout. But there is a better way, http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/09/beginning-guitar-5-easy-steps.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-6847085833307067982Sat, 18 Sep 2010 23:01:00 +00002010-09-20T01:12:33.818-07:0020th Anniversary Celebrationlive musicMark your calendars--Saturday, October 2nd, Piccolo's Music is throwing a party to celebrate 20 years of helping people make their own music. If you're in the neighborhood, swing on over from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for hot dogs, hamburgers, live music, and free stuff.Between them, Barb, John, Fred, Julie, Ron, Tom, Tricia and the gang boast a few centuries of experience and expertise in everything http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/09/happy-20th-anniversary-to-piccolos.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-3755703171504246224Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:35:00 +00002010-09-14T12:55:31.219-07:00basscarbon fibercelloCoda bowsviolaviolinDear Mel, After three years of violin lessons, I’m looking to upgrade from an adequate student bow to something more responsive and lively, and that I can continue to grow with. I see on Piccolo’s Music web site that they are a dealer for the Codabow brand of carbon fiber bows. Call me a stick-in-the-mud, but I thought that all good violin bows were made out of a South American hardwood called http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/08/dear-mel-after-three-years-of-violin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-8460960076486653209Sun, 16 May 2010 22:01:00 +00002010-07-12T16:31:03.888-07:00kids guitarssmall guitars"No matter what I did, I just couldn’t convince her to spend her loose change on a 108-pipe steam calliope. My musical dreams were shattered."Dear Mel, My grandson, Aldo, wants to play guitar. As a toddler, his favorite toy was a plastic guitar with a singing cowboy painted on the top. Aldo dragged that guitar everywhere, twanging on the strings and yodeling his little heart out. Now that Aldo ishttp://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/05/small-guitars-for-kids-big-dreams.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-5103278814543742954Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:02:00 +00002010-04-17T21:08:28.157-07:00Dear Dr. Mel, A few weeks back, you wrote a truly enlightening and profound column about flat picks. I laughed, I cried. Remarkable! It must be difficult to bundle so much talent into your socks in the morning. But I've been waiting and waiting for your promised follow-up about a special pick--I think they were called BlueChip Picks. So what's the deal? What's up with these picks, and what's so http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/35-flat-pick.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-2759160535727386532Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:19:00 +00002010-03-20T11:59:44.261-07:00http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicjeep/ / CC BY 2.0Dear Mel, Hey there Mister Odius, my name’s Clem and next to me here is my twin sister Antoinette. We both want to play music. I surely do pine for a fine violin to play in the symphony. But Antoinette, she swoons for a country fiddle. We can’t seem to find a music store that sells both violins and fiddles, which leaves us sorely confused. So http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/03/dear-mel-hey-there-mister-odius-my.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-6206686530877756347Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:32:00 +00002010-05-01T13:45:05.624-07:00A specimen of Kalaukuleleum Paremecium at 100x magnification.http://www.flickr.com/photos/_lovenothing/ / CC BY 2.0Dear Mel,I’m writing to beg you to help stop a new disorder that has gone viral and is running rampant, even infecting the residents of small, isolated towns here in northern North Dakota. I may be the last sane person in my once-modest burg of Chafe--all my neighbors have http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/02/ukulele-pandemic-sign-of-global-warming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-6467225656292049152Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:04:00 +00002010-04-13T21:15:21.863-07:00learning to play musicDear Mel, Help! I've been playing music for about a year, but I still sound like a complete beginner. It's soooo frustrating! I just want to be able to play like my heroes on the radio, and the songs don't seem that hard. But I make the same mistakes over and over--hitting a wrong note, or getting off the beat. That makes me mad and then my playing just goes down the tubes. Trying to play http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/02/dear-mel-help-ive-been-playing-music.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-4548207247452587727Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:21:00 +00002010-04-13T21:20:37.122-07:00Dear Dr. Mel Odius,Why are some musicians so picky about picks? I mean, what's the big deal? I cut my own guitar pick out of my HMO membership card and it works fine. I think some people waste their money on picks just for the cool factor. Signed, Accidentally UninsuredDear Accidentally,Picks are an intensely personal matter. A person's choice of pick reveals deep-seated insecurities and http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/02/dear-dr.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-5499027258033341562Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:17:00 +00002010-02-26T21:15:59.487-08:00Dear Mel Odious,I want to buy a guitar but I don't have much money. I noticed some good looking guitars on ebay, and also on a tv shopping network. And one of the "box" stores in town sells inexpensive guitars that look like real musical instruments. I'm going to buy one, unless you can tell me why I shouldn't. What's so special about shopping for guitars at Piccolo's Music?Signed, Dimestore http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/02/guitars-that-look-like-real-musical.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755287424838287661.post-8480357192281003116Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:04:00 +00002010-03-08T15:12:55.020-08:00Submit your question in the box below.http://piccolosmusic.blogspot.com/2010/03/ask-dr-mel-odious.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Will Harmon)0