Fuzz Box Girl is recovering, but as one of the many Americans without health insurance, her medical bills are piling up. In a nice twist to this unfortunate story, she’d written on her Facebook page about a band called The Broken Places, whose Christmas album she’s been enjoying during her recovery. The band saw the post, and offered to donate all of their December album sales to help her pay for medical bills. Fuzz Box Girl said it’s “sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me,” and I agree it’s a very generous gesture.

I will be purchasing a copy of the album, called Spirited. If you’re interested, check it out on iTunes.

In a previous post, The Cellist of Sarajevo, I described how one Bosnian man became a symbol of peace and hope in a country devastated by war. He defied the violence, tragedy, and hopelessness surrounding him and transcended his reality with the use of a single instrument, his cello. He also has emphasized a profound, grander concept. Music is powerful.

It can elicit latent emotion, enhance an already present emotion, describe feelings you may not know how to articulate, and draw you out of a current time and space into an alternate reality. Just look closely at any musicians’ faces as they play their instruments. It doesn’t matter what instrument, it is obvious they are passionate about and moved deeply by what they are playing. They are raw, unguarded, and connected with their core. Consequently, we can connect with them on a personal level. This association is so potent and commanding, people spend valuable time and money chasing it for months, or even years, at a time. Watch this short video and examine the musicians as they play, but more importantly, actually feel the emotions this raises. Connect with yourself.

Music also requires and coerces collaboration. I find the best collaborations to be unexpected and unusual because, if executed in a careful manner, these are what can result in the most beautiful, harmonious, creative outcomes. Think of two artists you were surprised to see work together, but ended up producing music that was reminiscent of them both, yet created a novel, unique sound and vision. Personally, one of the best examples of this Alison Krause and Robert Plant’s grammy-winning collaboration Raising Sand. These artists both have roots in blues and folk, but took alternate routes when it came to their distinct musical sounds. However, this album exemplifies what can emerge from attempting something different, from not taking the obvious route, and working together with someone you never thought you could or would. Listen to this one song off of this inspiring and interesting album.

[podcast]http://criticalpeace.com/wp-content/uploads/07-Please-Read-The-Letter-1.mp3[/podcast]

Ask people what they can’t live without and, besides the obvious, I bet most of them will say music. Although we all have personal tastes and opinions about our choices in music, it is still one of the world’s ultimate unifiers. It has the ability to take individual, completely different units and transform them into a cohesive, beautiful whole. This statement is true for both individual instruments in a band or autonomous members of society.

Like music, building lasting peace requires being raw and unguarded with your emotions and unexpected collaborations. See what happens when you let your guard down and reach out to someone unanticipated, it could fail miserably, but it could be one of the best choices you have ever made.

Win this!!!

The Rules:

• Must be 13 years of age or older to enter
• This is a worldwide giveaway
• Entry deadline is April 14, 2011, at 11:59:59 PM, Mountain Time

Here’s a better look a the baseball:

Limited-Edition Fender Baseball

A man in Tel Aviv, Amnon Weinstein, and his son have spent the last 15 years tracking down such instruments. They are now restoring the violins, hoping they will help tell the story of those who survived, and those who were not so lucky.

For more, please watch this video and click the link below for the entire story.

Original Story at CNN.com

But, you probably know that I am extremely dependable when it comes to posting gear giveaways on Facebook and Twitter (and more recently, Tumblr). In fact, I started GearGiveaway365 over a year ago and have only missed a few days (he says as he pats himself on the back).

Not only that, but dozens of people have won gear. My guess is that members of the group have scored over $20,000 in musical instruments.

Since I know how to keep with a good thing, I’ve now added an email newsletter to the mix. I’m offering a daily email, which will be delivered each morning and will include a link directly to the giveaway sign-up page. Or, if you’re pretty good about following this already, get the weekly digest, just to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Click here to sign up!

In this GearPipe podcast episode, I speak with Steven Cox, CEO and Founder of TakeLessons, America’s leading source for private music and voice lessons.

We talk about the state of music education, the strict guidelines TakeLessons private instructor applicants are judged on, and even the role Guitar Hero and American Idol have had on music lesson enrollment.

In the end, Steven leaves me with a great deal of hope about the future of music making, telling me that “even if music (education) is cut, what’s really wonderful about music is that this is not going to stop the level of curiosity and the level of interest that people naturally have in music.”

As Christmas rapidly approaches, and gift-buying deadlines loom near, please consider a TakeLessons gift certificate for the young (or old) musicians in your lives. Through December 24th, TakeLessons is offering 30% off all lessons packages.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to GearPipe Podcasts on iTunes!

The legendary rock ‘n’ roll photographer and subject of the new documentary Rock Prophecies shot Led Zeppelin’s first U.S. show at the Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood. He shot Hendrix AND Stevie Ray Vaughan’s final shows. For over forty years, Knight has been what Rock Prophecies producer Tim Kaiser calls “the Forrest Gump of rock ‘n roll. He just had this knack for being right in the middle of history in the making.”

In this podcast episode Knight tells us that, all things being equal, he prefers when great guitars play a front and center role in these history-making events. “I’m guitar-centric. Everything that I’m really interested in has major great guitar in it, and I wouldn’t photograph bands back in the day that didn’t have good guitar.”

Knight also finds that some legendary guitars have taken center stage in his photographs. “Stevie Ray Vaughan and that beat up old Strat of his. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. The first time I saw Stevie Ray and I saw that guitar, it was like ‘I need to photograph that guitar.’ When I did some studio shoots with Stevie, I asked if I could actually shoot some of the guitars because they almost had their own personality.”

“In a way some of the instruments themselves have become rock stars, like Blackie, Eric Clapton’s guitar, or Eddie Van Halen’s guitar.”

If you’re interested in watching the film (and you should be…it features interviews with and performances by Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Slash, Panic at the Disco, Sick Puppies, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Steve Vai, among others), you can buy the DVD on Amazon and many other retailers, or watch for free during September and October on your local PBS station.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to GearPipe Podcasts on iTunes!

Check out the official Rock Prophecies trailer:

YouTube Link

The most obvious example to many of us would be rock bands who make the leap form playing clubs to theaters to arenas. When you’re playing a small room, you can play intricate guitar solos and drum fills that would get lost in the reverberation of an building meant to host hockey games. So, as bands play larger rooms, they tend to play less notes, taking advantage of the sound of the rooms they find themselves playing.

This is the easy example that many of us have probably thought about. Byrne runs through some other great examples that may not be as obvious to us. How does the outdoor environment in Africa influence the rich African rhythms? Why did the music of Bach and Mozart differ so much? It may have had quite a bit to do with the rooms they knew they’d be playing their latest pieces in.

Very interesting. I hope you enjoy it!

YouTube Link

Check out other TED videos on GearPipe

Called back onstage later, Gupta plays his own transcription of the prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1.

Check out other TED videos on GearPipe

1st Prize: NS Design WAV Violin Outfit (with case and NS Composite Bow), $924 – (1 Winner)
The NS Design WAV Violin, created for live amplification and recording, embodies the fusion of ergonomics, performance, and striking aesthetics. Its features include a patented PolarTM pickup System that produces a rich, dynamic tone for arco or pizzicato play, and a precision tuning system that rarely needs adjustment. It also features a maple neck and body and an ebony fingerboard shaped for consistent intonation. The winner’s electric violin outfit includes the NS Composite Bow and a hard-shell padded case. Evolved from traditional designs, the NS Composite Bow utilizes modern materials that allow it to achieve a new level of performance and practicality that exceeds that of bows made with traditional wood construction. Advanced molding techniques with carbon and other performance fibers give this bow superb balance and lightning-quick response.

2nd Prize: Set of D’Addario NS Electric Violin Strings (NS310 4/4), $67 – (20 Winners)
Twenty winners will get one set of D’Addario NS Electric Violin Strings (NS310 4/4) each. The new NS Electric line by D’Addario, devised in collaboration with Ned Steinberger, offers strings with rich tone and expressive nuance, bringing out the fullest tone from any electric instrument. NS Electric strings can even work well for acoustic instruments when seeking subtlety of expression.

Entry Deadline: April 30, 2010
Get It: Click Here to Enter

Not Feeling Lucky? Buy the NS Design WAV Electric Violin Outfit at Woodwind & Brasswind.

For daily links to musical instruments giveaways, make sure you follow me on Twitter or become a fan of my Facebook Page.

If you’re a flute player, this is a good one! WWBW is giving away a Sonaré Silhouette Series flute worth $1,740. Some info on this Sonaré Silhouette Series flute:

The Sonaré Silhouette Series flutes are based upon the popular 505 series. The unique black and silver appearance of these flutes is stunning and also a first in the flute world. The Silhouettes incorporate all of the sound expected from a Sonaré. The black nickel plated finish proves to increase the projection while the Sterling silver headjoint underneath prevents the sound from getting bright or shrill. They feature sterling silver, Powell Signature headjoints, handmade in Boston, which are then black nickel plated. The silver-plated keys feature French pointed arms. The body is made by Powell in Boston and is also black nickel plated.

• Sterling Silver Powell Signature headjoint with Black Nickel Plating
• Black Nickel plated body and foot joint
• Silver Plated French Style Keys
• French Pointed Arms
• Case / Cleaning Materials.

Entry Deadline: March 31, 2010
Get It: Click Here to Enter

For daily links to musical instruments giveaways, make sure you follow me on Twitter or become a fan of my Facebook Page.

When I was in college, the house my band practiced in was broken into and our PA system and our guitarist’s amp was stolen, but the only thing that’s even been taken from me was a splash cymbal. A bummer, but not a huge setback.

On the Fender Front Row blog, the folks from Scottsdale have posted some tips to help you recover your instrument if it’s even stolen. This is pretty simple stuff: write down the serial number, take pictures, file a police report…but sometimes we forget the basics, so this refresher is nice.

Of course, the most important thing is to be extra careful and make sure your gear is safe from sticky fingers to begin with!

Here’s a video from a Bakersfield CA news show reinforcing what Fender is telling us.

via Fender Front Row

If you’re one of those trendy hipsters with a smart phone, you can also access GearPipe on your phone in some cool ways.

First, there is now a free iPhone app in the Apple App Store. It’s not fancy, but it pulls in all of the new GearPipe posts right to your phone, with separate categories for each instrument plus contests and giveaways. Again, it’s totally free, so go to the App Store and download it!

If you’re on an Android equipped phone, a BlackBerry, or if you use an iPhone and would rather access GearPipe through the web browser, I’ve also installed a mobile-specific theme to the site. This detects when you’re coming to the website from a phone and serves up a more streamlined version of GearPipe. This seems to work pretty well, but if you get there and see the regular site, scroll down to the bottom of the page and there should be a switch to toggle between the two versions.

Thanks again for being a GearPipe reader!

Here are last week’s musical instrument giveaways from GearGiveaway365 on Facebook and Twitter:

• Brady Drums, a very high-end drum builder from Australia is giving away a 14 x 6.5 Spotted Gum ply snare drum. The winner will be notified by a personal telephone call from Brady founder Chris Brady on Christmas Day. Classy! Enter Here
• You can win a TC Electronic Impact Twin, which is a kick-ass new computer audio interface that’s not even on the market yet. It retails for $519. All you have to do is become a fan of the TC Electronic Facebook Page to enter. Enter Here
• Here’s a chance to win a microphone much nicer than most of us need! GC Pro is giving away an amazing sounding Royer R-121 ribbon microphone worth $1295. Enter Here
• The band Saosin is giving you a chance to win all four instruments featured in their video “Changing.” One person will win the Fender Squier Bass, Ibanez Electric Guitar, Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar, and an Evans Drumhead (ok…not an actual instrument!) that were actually… played in the video, and they’re all signed by the band. Enter Here
• I’ve been searching for some band instrument giveaways, and have found a few. Up first…a euphonium giveaway from Woodwind and Brasswind. Enter to win a Yamaha YEP321 Euphonium (MSRP $4,043) PLUS a $250 gift card. Enter Here
• Here’s a guitar amp giveaway for you! Win a Peavey Vypyr Tube 60 guitar amp (MSRP $599), courtesy of Guitar Edge Magazine. Enter Here
• Win a pair of Toca Elite Series Congas (value: $690) from Making Music Magazine. Enter Here
• If you’re a vintage guitar fan, here’s a great giveaway for you. Custom guitar builder Abe Rittenhouse is giving you a chance to win a custom relic electric guitar (your choice of models) worth up to $1,549. These are really cool ’50s and ’60s era Fender-style guitars. I wish a photo would load here, but go to the website to check them out. Enter Here

As always, you can get these updates everyday on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GearGiveaway365 or follow us our feed on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/GearGiveaway365. You can also subscribe to our giveaway email alerts to get a weekly email with this summary of links by subscribing here.

You can still enter many of the past weeks’ giveaways, so make sure to check out the GearGiveawy365 Archives.

More on this later, but I’ve just launched two new Facebook pages. First is the “Musical Instrument Coupon Codes” page. This one should be self-explanatory. I also launched one that I call “Guitar Review Theater.” If you’ve created a video review of a guitar, amp, effect, or accessory, you can upload it there for the world to see. Again, I’ll post more details on these later on.

Last week’s giveaways:

• BC Rich Giveaway! Win a BC Rich Warlock Electric Guitar and a Lita Ford prize pack (includes her new album “Wicked Wonderland,” a limited-edition vinyl version, and a tee shirt. Enter Here
• Woodwind and Brasswind Silver Bells Giveaway! Win a Stephanhöuser Model SAS2000-SS Sterling Silver Alto Saxophone worth $7,795. Enter Here
• Win a custom built Fender J Mascis Jazzmaster guitar autographed by the members of Dinosaur Jr. Enter Here
• Win a Jim Dunlop Custom Shop Crybaby Rack Wah worth $599. Enter Here
• Be a REAL Rock Hero Contest! Enter to win one of three great prizes. Three lucky winners will walk away with either an Archer SS30 electric guitar, Union 5-piece Drum Set or a $100 Cascio Interstate Music Gift Card. Enter Here
• You may not be that excited about a guitar strap giveaway, but everyone needs to check out these new straps from Anthology Gear Wear. These premium leather straps are hand rubbed, embroidered, etched, etc. If you win, you get to pick your strap (worth up to $180). Click though to view the photos if nothing else! Enter Here
• Disney Tink My Ride Sweepstakes! Grand prize is a Honda Insight EX Hybrid, BUT first prize is a Gibson electric guitar signed by Disney Channel star Demi Lovato (do you people know who she is? I don’t). Enter Here

As always, you can get these updates everyday on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GearGiveaway365 or follow us our feed on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/GearGiveaway365. You can also subscribe to our giveaway email alerts to get a weekly email with this summary of links by subscribing here.

You can still enter many of the past weeks’ giveaways, so make sure to check out the GearGiveawy365 Archives.

As always, you can get these updates everyday on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GearGiveaway365 or follow us our feed on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/GearGiveaway365. You can also subscribe to our giveaway email alerts to get a weekly email with this summary of links by subscribing here.

In case you’re not checking us out on Twitter or Facebook, here’s our weekly round-up of giveaways:

• Win a killer SubDecay F-Bomb fuzz pedal (worth $109) from Effects Bay Enter Here
• Win a FREE ModTone effects pedal of your choice! Tremolo, Delay, Chorus, Speedbox Distortion, Atomic Phaser, Dyno Drive, Funk Filter, Deep Dive, Extreme Metal or Chromatic Tuner! Enter Here
• Cascio Interstate Music Jam-Tastic Drum Sweepstakes! Grand prize is a Yamaha 14″x7″ brass snare drum signed by Carter Beauford. Additional prizes are Zildjian 14″ & 17″ K Dark Crash Cymbals signed by Carter, a $500 Gift Card from Cascio Interstate Music, a DW 9000 Series Double Bass Pedal, a Yamaha Jacket sig…ned by Carter, and 1 Dozen Pro Mark Carter Beauford Signature Sticks. Enter Here
• Win a SICK Orange Dual Terror guitar head from Premier Guitar. This amp is worth $859, so get on it now! Enter Here
• Any sax players out there? You can get a FREE baritone/tenor sax strap from Rico. Everyone gets one! Just follow the link below to the Rico Facebook page. In a comment, tell them who your favorite saxophone player is, then click the link to take a brief survey about what you like. Pretty simple for free gear. Enter Here
• Check out Sweetwater Sound’s 24-day Holiday Giveaway! Every day from December 1 to December 24, they’re going to give away a special gift of some of the most popular audio and music gear they carry, including gear from Fender, Digidesign, Yamaha, and Epiphone. Enter Here
• Win a bunch of gear from the band Between the Buried and Me. Score an autographed Spector Legend 5 Classic Bass in black cherry finish, D’Addario XL strings, Planet Waves straps, tuners & more, signed Vic Firth drum sticks, and BTBAM swag. Enter Here
• Win a Rock Candy Special electric guitar from Daisy Rock Guitars & Viva la Rock. Enter Here (Expired)
• Win a custom hand drawn Fender Squier Stratocaster guitar by the animators & creators of Phineas and Ferb! Enter Here

You can still enter many of the past weeks’ giveaways, so make sure to check out the GearGiveawy365 Archives.

All you have to do is follow the link below to enter your email address and product news preferences. Once you submit your info, you’ll receive an email containing instructions to get your 20% discount. Basically, they’ll give you a promo code that you can use on a call-in order.

Expires: Until further notice

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Quinn Violins retail store is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They also offer instruments, strings, and accessories for sale on their website. They’ve just announced a site-wide 10% off discount, if you use the coupon code below.

In addition, if you visit their website and sign up for their email list, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Quinn Violins gift card.

Coupon Code: big10
Expires: March 3, 2009

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Through the end of February, Woodwind and Brasswind is offering an extra 10% off the already reasonable “value brands” on their website, thanks to a new coupon code. This includes brands like Pulse drums, Laguna and Rogue guitars, and Bundy horns.

Coupon Code: MusicTen
Expires: February 28, 2009

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

1. Bach LR180S Stradivarius Series Bb Trumpet
2. Yamaha YTR9445CHS Chicago Series Artist C Trumpet
3. Barrington BRG101 Series Student Bb Trumpet
4. Amati ATR 213 Rainbow Series Student Bb Trumpet
5. Conn 23B USA Series Student Bb Trumpet
6. Kanstul ZKT 1500-B Signature Series Bb Trumpet
7. Schilke B Series Custom Professional Bb Trumpet
8. Jupiter 416 Bb Pocket Trumpet
9. Bach 197 Stradivarius New York #7 Limited Pro Bb Trumpet
10. Yamaha YTR8335 Xeno Series Bb Trumpet

Check out the Best Selling Musical Instruments Archive.
Search for Trumpets on eBay.

Through October 31, 2008, if you buy a Bundy student band instrument, you’ll earn a Woodwind and Brasswind gift card worth up to $150.

• Buy a Piccolo, get a $50 gift card
• Buy a Flute, get a $75 gift card
• Buy a Clarinet, get a $100 gift card
• Buy a Alto Saxophone, get a $150 gift card
• Buy a Tenor Saxophone, get a $150 gift card
• Buy a Trumpet, get a $100 gift card
• Buy a Trombone, get a $100 gift card

Coupon Code: BUNDYGIFT
Expires: October 31, 2008

If you’re purchasing these instruments for a school, call or fax purchase order referencing coupon code ‘BUNDY’ to receive promotional offer. School offer expires December 31, 2008.

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Through September 16, 2008 look for the red, “Save 10%” tag and get great savings on top quality accessories from some of Woodwinds & Brasswinds top selling brands.

Expires: September 16, 2008
Coupon Code: None required

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Grand Prize includes:

• A Jupiter XO Eb Alto Saxophone
• A Rico Reed Case with Reed Vitalizer
• A Rico H-Ligature with Cap (Alto Sax)
• A Rico Padded Sax Strap
• One (1) year supply of Rico Reeds (12 boxes of your
  choice of Rico Reserve, Select Jazz or LaVoz)

Entry Deadline: October 23, 2008
Get It: Click Here to Enter

This contest has expired, but check out our other musical instrument giveaways
or Subscribe to our Contests & Giveaways category.

1. CB Percussion 6854 Bell Kit
2. Ludwig LE2481 Percussion Learning Center
3. Pearl SK750 Snare Drum Educational Kit
4. Ludwig LE2475R Jet Pak Snare Drum Kit Concert Drums
5. Ludwig LE2472R Jet Pak Snare Drum Kit Concert Drums
6. Ludwig M651R Bells And Pad Kit with Rolling Bag
7. Ludwig LE2475 Jet Pak Snare Drum Kit Concert Drums
8. CB Percussion Percussion Kit With Case
9. Yamaha SPK250 Student Percussion Bell Kit
10. Yamaha SCK300 Student Percussion Kit

Check out the Best Selling Musical Instruments Archive.
Search for Snare Drums on eBay.

Coupon Code: LESS10
Expires: August 30, 2008
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

If you’re getting ready to go back to school and haven’t opened your case since June…I guarantee your old reeds are dried out and cracked. Time to stock up!

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

1. Vandoren V12 Bb Clarinet Reeds
2. Alexander Reeds Classique Bb Clarinet Reeds
3. Zonda Select Clarinet Reeds
4. Vandoren 56 Rue Lepic Bb Clarinet Reeds
5. Gonzalez Regular Cut Bb Clarinet Reeds
6. Grand Concert Select Bb Clarinet Reeds Traditional Blank
7. Legere Student Bb Clarinet Reed
8. La Voz Bb Clarinet Reeds
9. Gonzalez F.O.F Bb Clarinet Reeds
10. Grand Concert Select Clarinet Reeds Thick Blank

Check out the Best Selling Musical Instruments Archive.
Search for Clarinet Reeds on eBay.

I have no idea what is on sale…I guess that’s why you have to call in! I do, however know the hours this is happening:

• Friday, August 1 – 8:00AM – 9:00 PM
• Saturday, August 2 – 8:00AM – 5:00 PM
• Sunday, August 3 – 12:00PM – 6:00 PM

I also know the phone number: 800.348.5003. So call in and save!

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Actually, now that I think about it, once you have kids that are school aged you probably welcome this time of year!

If you do have school aged kids who are taking band this fall, Woodwind and Brasswind is here to help save you a little cash so you can spend more on shoes and clothes (what are the kids wearing these days?) They’re running a Free Shipping on Student Band Instrument promotion. There are quite a few instruments, including top selling student trumpets, clarinets, flutes, eligible for free shipping. Here are a few examples:

• Barrington Model 336 Student Bb Clarinet
• Giardinelli GTR 312 Series Student Trumpet
• Yamaha YAS-23 Student Alto Saxophone
• Strunal Model 220 Violin Outfit
• Gemeinhardt 2SP Series Student Flute

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This may or may not me the case but, just for fun, I decided to Google Oboe Deals and found that I’m already ranked third. So, it is now going to be my obsession to reach the #1 spot. We’ll see if this post does it.

Oboe players (oboeists?) unite!

The Deal: Musicians Friend is currently running a great oboe deal on a Jupiter 355 Oboe.
Regular Price: $1,499.00
Current Price: $1,274.15
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This contest has expired, but check out our other musical instrument giveaways
or Subscribe to our Contests & Giveaways category.