When you think of accordions, you probably either picture people in funny costumes playing polkas while others drink beer or Weird Al Yankovich. The latter made the accordion popular in the West with his zany parodies, which originally included polka-style mixes of popular tunes using an accordion. But one thing you might not know is … Read more
Invented in the late 1600s by Johann Denner, the clarinet is one of the most recognizable and beloved of all woodwinds. However, it might surprise you to find out that there are actually numerous types of clarinet, most of which look nearly identical. Unlike a lot of other instruments, clarinets are usually classified by the … Read more
You can tell a lot about a person by playing word association games, and the word “saxophone” may be particularly telling. Older generations will immediately name Lester Young, Charlie Parker, or John Coltrane. Those who grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s will respond with “Careless Whisper”, “Never Tear US Apart”, or “Who Can it … Read more
There may be 500 channels with nothing on, but it’s not for a lack of options. Here are 20 genres of TV show you may or may not have heard about. See Also: 4 Types of Movie Theaters Types of TV Shows 1. Anime Originally inspired by the style of early Disney cartoons, anime (pronounced … Read more
When life gives you lemons, don’t make lemon bombs. Instead, figure out what type of lemons it gave you, set aside the best ones, and THEN burn life’s house down with the rest. There are literally dozens of lemon varieties out there, many of which have specific qualities that set them aside for particular recipes … Read more
One of the greatest discoveries by mankind is actually a very simple one. It only requires a material and air to defy gravity and was one of the first methods of human flight. Just like the box, the balloon is now revered as both a functional tool and a cherished toy. Most balloons use either … Read more
Bells are one of the oldest musical instruments, dating back thousands of years. Unlike the harp, which has been associated with divinity in Christianity, the bell has often been associated with the devil due to its use in meditation and many pagan religions. Ironically, bells gain extensive usage in Christian churches despite this association. However, … Read more
One of the oldest surviving instruments, harps have become so revered that they’re a staple of religious imagery. In Christianity, cherubs and other stylized angels are often seen playing small harps, and harps are generally associated with heaven while bells are often linked to hell. But harps go well beyond religious use, and there are … Read more
When you think of a speech, you’re likely thinking of somebody standing at a podium and curing your insomnia. However, speeches occur everywhere and in many different forms. There are four major categories of speech: Demonstrative, Entertaining, Informative, and Persuasive. In each category are a number of sub-types, from campaign speeches to eulogies. The following … Read more
Magic is a big part of fantasy and even some science fiction. Be they wizards, clerics, or others, magic users are a popular character type. And whether in writing, movies, video games, one of the most popular categories of magic user is the mage. Mages encompass a wide variety of roles and sometimes overlap with … Read more
