Library News
Learn piano or guitar: For beginners to the professional musician
Posted on September 22nd, 2021
You know the library has books and DVDs and CDs and streaming movies and electronic media of all kinds. You know we have information professionals (aka librarians) available to support your educational and research needs. You know Booth Library has beautiful spaces and comfortable places to work and relax, you may even know about the technology newly available to support your digital projects in the Center for Student Innovation.
But did you know you can use Booth Library spaces and equipment to become a musician or expand your repertoire?
It’s true! Booth library has electric guitars (Dean Vendetta hardtail) available for use in the rehearsal rooms on the 4000 level of the library. Rehearsal rooms are equipped with amplifier emulation software offering the sound of 64 amplifiers, 77 speaker cabinets and 113 effects. The available software includes Amp Kit, Pod Farm or Guitar Rig. Not only that, but there are two electric guitars available for use outside of the library at the Library Technology Services desk on the 400 level. A headphone amplifier and tuner are checked out with the guitars.
The two rehearsal rooms on the 4000 level are equipped with Yamaha Clavinova CLP 950M digital pianos with weighted keys. The pianos are attached to a computer to allow for multitrack digital recording.
And of course in addition to the equipment and rehearsal space, Librarians at Booth — notably Head of Library Technology Services Stacey Knight Davis and Liaison for Music and Head of Cataloging Bill Schultz — have created excellent research guides to help you find the best learning materials for any level and style you wish to learn. The Piano guide features beginner and adult piano instruction manuals as well as several jazz, rock, Latin and swing piano songbooks. Our catalog will help you find hundreds more.
The acoustic, electric and bass guitar guide boasts over 200 books on instruction from beginner to advanced, chords and theory along with dozens of music books on jazz, Latin, classical, rock, bluegrass, country, blues, songbooks and collections of hits from popular artists from the last century. Many come with accompanying CDs or DVDs.
Whether you already play and just want to brush up your chops with some books for home, or you have an interest in self-directed musical study and need the equipment to get started, the faculty and staff at Booth want to help you succeed.
