Don Rickert Musical Instruments

New Episode of Cool Instruments for Hep Cats with William Hurd on Violoncello da Spalla

Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Our new podcast, ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’ launched in March, 2023. It is available as an audio podcast, currently only on Spotify. It is also available in video format on YouTube. In “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”, we delve into the fascinating realm of unusual and intriguing musical instruments, the people who make them, the people who play them and the music they create. See my earlier article, ‘Our New Podcast and YouTube Channel, Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’. If you wish to discuss anything covered in this article, see Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to ALL of my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. New Episode Episode 4 of ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’ is now available. YouTube: @Cool_Instruments_for_Hep_Cats Spotify: The audio version of the ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats’ podcast on Spotify: Episode 4 focuses on the Violoncello da Spalla from the perspective of a player who is also a violin and viola teacher (Suzuki Method) The episode continues the Violoncello da Spalla theme of Episode 3 with luthier and musician Daniela Gaidano. Episode 4 features William Hurd. Will is a violist with the Air Force Strings, The United States Air Force Band. He is also a Suzuki teacher (violin and viola) in Washington, DC. Will has a unique perspective on the violoncello da spalla, as he uses it extensively in his teaching of violin and viola students. Episode 4 of Cool Instruments for Cool Cats... Read more →

New Podcast Episode of Cool Instruments for Cool Cats on Violoncello da Spalla is now Live on YouTube and Spotify.

Don Rickert on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/donrickert. This link gets you to my detailed contact information, my websites and social media. About: Cool Instruments for Hep Cats podcast, Episode 3, with luthier Daniela Gaidano on the Violoncello da Spalla is available NOW on YouTube and Spotify. Host is Dr. Donald Rickert. Daniela Gaidano is a violinist, violist and luthier specializing in making violoncellos da spalla. She worked for the famous string maker, Aquila, where she was part-owner for 15 years. She is based in Northern Italy near Austria. Host, Don Rickert, is a musician and luthier as well, who makes various stringed instruments, including violoncellos da spalla. Links: YouTube (video version, in 5 parts): https://www.youtube.com/@Cool_Instruments_for_Hep_Cats/podcasts Spotify (audio version): https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cool-instruments-hep-cats Just information – NO marketing!: I am not against marketing. After all, if you make things, you have to find ways of telling potential buyers about what you do. There is a time and place for sales pitches, self-promotion and such. I mean, this post is marketing for the podcast when you think about it. The ‘Cool Instruments for Hep Cats” podcast is just NOT the time or the place for self-promotion and marketing. It is more than one hour of just really interesting information and informed opinion. The podcast is also a politics free zone. But it is a positive energy zone! Check out also… Episodes 1 and 2 (audio versions), with Dr. Roger Landes, are available on Spotify. Episode 2 (video version) is available on YouTube. Note: Episode 1 was audio... Read more →

Image Assets for Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Ep 3

These are some of the image assets presented by Guest Daniela Gaidano in Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Episode 3. Host: Don Rickert of D. Rickert Musical Instruments. Read more →

New Violoncello da Spalla Builds Underway: Now Might Be the Time

It is time to unite another new Violoncello da Spalla by Don Rickert with its new owner. We have a new Violoncello da Spalla standard model underway. I have a Violoncello da Spalla (Standard Model) in progress that is more than one-half completed. The Standard Model is less expensive than the Standard Plus Model. You will want to visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop [link] to see the differences between the two models. Both are professional level instruments. See the in-progress Violoncello da Spalla in its current state in the adjacent photo of yours truly (i.e., Don Rickert). Learn more about Violoncellos da Spalla, including the ones we make here in our Hiawassee, Georgia (USA) workshop. If you are reading this, you probably already know a bit about what a Violoncello da Spalla is, the history of its development in the 17th and 18th Centuries, and its rediscovery in the early 21st Century. If you do wish to learn or simply refresh your memory on this unique and versatile instrument, visit the following links: Violoncellos da Spalla by Donald Rickert Demonstrations of Violoncellos da Spalla by Don Rickert Violoncello da Spalla Standard Model by D. Rickert NEW Violoncello da Spalla by D. Rickert (Standard Plus Model) Violoncello da Spalla in Old-Time Music: A Match Made in Heaven Happy New Year 2022! Looking for a World-Class Violoncello da Spalla? Learn more about other really cool tenor and baritone range violin family instruments If you visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop website... Read more →

Cool Instruments for Hep Cats Podcast: First episode to post week of March 19, 2023

Yeah, I know that I said that it would launch on March 17. What with some instrument completion deadlines and St. Patrick's Day stuff, it is going to be delayed by a few days. My bad! Stay tuned. Happy St. Patrick's Day 2023! Read more →

Our New Podcast and YouTube Channel: Cool Instruments for Hep Cats

I am launching a new podcast and YouTube show, “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”. It will be available, both as an audio podcast, as well as a video version on YouTube. Initially, the audio podcast will be available on Spotify, with the other usual channels to follow. Interviews with guests and recording has been going on since early February. The first episode is scheduled to air on Spotify and YouTube on March 17, 2023. In “Cool Instruments for Hep Cats”, we delve into the fascinating realm of unusual and intriguing musical instruments. From the depths of history to the cutting edge of innovation, we'll explore the instruments that push the boundaries of what we consider music. Join us on a journey of discovery as we uncover the secrets of the world's most fascinating instruments, the people who make them, the people who play them, and the music they create. The bar for music-related podcasts and shows is high; for example, Rick Beato’s “Everything Music” YouTube channel, and the "Voices from the Vernacular Music Center Podcast", hosted by Dr. Chris Smith and Dr. Roger Landes of Texas Tech University. As far as I know, "Cool Instruments for Hep Cats" is the only podcast focused exclusively on unusual musical instruments, the people who play them and the people who make them. If there are others, we are honored to be part of the same club. I have received an incredible response from some very Hep Cats, who have generously agreed to be... Read more →

Offbeat Songs for Cool Cats: New Podcast From D. Rickert Musical Instruments

We just launched our new podcast, Offbeat Songs for Cool Cats, just in time for Christmas 2022. Below are links to play Episode 1, Parts 1 and 2 via Spotify. We aim to post an episode every 2 weeks. The next is scheduled for on or about January 5, 2023. I'll be telling you more about this podcast in the coming days. We will also be launching yet another Podcast show in the near future. For now its name is Badass Instruments for Cool Cats. There will be a corresponding video version on YouTube. Episode 1, Part 1 Episode 1, Part 2 (Ska, Ska Punk and Reggae) Read more →