In Tune Monthly

In Tune Monthly is a magazine written for teen-aged music students [ MENC.org: http://www.menc.org/publication/press/releases/intune_july05.html] . [http://www.algonquinband.com/page5.html] While In Tune targets 12-18 year-olds, the magazine’s readership reaches into college age [http://www.cedarville.edu/academics/library/faculty/materials/nbljan07.htm] and is widely read by middle school, high school, and college level music teachers [ [http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/jhw/JHWBand/JHWBand1.htm JHWBandHome ] ] .

Published in eight monthly issues from October through May, In Tune comes in two versions: The Student Edition, and the Teacher Edition. The latter is identical to the student version, but includes an additional eight-page “wrap,” called the “Teacher Guide,” which offers suggested lesson material relating to stories in the Student Edition, as well as a monthly quiz.

The magazine’s website, intunemonthly.com, provides content that supports, but does not duplicate, the stories in each printed issue. This includes text, video, and audio, including a monthly podcast of the In Tune Listening List, a collection of recommended songs covering a wide range of genres. The website is updated for each issue and regularly throughout the the print magazine’s summer break.

History

In Tune was founded in 2003 by veteran "Billboard", "Forbes" and "Business Week" publishing executive Irwin Kornfeld, former "Musician", "EQ" and "Gig" magazines publisher Angelo Biasi, and GRAMMY-winning music producer Will Edwards. The founding editor was industry veteran Rich Maloof ("Guitar for the Practicing Musician") but author and composer Emile Menasché quickly stepped in and has remained the magazine’s editor to this day.

The first issue of In Tune featured Norah Jones on the cover, a story on overcoming stage fright, a glossary of musical terms, a breaking story on then newcomer Joss Stone, an explanation of how a microphone works, and a photo essay about Yo-Yo Ma’s cello. This mix of stories about music from a wide array of genres set the template for the magazine, which regularly offers coverage of rock, jazz, R&B, country, classical, folk, world, experimental and film music.

Magazine Content

Today, a typical issue of In Tune includes:

• A contemporary artist-focused cover feature (2008 subjects have included Paramore, Taylor Swift, Chris Brown, Colbie Caillat, the Jonas Brothers, and others)

• A technique feature with music notation (accompanied by online audio and video) [Music Blog: http://www.2090.org/zoom/bbs/viewtopic.php?p=105711&sid=5f3e1bd895e809126b21eaeb9955e368]

• “Timeline” examinations of specific genres, such as jazz, bluegrass, fusion, and heavy metal

• “Tours” of musical cities, venues (like Carnegie Hall) and equipment factories

• Extended stories about music issues, such as how to get into a music college, how to start a music festival, the principles of sound reinforcement, and more.

• A feature about a musical instrument or technology (for example, the history of reed instruments; the anatomy of a violin; the making of a drum head; the basics of recording technology; etc.

• A profile of a legendary musician. Subjects have ranged from Duke Ellington to Jascha Heifetz to Led Zeppelin

• An explanation of how performers can approximate the sounds of a popular recording

• A profile of a composer or songwriter. Subjects have ranged from John Williams to Johnta Austin to Linda Perry

• A profile of a working musician, such as the trumpeter of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the trombonist for Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and the music director for The Lion King

• A profile of a person working behind the scenes in the music business, such as record producers, arrangers, A&R people, music lawyers, etc.

• A story about educators or student musicians of note.

• A photo essay about a professional musician and his or her favorite instrument.

In Tune also holds an annual essay contest for teachers called the Music Room Makeover, in which sponsors donate equipment to one school. [Modern Guitars http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/002355.html]

Additional projects

In addition to In Tune Monthly, the magazine’s parent company, In Tune Partners, publishes "Drum Corps International Magazine" for [http://dci.org DCI] , "Teaching Music" magazine for [http://menc.org MENC: The National Association for Music Education] , "WGI Focus" for [http://wgi.org Winter Guard International] , and [http://onstage.intunemonthly.com "Disney onStage"] . In Tune Partners also represents MENC’s Music Educator’s Journal and menc.org for advertising sales.

Its sister company, Westchester Media, publishes [http://www.ascap.org ASCAP’s] magazine, "Playback" and helps produce the ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo. Westchester Media also represents the Los Angeles-based [http://www.lafestival.org Festival of New American Musicals] for sponsorships. In Tune Partners and Westchester Media are currently developing a variety of new projects.

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