I think I just found the most horrible classical music website on the net. Or useful, depending on where you’re at. Here’s the blurb from www.kickassclassical.com . “Get to know the most popular Classical Music in pop culture today! You’ve heard these famous Classical Music pieces in movies, trailers, commercials, cartoons, video games and ringtones. …
I’m really enjoying Christopher Foley’s Collaborative Piano blog at the moment. He has some wonderful tips for collaborative pianists (otherwise known as piano accompanists) on getting work and learning to be a professional. Lots of advice I would love to have had when starting out. Hugh Sung also has some great practical tips for budding …
Today’s Washington Post story about Joshua Bell posing as a street musician was so thought-provoking that it has been on my mind all day. Joshua’s magnificent playing apparently aroused so little attention that he himself was alarmed and the reporter certainly bemused. Should we be so shocked? Does it really mean the end of civilization …
Photo: Ange Four Seasons– Autumn http://www.flickr.com/photos/gallettas_pics/ I turn on the car radio to a blast of sound from KCRW, our great local indie station. My tastes are eclectic these days, partly thanks to Robert, but today I’m not in the mood to be blasted out of my seat. Instead, I switch to Classical KUSC. Instantly, …
Just got back from a fantastic concert of Persian, Armenian and Arabic music by the Salaam Ensemble, right here in Ojai. Led by the multi-talented John Zeretzke, these world-class players assembled a couple of years ago at the request of the Music Center of Los Angeles and have since performed in concert and also in …
Christopher Foley pointed out an article today on his excellent blog, written by Kerry Miller of Business Week on “Teaching Musicians to be Entrepreneurs”. As soon as I saw the title, it felt like a no-brainer. Of course musicians need to be entrepreneurs! What a wonderful initiative! Yet, the proposals in several prestigious institutions in …
I was completely stunned by two video excerpts I saw yesterday on the ubiquitous youtube of Dawn Upshaw singing Messiaen‘s “Saint François d’Assise”, directed by Peter Sellars. (I’m indebted to Alex for posting one on his blog). The excerpts show the rehearsal process, Dawn’s valiant struggles with the virtuosic music and Peter guiding, encouraging and …
When I was studying at the Guildhall in the 80’s, I had the fortune to hear a talk by the late, great Leonard Bernstein. I don’t remember the content now as much as I remember his extraordinary charisma. He was the most wonderful speaker– relaxed, intelligent, warm, provocatively interesting… We all, male and female, fell …
I thoroughly enjoyed Stephen Hough‘s article in today’s Guardian about the relatively recent separation of the roles of composer and performer. It is only since starting to improvise and compose over the last ten years that I realize how my education was so separatist in that regard, both at school and university– “composing was for …
There’s a fascinating series of diagrams in the New York Times today, revealing the results of scientific study on violins made by Stradivarius and Guarneri. The study tells us more about why these instruments made such a beautiful sound and are still highly revered today. Make sure to click on the different tabs at the …