Author: Emily Wright

dream big

dream big

Posted by | Oct 1, 2019 | , | 0 |

Alternate title: financial advisors, angel investors, and becoming a Spreadsheet Person After two decades of trying to find the perfect place that marries all of the things that are important to me—and not finding it—I’ve decided to create the place, myself. These are the proto-plans for something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and I’m putting them up now, in this less-than-polished format to see if any readers have expertise, connections, or like $20k burning a hole in your pocket. The elevator pitch goes something like this: a semi-remote retreat and education space that offers on-site housing....

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Idyllwild Arts

Idyllwild Arts

Posted by | Sep 6, 2019 | , | 5 |

Originally posted 1 Aug 2007. I think about things I learned at Idyllwild every single day. I hope I have not spent my last summer up among the dusty cedars and A-frame cabins. San Jacinto looming over Hemet On Friday, I drove up Mt. San Jacinto to the lovely mountain town of Idyllwild, where I went for pretty much all of the formative summers of my life to what was then called ISOMATA. (Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts) I visited with Steve Fraider, the head of the summer program, and Bill Lowman, president of Idyllwild Arts, and it...

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an army of cellists

an army of cellists

Posted by | Sep 6, 2019 | , | 1 |

I had a session today for a film whose composer had the genius concept to score the whole movie…..with cellos and basses. 28 cellos! It was nice to hear the sound, of course, but it was also a great hang with some of the top players in LA that I am lucky enough to know. My thumb aches from the false harmonics, but it’s a small price to pay for a whole day in Cello Geek Heaven. Originally posted 30 July 2007. This session still stands out in my mind as one of the most meaningful I’ve ever participated...

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I heart my students

I heart my students

Posted by | Sep 6, 2019 | , | 5 |

Originally posted 5 July 2007. This brings back so many memories! One of these students, Jeremy Boersma, is now a professional cellist with a bustling studio of his own and a busy performance schedule. Look him up if you’re in LA. Another, Austin Shaw, completed a music degree at USC (Go Trojans!) and splits his time between performing and working as a sound engineer. He came through DC last year, and my heart was swollen with pride (and affection) to see him succeed. I still heart my students. Sigh. This recital marks some milestones for my studio and the...

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extend-o-matic

extend-o-matic

Posted by | Sep 5, 2019 | | 6 |

Originally posted 26 June 2007. It’s wild that this is all words and no images, although I suppose there is some utility in having to visualize the movements independently. It reminds me of the Eddie Izzard skit where he talks about why there are no car chases in books. When a student is first learning extensions, I teach it as a multi-step movement that goes something like this, if we’re doing 1, 2, 4: 1st finger goes down like nothing’s different. (a lot of people prepare, pre-prepare, go insane pronating or other left hand freak out) Then, take 2nd,...

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