Performing
The Swan: a practice guide.
It lives! First off, thanks to the people who bought the first guide. Here’s the second one, dedicated to a piece that means so much to so many. Next up, some Bach!
adding it up
Now and again I go for a jog without music. After the crunchy/clear headed/isn’t this moment grand thing passes (and it does, without fail), I return to the usual fragmented contemplation that running is supposed to help alleviate. Cresting a hill today, an equation popped onto my mental chalkboard, the results of which were too [...]
bubbada bubbada
By hook, crook, bell, book and candle, I managed to infiltrate the ranks of the jazz department when I was at CSUN. Classically trained folks are usually a liability in such settings: stuck to the page, desperate for someone to just tell us what to play. I carved something of a niche for [...]
Inspiration, it's been too long. Welcome back. #fb
paying the piper
I’ve been interviewing a bit over the past month or so. While some gigs (like classroom teaching) are non-negotiable, others (usually the ones that are 100% private instruction) are more reflective of regional or institutional attitudes towards the worth and “going rate” of my services. It’s a tricky spot to be in: [...]
Read Morequestions from the Twitterverse, part 1.
I thought it might be fun to answer some questions from the good folks on Twitter, so here goes: @mstcambot asks: 1. Do cellists like violinists? When I played in middle school, the pecking order seemed to be violin, cello, bass, and then the one guy who played viola. It was sad. [...]
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Memorial Day.
EW: I posted this last year but thought it was worth revisiting. Have a wonderful Memorial Day, lovely readers. Someone whom I respect and care very much for said about Memorial Day, “It really has no meaning for me at all.” I had my jaw sewn back on before she could turn around to see it [...]
Read MoreThe Nice Lady
As some of you may have gathered, I’m hustling out here in Baltimore. Gone are the days of composers calling me up for last-minute tv gigs, of weeks full of teaching my beloved students, of having the luxury of near-daily blog ramblings. So yeah, I’m hustling. Trying to make the most of my non-schooly time [...]
Read MoreThe quiet blogosphere: an anti-lament
Like many blogs, this little slice of the interwebs has been quieter than usual. I am in the lucky position to actually know many of the music bloggers I recommend here and follow over on Twitter, and save a few, our experience has been the same. As it turns out, we’ve all been so busy [...]
Read MoreDeathbed Pie Chart, volume 2.
Ok, so here’s one submission from a regular reader and also what my DBPC would have looked like in 2nd grade. His: Mine, age 7: Your assignment: send me what you would LIKE your pie chart to look like. You know the email.
Read MoreHappy Birthday, USA.
A good read, in case you haven’t taken the time. When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of [...]
Read Moremaking some changes!
Please forgive the weird appearance of the blog. I think something more cello-y will be up within a few days!
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