tales from the stage
When I was in high school, I got to play a Vivaldi cello concerto with the orchestra. There were several concerts, one of which was mostly families, the other comprised mostly of friends. During the “family” concert, I noticed…
Emily Wright
you’ll know.
If you (or your child) are considering giving up on playing an instrument, here’s a little checklist to see if it’s the right thing to do. The Quitting Checklist: 1. Have you tried private lessons? Individual attention helps,…
game changers.
I was at dinner with GGP and Nancy Jo tonight, and we were talking about the Masterpieces class she gives over at AU. I brought up Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians as what I consider a seminal work,…
there’s not always room…
…for cello. So I love playing with bands. Love, love, love it. Every now and again, a songwriter will come to me with some ideas or even a written chart for a tune. And I play it. No sweat.…
if you don’t want to practice
That’s fine. No really. It’s totally fine. Do your thing. Strange that you don’t want to improve today, though. I mean, it’s understandable. You’re tired. Or have ennui. Or lost sight of the goal. You’re bored. Or…
strange flattery
If you keep up with me on Twittaw, you know I’ve become something of a swing dance addict. There’s something uniquely satisfying about learning a new discipline that, if you’re doing it right, requires lots of awareness and technique and…
stoke factor
I was at a party last night where we were discussing all of our respective job situations and future plans. With about 2 weeks until my Hopkins studies are ostensibly done, the situation is getting, to put it…
Lucy finds a computer
Bless her furry grey heart: Lucy’s been trying to email you guys. While I’m gigging like crazy and finishing up at Hopkins, she was hoping for some pen-pals to keep her company. Don’t tell her I know about her little…
hee hee
Anna sent this to me with the subject line: “personal cello transport solution”. Of course she’s at Cambridge, clever thing.
music saves the day, again.
I am so overwhelmed by this final push at Hopkins. It’s a summer of “capstone” classes, each designed to sum up an emphasis with a large-scale project. The reading has been punishing in sheer volume, and a little frustrating…