Category archive

In love with Slonimsky, part 1

I’m going back through Slonimsky’s Lexicon of Musical Invective (a title that is as much fun to say as it is to actually delve into) and thought I’d share a few of the entries. In case you’re not familiar, it’s…

Borodin 2, in a day.

As part of my gig at AACC, I come in every other week and play with their orchestra and do stuff like run sectionals and make terrible puns from the back of the cellos. I emailed the conductor and asked…

lesson gold

  I don’t teach many young peeps. The few that I do manage are always characters, and my two Monday kids are no exception. Yesterday, Noah and I were talking about his impending move to a full size cello, and…

PSA

  When you walk any distance at all in the rain with a cello strapped to your back, the water drips down the case and soaks your butt.

cogito ergo sum, or not.

I’m noticing a trend among younger students. When I ask them a question that requires critical thinking, introspection or deduction they first respond…   with silence.   And then I press them a little. Perhaps goad them with, “Go on-…

on having faith

I was recently asked if I’d always had faith in my path as a musician. It’s a good question, and one that provoked some decidedly non-soapbox/swashbuckling answers. Folks come here for a dose of upstream boldness. And I suppose in…

quick update

  I have neglected this blog lately, but for good reason. Between teaching private lessons, starting the new college gig, performing, and attending more dance events than is actually humanly possible, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks.   Just…

on writing.

I work really hard when I write. It’s some of the most enjoyable time I spend (tied with practicing cello, dancing, and flying). A few years ago, I hassled the folks over at Strings into letting me scribble a bit…

BiMAfest 2011!

I’m playing with BRB at Cyclops on the 26th! Get your passes here, and stop by and say hi! It’s an absolute smorgasbord of musical goodness, with a combination of sweet local talent and out of town bands.

top 5

  Just thought I would share the top 5 most awful and outrageous things I’ve ever gotten via the emilywright.net inbox Most are edited for obvious reasons.   5. “Everything you play sounds like a Duport étude. You suck. Stop…

no flinching.

    I’ve never been one to stick to the beaten path. Even when I give it a shot, and feel like I’m doing what people have prescribed as the “right thing to do”, I find myself happily frolicking in…

random update

I’m all over the map (in more ways that one) but thought that I should still try to do roughly one post a day. Here’s what I’ve got for y’alltoday:   1. Shipping my car back to CA and buying…

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…

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,…

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…

knowing in your bones

  A friend of mine is going through what she’s calling a breakdown. After having pushed herself to the limit for the past 5+ years with the supposed goal of becoming a physician’s assistant, she got into a prestigious program…

Stage fright

  I still catch a case of the stomach-jumpies when I get on stage. Not all the time, but I’d say at least half of my gigs (including workshops, seminars, etc) have some added zesty to them. The key to…

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.”…