Do masterclasses belong in our bios? That was the question I posed in last week’s post, which argued against the all-too-common practice of sticking a star-studded honor roll into a biography. Masterclasses are really no different than trial lessons, I asserted; they generally don’t have a lasting influence on your playing; and the mere selection[…]
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We at the Eastman School of Music have enjoyed a parade of celebrities this past month. First we hosted Chris Martin, the principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony, who came with the Gaudette Brass; next, famed cellist Steven Isserlis stopped by in between concerto engagements; then, the legendary pianist Leon Fleisher came to town for[…]
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Two weeks ago, I wrote about Renée Fleming’s stellar Super Bowl performance and how it offered pop culture a rare (if fleeting) glimpse into the clandestine bubble of classical music. For all of us, it was a moment of great pride–finally, a star of our field was recognized alongside those popular celebrities who so often seem[…]
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In the latest edition of Symphony Magazine, Heidi Waleson reports on a number of orchestras who have experimented with a variety of innovative ideas for presenting concerts. The bulk of the article is centered around innovations at the New World Symphony, who have experimented with a number of new concert formats and also spearheaded a[…]
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What comes to mind when you think of a classical music performance? Elaborate formal wear, perhaps; a brightly lit stage; the incessant crinkling of cough drop wrappers. But would you ever associate such an event with the piquant scent of Mexican food or the creamy consistency of guacamole? Probably not. Yet, on a recent occasion,[…]
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This is a question examined by John Terauds in a recent post in Musical Toronto titled “Crowdfunding music: Everything old is new again as artists scramble for your contributions.” In the post, Terauds paints a picture of the enterprising and entrepreneurial young composer W.A. Mozart, who utilized different, though similar methods of “crowdfunding” his work. […]
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When it comes to professional football, my personal knowledge is profoundly lacking. Sure, I know a thing or two about touchdowns and yard lines and quarterbacks, but if you were ever to put me in the middle of a recreational game, the result would be quite awful both for me and whichever unfortunate individuals comprised[…]
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“When it comes to classical music and American culture, the fat lady hasn’t just sung. Brunnhilde has packed her bags and moved to Boca Raton.” So begins a recent article on Slate.com by Mark Vanhoenacker entitled, “Requiem: Classical Music in America is Dead.” Heralded by a cartoon of a morose conductor gesticulating fruitlessly to a[…]
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We are thrilled to announce an exciting line-up of presenters for this spring’s Polyphonic OnCampus webinar series! This spring, we’ll be exploring the world of virtual music teaching, innovative ensemble models for the 21st century, and public speaking for musicians. We hope you’ll join us for engaging presentations and live question and answer sessions with[…]
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