In the wake of rising oil prices and increased interest in environmentalism, there has been substantial attention focused on the Slow Food movement. Some of the basic ideals behind the 20 year old movement include opposing fast food in favor of learning to taste and enjoy a meal, favoring organic and/or family farms over industrialized farms, and teaching gardening to develop a new appreciation for where food comes from. As recently as a few years ago, many considered the Slow Food movement as a gimmick created by a small group of culinary ... Continue Reading

From gas to wheat, the price of everything has shot up faster than many can comprehend. In the classical music world, there seems to be an unspoken anxiety over whether or not these changes will end up hurting the arts in one way or another. Donors might think of cutting back, companies might not sponsor as many events, and families might decide to skip live performances altogether.

May is here and along with ushering in a new summer, it also serves as the gateway for swimsuit shopping. As magazines begin telling us which suits are now fashionable and how certain ones work best with certain body types, many of us are beginning to think about how we’ve changed over the winter and if our current swimsuit still fits. At the same time, I’m comfortable with my body and don’t lose sleep over whether or not I conform to the latest fashion craze. Tired clichés such as “Does this suit ... Continue Reading

While reading the last few editions of International Musician, the best reference orchestra musicians can use to find the latest job openings, it seemed as though there were far more job openings than usual. My initial reaction was one that I’ve had ever since I was in college: excitement from all of this opportunity.

As a violinist, every now and again I come down with a classic case of trombone envy. Warning signs include angst about the amount of notes I have to play, yearning for a naturally louder instrument, and worst of all, utter frustration over why the trombone isn’t used in half of a symphony. On more than a few occasions I catch myself thinking ‘this isn’t fair’ as I rub my tired arms during rehearsals. String players, violins in particular, usually slave away for an entire piece while the trombone players get to ... Continue Reading