Neo Classical – Page 37 – Holly Mulcahy on the future of classical music

Yelp Me Out

Mon, Dec 5, 2011

by:

Holly Mulcahy

Who doesn’t like to feel like their opinion counts? One of the best things about the internet is the ability to share opinions on any number of things or services. It’s satisfying and empowering. Using reviews from one of my favorite websites, Yelp.com, I have found my hair dresser, dry cleaner, and restaurants that would have otherwise been overlooked but are now some of my regular favorites. The reviews are not only helpful, but Yelp encourages interaction by allowing users to acknowledge the value of reviews by rating them “useful,” “funny,” or … Continue Reading

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Audition This!

Mon, Nov 7, 2011

by:

Holly Mulcahy

Audition is such a dirty word sometimes. But every orchestral performer has to go through the experience at one point or other. The other day I was exchanging audition stories with a couple of colleagues over dinner. This kind of conversation almost always goes the same direction: 1)Auditions are not always the best way to find a performer 2) When an orchestra decides not to hire anyone after a day of auditioning it is never good for the orchestra 3) There is not really any other fair way of selecting a future … Continue Reading

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The Art of Complaining About the Arts, Part 2

Wed, Oct 5, 2011

by:

Holly Mulcahy

Last month included a self test to help us think before complaining and consider a more constructive approach rather than complaining for the sake of complaining. This month I wanted to bring forward the merits of a good complaint and where complaints come from in the first place. There will always be a need to keep some complaints in the general view for all to see. This is how we can try to get change for the positive in the classical music world. While complaining can look negative, healthy complaining and voicing … Continue Reading

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The Art of Complaining About the Arts

Sun, Sep 4, 2011

by:

Holly Mulcahy

This is a self-test to determine if you have a problem complaining about the arts. The goal is to help musicians in the classical music business think before complaining and consider a more constructive approach rather than complaining for the sake of complaining. [tabs style=”default”] [tab title=”Question 1″][poll id=”2″][/tab] [tab title=”Click to see the correct answer”] [highlight]Correct answer: “look petty.”[/highlight] If you have nothing nice to say…blah, blah, blah, but also you never know who has saved a screen capture and will share later. [/tab] [/tabs] [tabs style=”default”] [tab title=”Question 2″][poll id=”3″][/tab] … Continue Reading

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Getting It Right

Mon, Aug 1, 2011

by:

Holly Mulcahy

“Can music reflect colors and can colors be reflected in music?” That is the question composer Jennifer Higdon poses in her brief program notes for her two movement piano trio. The two movements, titled Pale Yellow and Fiery Red, offer a view of Higdon’s interpretation of two very different colors and moods. What is so interesting and refreshing to me is the simplicity of the program notes I found for this piece. Many times new works can have too much information, almost in a vain attempt to beat a particular idea or … Continue Reading

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