I took my eldest to a batting clinic recently. He’s an aspiring Little Leaguer with a live arm and a fantastic sense of the game. The coach was trying to get him to make this particular adjustment, which for some strange reason he was having trouble with, and I yelled “it’s just like practicing your violin!” That got me some strange looks.
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When Attitude Collides with Altitude – Interpretation
I have not written a post about actual conducting focusing mostly on the ever more uncertain future for the Orchestra business. For some time now I have been pondering the word interpretation which for conductors is everything, since it can bring both glory but also be gory if you miss the mark badly! I think though that accessibility, flexibility and the “environment” need to factored in along with a study…of who is actually in front of you!….Also below: a tribute to a legendary musician….
Uncle Tom’s Orchestra
Racism. Every year someone asks me if there’s much racism in Classical music. My stock answer is “No, not really, at least not amongst musicians. Boards are a different matter, though.” I’m sorry to say that it looks like nothing has changed.
But Nigel, This One Goes to 11 …
I was trolling through The Internets yesterday and stumbled upon a little controversy brewing in the world of classical violinistry. I’m shocked (shocked!) that it hasn’t already kicked the economic crisis off of the front page of the New York Times so I thought I’d give it a little boost. This one, as they say, goes to eleven.
The Trumpet(er) Shall Sound (Off)….
Philadelphia fallout. Or is that Philadelphia Freedom? Either way, the Trumpeter shall sound off.
Good Luck With That…
I was all set to write a blog on my little sojourn into Shangri-La and then some exciting news popped up on the radar. It seems that, indeed, the lunatics are running the asylum.
A Little Help Here – part 3 – the inherit audience!
I’m now up in Lake Placid beginning my Summer stint having flown from Boston to Saranac Lake with the Stanley Cup behind my left ear! (pictures are below). I thought part 2 was it, but for those who crave the young audience, I think we need to stop dreaming of the challenge of the unknown, and stop the crazy marketing schemes that don’t work. We need to make it a matter of inheritance….
Mirror Mirror
A funny thing happened on the way through SocialMediaLand. I ran smack dab into the difference between what professional musicians perceive and what “normal” people perceive. If this doesn’t prove a disconnect then I don’t know what does.