Winning the War of the Words!….

In class today we discussed the word virtuoso and how it is essentially reserved to describe Classical artists. From time to time you hear it sparingly used to describe Rock Guitarists and Jazz musicians but not often. I say we shouldn’t give the word up, but definitely give it over….

Continue Reading

Mirror Mirror in the Hall……

Please…call me Beloved Maestro.  I think both words are something earned not something claimed.  It’s an amazing arrogance to suggest to your audience that they feel this way, I mean what if they don’t or don’t quite….

Continue Reading

Don’t drop the baton!

I am answering the call of my co-author Bill regarding Gergiev’s concert.  After the US team botched both 100 meter relays in Beijing, holding on to that baton is as important as running fast, so I’m going to tread carefully and with some help….

Continue Reading

Time to reconnect!

This week my Audience Connections class starts up again at Drury University.  It looks like I have 6 students and my hope is to use new media to make this a global class literally!….

Sticks and Drones started towards the end of course last year.  I incorporated the students into the blog by posting their papers (here and here) and tagging posts that I thought applied to the class and the concept in the Audience Connection category.

Continue Reading

Nashville: (Classical) Music City!

We often write about things that go spectacularly wrong.  In Nashville it seems to be going spectacularly right!  When I read about the NSO’s new marketing strategy for “young people”, I started to draw my sword. I’m not a believer in a strategy that is at best insincere and at worst untruthful, as it always seems to end up alienating a “young” audience and is discriminatory.   Not so in Nashville….

Continue Reading