Why teach music?
Why, indeed? Answering this seemingly innocuous three-word question is an ongoing process constantly revisited by music educators throughout their careers, the answer constantly shifting and evolving as teachers gain new insight and experience. While there is always a circular justification that can be made in defense of any subject (i.e. the value of [...]
Chatting about the future of classical music at the Chicago College of Performing Arts
I had the opportunity to appear as a guest lecturer for the orchestral studies seminar class at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts earlier this week, which was a lot of fun for me and hopefully a good experience for the students as well. I inhabited the role of grizzled freelance music [...]
Practice session lengths - more thoughts from Matt Heller
Calgary Philharmonic bassist Matt Heller just put out a great follow-up post on the topic of practice sessions and overpracticing. Comparing practicing music to grilling steaks, Matt writes:
The music needs to be prepared just well enough - medium rare, let’s say - so that it still has the juice of spontaneity in it, without being [...]
This Crazy Business Part 7: The Satisfaction of Section Playing
While reviewing the various installments of Road Warrior Without an Expense Account, This Crazy Business, Basses, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, or any of the other gig stories here on the blog, I couldn’t help but notice that something was missing. Many of these works cover the strange and bizarre things that happen in a [...]
This Crazy Business Part 6: Individual Artistic Expression
What motivates us?
What makes us get into this business, anyway, making numerous sacrifices along the way?
Not the money (ha!), but rather the drive to create, to devote one’s life to the pursuit of organized (i.e. musical) creativity.
What percentage of active musicians feel that their musical thirst to create, that primal urge felt by creative individuals [...]
Basses, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Part 5: All-Night Drives
This topic was actually the very first personal narrative ever attempted here on the blog, a little less than a year ago. While I still enjoy this previous post (with pictures of the described drive), the topic of all-night commuting is such a painfully bizarre one that I thought it could stand to [...]
Contrabass Conversations & Double Bass Blog Series – Perspectives on Early Bass Performance – Early Music Interview Series Part II – Jay Elfenbein
The following is a guest post from Double Bass Blog contributor Phillip W. Serna. Check out Phillip’s recitals and interviews on his Contrabass Conversations page, and visit him online at http://www.phillipwserna.com/. Enjoy!__________________
Continuing Contrabass Conversations and the Double Bass Blog’s series on early bass performers, highlighting the many different perspectives on early bass/ violone performance. Our [...]
Contrabass Conversations & Double Bass Blog Series – Perspectives on Early Bass Performance – Early Music Interview Series Part I – Robert Nairn
The following is a guest post from Double Bass Blog contributor Phillip W. Serna. Check out Phillip’s recitals and interviews on his Contrabass Conversations page, and visit him online at http://www.phillipwserna.com/. Enjoy!_____________
Contrabass Conversations and the Double Bass Blog are beginning a new series on early bass performers. It will highlight many different perspectives on early [...]
Follow-up to Driving for Dollars - This Crazy Business Part 5
A few days after putting out part 5 of This Crazy Business, I realized that a few of my comments and assumptions expressed in this post could use some clarification. I’d like to take a moment and try to articulate a few topics that I glossed over or mischaracterized in this (and other similar) posts.
First, [...]
This Crazy Business Part 5: Driving for Dollars – life as a classical music bottom feeder
One of my colleagues recently won positions in three regional orchestras. This very talented individual began his college career as a biochemistry major, later switching his major to double bass performance. This highly intelligent and talented scientific mind then focused his energies on becoming the best double bass player he could possibly be, practicing long [...]
