During a recent rehearsal with a guest conductor, one of the wind players raised her hand with a question. “Excuse me, maestro…” “Please,” said the conductor. “Don’t call me maestro. Not necessary.” “Ok,” she...
I have been giving this issue a lot of thought during the holiday season, a time when musicians head out in the snow for the holiday gig season adding merriment to the times – and for me with a newborn in the house, even more poignant… Once upon a time...
I get really sick of shelling out $20 or $30 (or more!) for parking every time I play a gig. Add in expensive gas, the clogged Chicago freeways, and the aggrivation of maneuvering a bass in and out of cars and buildings, and I have to think long and hard about a job...
I got a principal bass spot in a local Chicagoland orchestra right after graduating from college. One of the side benefits of holding this position was having the opportunity to participate in the ensemble’s community outreach program. I’d already had...
I’ve got another little tale about what happens when cats and basses collide. Most bass players seem to love cats, and many have similar tales of feline mischief. One of my colleagues was over at my place playing some bass quartets a few years ago. His extremely...
