For years I worked as a coach and lesson teacher in the public schools of suburban Chicago. I ran sectionals, did some chamber music coaching, and taught a gaggle of kids during and after the school day. Although I was pretty hesitant about doing this work when I...
My contribution to the Take a Friend to Orchestra initiative is now posted, so folks can check out today’s post at Adaptistration (the excellent blog that Drew McManus authors) to read my thoughts on how to introduce classical music to a newbie. Drew has been...
After the bleak nature of the last several installments of this series, I am pleased to talk about a more positive and constructive piece in the puzzle that makes up the life of a freelance musician. Most musicians engage in at least some degree of private teaching....
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007 was a very exciting day for the Chicago double bass scene as Francois Rabbath made a rare trip to our Lake Michigan metropolis. Chicago Symphony member and DePaul University double bass instructor Rob Kassinger organized a master class with...
In early 2004 my new Saturn abruptly caught fire as I was driving home from an orchestra rehearsal. I pulled the flaming carriage over, got my instrument out, and ran away just before it exploded. You can check out that part of the story here. This was, to put it...
