Music is a magic that can change the world
Although music majors aren't an entirely rare breed, they can easily be mixed up with others within their own species, the sleep-deprived college student. Noted by their sluggish behavior and small will to carry on, it's a wonder the species thrives enough to have so many classes within it. Today, we focus on seven key …
Continue reading "7 Ways to Identify Music Majors in the Wild"
Meet Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Пётр Ильич Чайковский for those who can read it). A flamboyant orchestral composer, he is best remembered for the range of his dynamics: the use of actual cannons in his 1812 Overture to his gentle The Nutcracker and heart wrenching Swan Lake. Born in 1840 in a small town in Russia, Tchaikovsky grew …
"O beautiful for spacious skies..." begins a tune that America has beat its drum to for many years. The song, a poem by Katharine Lee Bates set to music by Samuel A. Ward, speaks of the beauty of this land. Purple mountains in their majesty, amber grain waving in the breeze, seas shining in the …
Musicians are a unique bunch. We spend a lot of time working hard, but that's not all we do! Here are ten ways to be a real musician that you may not have thought of! 1. Make the classics new. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUzI3Ui1Eok John Cage is a 20th-century composer known for his style of taking away control …
Continue reading "10 Ways to Become a Real Musician Right Meow"
Constant self criticism, practicing perfectionism, locking yourself away for hours. Such is the life of a musician. Half of it, anyway. The other half of being a musician can be so rewarding, but when you're stuck in the first half, it can feel like there's no point in trying. There's so many more people that …
Continue reading "3 Questions to Ask When You Feel Pointless as a Musician"
Music becomes magical in the moments when it touches our vulnerability, and this can be anywhere: performance, jamming with others, or even on our own in the practice room. But this magic is built upon hours of arduous work, many of which can be frustrating if you're not used to practicing patience with yourself. Learning …
Continue reading "5 Ways to Avoid Frustration While Practicing an Instrument"
Meet Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Known as the "Prince of Music" he is responsible for hundreds of works that are known as "absolute perfection." I love his music so much that he is a supporting character in a novel I wrote (not yet published; I'll let you all know when it is). Perhaps this is …
Classical musicians are cover artists. We play the scores of composers from long ago, and we get to put our own spin on the music. But what about creating our own from scratch? It's not always easy to start off. Compare it to writing in your own native language (English for the sake of the …
Were you a child prodigy? Did you have to suffer through the same courses of practice and lessons as people obviously not as gifted as you? Then this post is for you! Presenting How to Practice Like a Prodigy: A guide for those incredible geniuses who only ever excelled at their craft. Play through your …
Inspired by the Daily Post's daily prompt, Retrospective. Looking back isn't always easy. A lot of you are probably thinking of cringey moments from high school or college when you should've done something differently, but you can't; the moment's passed. Until recently, I'd been pretty good about not letting myself regret mistakes or big decisions. …
