In one of my choirs, the graduating seniors were asked to share words of wisdom as we look forward to graduation in the next couple weeks. I'm in a unique position in that I actually graduated back in 2016 with a BA in Piano Performance and English Literature but had the opportunity to return to …
The Power of Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28 No. 4
170 years after his death, Chopin still captivates audiences with his music. His set of preludes that cover all 24 major and minor keys are a great starting place to learn how to analyze his work, as it can be dense. The Prelude in E minor, op. 28 no. 4 is one of my favorites …
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Countdown: The 3 Best Posts of 2018
It is New Year's Eve, and you may be exhausted of all those year-end summaries that fill social media (who even has nine instagram photos from one year? ...this blog...oh right...). There is a reason why we do that though; it's fun to remember everything that happened in the year. I'll keep this one short; …
Sometimes Living is Necessary Too
Recently, one of my professors shared this article by Tanya Kalmanovitch, a Juilliard graduate. The title, "How Quitting Music Made Me an Artist" sounds like clickbait with the promise of some revolutionary way of looking at a tradition that's ages old. Yet, I keep coming back to it, and I find something new to take away …
Mozart’s Requiem
Mozart's memory is full of opposites. Known for both jumping on tables and meowing like a cat and for the mysterious inception of his final work, the Requiem, his work can be taken as both arrogant and irreverent or as profound and hauntingly beautiful. Yet, neither can portray the deepest essence of his being. Born …
7 Ways to Identify Music Majors in the Wild
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 …
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Meet the Composers: Tchaikovsky
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 …
