Music is a magic that can change the world
As musicians, we spend a lot of time by ourselves in the practice room trying to acquire skills on our own, albeit with a little guidance from our teachers. It's pretty easy to practice when we first start out on an instrument. As the honeymoon phase comes to an end, however, we frequently find ourselves …
Continue reading "5 Ways to Find Joy While Practicing an Instrument"
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 …
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 …
Continue reading "The Power of Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28 No. 4"
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; …
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 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 …
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 …
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 might be this magical language of the soul, but it can still be infuriating to practice, especially if you're fairly new to the craft. Many teachers will tell you they don't teach students how to play; they teach students how to practice. Jeremy Denk writes that his teacher said You don’t teach piano playing …
Continue reading "5 Ways to Avoid Frustration While Practicing an Instrument"
