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 …
Book Review: The Art of Practicing by Madeline Bruser
Madeline Bruser, a Juilliard graduate and an authorized instructor of mindfulness meditation brings these two aspects of her life into her book The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart. In this work, she not only covers the physical aspects of playing an instrument in avoiding injury and freeing the body, …
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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. An analysis of the Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28 No. 4 is valuable …
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Book Review: Piano Notes by Charles Rosen
Piano Notes: The World of the Pianist comes from Charles Rosen, a notable concert pianist, music critic, and overall celebrated thinker of music of the common practice period. His most well-known volumes on music are Sonata Forms, The Classical Style, and The Romantic Generation. Both of these large volumes were influential in the fields of …
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A Farewell Waltz
On this day, October 17th, in 1849, Frédéric François Chopin passed away in Paris. "He had no predecessor and no successor.... Chopin came and departed like a comet from remote space," said Australian pianist, Ernest Hutcheson. History remembers Chopin as a morose and anxious man, one who composed a song to cope with his sorrows …
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 1756 …
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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And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood
"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 …
10 Ways to Become a Real Musician Right Meow
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 …
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3 Questions to Ask When You Feel Pointless as a Musician
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 …
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