Feb 04
Instrument, bow, stand, music, pencil–that’s all you need when you sit down (or stand) to practice, right? Wrong. One of the most essential and useful tools for the wise, efficient practicer is this marvelous, magical machine: the metronome. The timekeeper. That thing that clicks. As a string bassist who grew up classically trained, I was …
Jan 18
Happy Friday! This is no time for serious business. Here are a few original poems by yours truly, pulled off the shelf and brushed off just for you. ______________________________ The Vegan Violin I’d like a violin please, that doesn’t involve the murder of trees. No spruce, no maple, no ebony, or use of animal gut …
Dec 28
Below is a continuation of my previous post, Stereotypes & Misconceptions Part I: Classical Music is for Rich People. 6. Classical music is relaxing. Sometimes, when I’m washing dishes, I’ll turn on one of three things: talk radio, classical music, pop, or Broadway music. Interestingly enough, while I do find most pieces on the classical …
Dec 21
Some strange kind of stigma has become associated with classical music, and I want to get to the bottom of it. It isn’t unusual for stereotypes about classical music and its listeners or performers to exist; after all, there are similarly plenty of opinions out there about Twilight-loving teenagers, Bronies, Trekkies, band geeks, and people …
Nov 26
The debate continues. The tension increases. Individuals and societies pit themselves against each other over THE question, yes, that question: when is it too early to start listening to Christmas music? Whether you crank up tinsel-tunes before Thanksgiving, after Thanksgiving, or sometime in July, one truth remains: music brings meaning to the holidays. Unlike any …
Oct 29
When I was younger, the word “recital” conjured up a distinct memory of only one thing: “Coda,” Episode 7 of Season 2 of The Wonder Years. I love this conversation between Kevin Arnold and his piano teacher, Mrs. Carples: MRS. CARPLES: Have you thought about what you’d like to play for the recital this year? …
Oct 16
Whether you’re in an orchestra for the first time or you’re an experienced orchestral performer, you’ll soon notice that there are some unwritten “rules” pertaining to your involvement and behavior during rehearsal. Conductors even have their own style and set of expectations for the musicians under their direction. It’s understandable if you feel a little …
Aug 16
Around this time every year, as the musical season gears up again, we see a lot of new string players preparing to start a new adventure. There are inevitably A LOT of questions, and we are happy to address them. In the past, on the blog, we have covered many topics about Beginner Basics. One that …
Aug 06
While nations around the globe tune in to the 2012 Summer Olympics, I’ve been thinking about the spirit of competition. What is it that drives us as individuals and societies to compete with each other? What motivates us to be better, stronger, faster, and smarter than each other? Is the spirit of competition healthy or …
Jul 30
At Kennedy Violins, we have always been proud of the fact that all of our employees, no matter their role, are active musicians and teachers and all of us have been where you are. Whether you are just starting out learning the basics or finding your own voice or personality musically. Today, I’d like to …
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