I was nine, almost ten years old when I took up learning the saxophone. A college student taught group lessons in a cramped practice room at the local music store in my metro Philly town. How we learn in group lessons There were about five or six of us beginners. We sat in a long […]
Fall Events to Listen For
There’s a great variety of events coming up in the next weeks and months. Opening this weekend is an exhibit of contemporary Cremonese Violin Making and works of the old masters at Kerr Violin Shop located at 4451 SE 28th Avenue in Portland. The display runs through October 28th. Both Portland Wind Symphony and Portland Gay Symphonic Band […]
Aural Textures of Anat Cohen & Trio Brasileiro
Self Care through Music Listening to live music is self care. On Thursday, May 4 (“May the fourth be with you!”), I received wonderful Rx at the concert performance by Anat Cohen; clarinet, and Trio Brasileiro; pandera, bandolim, and seven-string guitar. From the opening tune, Nights in Rio, to the closing song two hours later, I was dancing […]
Recital of Gratitude
With true life current events reading like a dystopian fiction come true, I felt it was time for something uplifting. We musicians have an opportunity to bring some positivity and gratitude to the fore and use our musical powers for good. My students and I will perform our Spring recital music with a theme of […]
All Saxes, All The Time
The North American Saxophone Alliance, aka NASA, is coming to town next weekend. On March 10 and 11, NASA’s Region One Conference will be held at Portland State University in downtown Portland. This saxophone conference features two days of masterclasses, lectures and performances of sax quartets, trios, and solos. The Friday evening concert is billed […]
Play, Write, Listen, and Create Music at 1000 MPH
[Post edited and re-posted to reflect use of Pandora over Spotify.] One night, before I went to sleep, I asked my dream self to help me write today’s music appreciation article. I woke up with this headline on the tip of my tongue and the skeleton of an actual article in my mind. I quickly wrote […]
Recital Video Available!
My students put so much energy and practice into their recital performances. I like to honor their efforts by recording the show and uploading the individual videos to my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/omegatroid) Our most recent recital was November 1, 2016. Oops! That’s twelve weeks ago. Between having a computer software meltdown (iMovie, what’s wrong with you?!), […]
Recital today!
Tonight, students will perform the songs they have transcribed over the Summer. They chose the songs they wanted to learn, so you’ll hear pieces like: The Pink Panther by Henry Mancini on clarinet complete with an improvised solo! Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter by John Williams A cartoon theme song – We Bare Bears Chim […]
