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 […]
Happy 90th, John Coltrane!
Just a short post today. John Coltrane, jazz saxophonist and composer, was born Sept. 23, 1926. To celebrate his contribution to jazz, here are two of my favorite tunes by him: Naima. A soulful, tender ballad. My Favorite Things. Up-tempo jazz waltz of this song from The Sound of Music.
More of the Best Quotes About Music
When I wrote 21 of the Best Quotes about Music last month, you responded with some of your own wonderful quotes about music. Thanks for your input. There’s such diversity in your responses, too. This one, for example, came from a fortune cookie: Music is the Divine’s way to tell beautiful things to the soul. Thanks […]
