The Pirate’s Dilemma: How Youth Culture is Reinventing Capitalism, by Matt Mason
This is the most provocative book I’ve read in a very long time. I bought it because the title intrigued me—piracy is a musician’s worst nightmare, right? The author thinks not, and puts forth one...
View ArticleClassical Music for Dummies, by David Pogue, Scott Speck, and Glenn Dicterow
One of the questions I get asked on a regular basis is “can you recommend a book for me that will teach me music basics?” I’ve finally come up with a good answer: Classical Music for Dummies. I’m sure...
View ArticleThe Voice, by Thomas Quasthoff
Everyone knows that the music profession is a difficult one to succeed in. There is always someone who can play louder, softer, higher, lower, faster, or slower than you can. There are auditions for...
View ArticleGUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Will Apple Save Classical Music?
A few years ago conductor Leonard Slatkin stated that John Williams had saved the orchestra. Why? Because at a time when Broadway shows were moving more and more toward the use of synthesizers and...
View ArticleGUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Thoughts on Baby Einstein, etc
The question keeps getting asked: should you play music to your unborn child to increase their intelligence? How about tapes of a 2nd language? There’s a whole industry out there that preys upon new...
View ArticleGUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Leonard Slatkin weighs in on booing at the Met
The new Music Director of the Detroit Symphony, Leonard Slatkin, has been having a bit of fun lately. Maybe other orchestras will take up these measures as well, to give audiences an unusual...
View ArticleGUEST BLOGGER Yvonne Caruthers–Slatkin's response
Leonard Slatkin responded via email (see yesterday’s blogpost) to my request for information about the article on his website. I have excerpted his comments: “The article was written the day after the...
View ArticleGreat Performances Without all the Fuss and Bother
Recently I wrote about several “apps” that allow users to virtually play an instrument. The Nov 1st issue of the NYTimes has a longer article about a similar idea: “Orchestra Hero”. Written by Michael...
View ArticleWhen the Audition Has No Winner
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can choose a player for our orchestra from these candidates.” Has anyone you know heard words similar to those recently? I wouldn’t be surprised...
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Be An Entrepreneur! Get Outside Your Comfort Zone!
How many times have we musicians heard those phrases? Do they mean that we should try to be like Janice Martin, the violinist who plays while hanging upside down? My most recent experience is not...
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