Sheet Music Review: Claude Debussy’s Dances for Harp & String Orchestra
Debussy wrote these two short dances to a commission from the instrument-making firm of Pleyel, keen to market its newly developed chromatic harp.
Bill Evans
Mark Wood’s Viper Electric Violin Has Enough Star Power to Make Guitarists Envious
His energy as electric as his violins, Mark Wood has been on a mission to disrupt the most venerable of musical traditions since his first day at Juilliard.
Starting on the String Yields Great Benefit With Less Effort
Starting from the string (SOS, or grounding one’s overall technique by focusing on the moment the bow first touches the string) is a critical tool in making playing both better and easier.
Cellist Laura Metcalf’s Sunday-Morning Musical Series ‘Gather’ Showcases Talent and Diversity of NYC Scene
Metcalf’s current project is a Sunday-morning concert series called GatherNYC at the Museum of Arts and Design on Columbus Circle, the heart of Manhattan.
Jazz Violinist Sara Caswell Returns to the Stage, and Releases ‘The Way to You,’ Her First Solo Album in 17 years
The new album has a broad sonic range with Caswell's band, including bass, guitar, drums and vibes.
Desmond Timms Has Been Building Fine Violin Cases for Over a Quarter of a Century
As he approaches retirement, Timms is acutely aware that he is indeed “the trustee” of a long tradition of English case making.
Sheet Music Review: Arnold Schoenberg’s Revolutionary Second Quartet Transitions Through His Experimental Style
For all its atonality, Schoenberg’s Second Quartet reverts to the classic four-movement form.
Slaying the Final Boss—Performance—Requires Smart Practice
The process can be broken down into making clear goals, trying out specific methods to achieve them, and then immediately observing if the methods were helpful
Gear Tips for Beginning Cellists: What a Student Really Needs to Have
When starting cello lessons, it’s important for beginners to have the appropriate instrument quality and gear. So, what does a student really need to have?
Violin Maker Jacob von der Lippe Focuses on Giving His Instruments a Signature Sound
Musicians create a signature sound. Composers do, too, obviously, and have over the centuries. Why not violin makers?
