Author Archives:
Jeffrey Agrell and Evan Mazunik: Improvisation for All
Use the player above, or this link for direct episode download. Jeffrey Agrell is a teacher, performer (horn), writer, composer, and improviser of contemporary classical music. His books, Improvisation Games for Classical Musicians and Improv Games for One Player are published by GIA Music. His day job for the past decade has been teaching horn [...]
Fake it till you become it
Even though in Alexander Technique the word “posture” has a lot of negative connotations associated with it, I think this Ted talk on the power of nonverbal language on your own communication with yourself is extremely interesting. When I think about “power postures”, I also think about how the calming effects of inhibition and direction [...]
But I know this already!
I have a wonderful young violin student who loves playing the violin – and is eager to play AS FAST AS SHE CAN. She rushes through, fudging what she’s not sure of, to get to the parts of her pieces she can play the fastest. Half notes and ritards get a lick and a promise. [...]
Glenn Kurtz talks about his book Practicing
Use the player above, or this link for direct episode download Glenn Kurtz is the author of Practicing: A Musician’s Return to Music (Knopf, 2007; Vintage Books, 2008), which the New York Times called “a thoughtful and fluid meditation” and Newsday hailed as “the book of a lifetime.” Practicing has been featured on NPR’s “Weekend [...]
Stage fright? Fear of judgment? Never!
I’ll reveal here, for the first time on this blog, that I’ve been taking violin lessons again this fall! It’s been a fantastic experience. Not a comfortable one, but a great growth experience of the kind I really need. What an interesting thing to be an adult in the position of “student musician” at the [...]
Alexis Del Palazzo: Flutist, Body Mapping
Alexis Del Palazzo is an Andover Educator trainee, active performer and devoted teacher residing in Central Pennsylvania. She is an ardent advocate of new music and creating performance opportunities in the local community. In early 2012, she premiered Peter Amsel’s Museum Triptych for solo flute at Moonstone Arts Center in Philadelphia, PA. At the community [...]
Erica Sipes: Pianist, Cellist, Practice Coach
Erica Ann Sipes, pianist and cellist, received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music. She has also studied piano collaboration and accompanying with Jean Barr at the Eastman School and with Anne Epperson at the Music Academy of the West. Ms. Sipes currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia with [...]
An Alexander Technique talk-through for you to use-free!
Hello my dear musicians and friends! We had a great time in my June Alexander Technique class for string players! We read through a good deal of music while developing awareness about the body. There was hands-on time to get a deeper internal sense of the body, in sitting and in standing. We talked about [...]
Group Alexander/violin classes in June – intro price of $30/class!
Hey, DC area locals! I’m running a class! Come explore how Alexander Technique can help you play violin/viola/cello/bass while making music with a group! You’ll gain tools to play and learn your best, get hands-on work with your instrument, and have a good time playing with others in a beautiful windowed studio! Open to other [...]
The Music Lesson by Victor Wooten
I recently have been listening to the audiobook “The Music Lesson” by bassist Victor Wooten. I’m very grateful that was the form the library had, because I can’t imagine it being the same in written form without hearing the musical examples and interludes! It summarizes his lifelong lessons learned about music – but in the [...]
