Musical Musings
The Do's of Composing for Middle School
I have talked about how we can help young and emerging composers get the tools necessary for writing for young players, but what about helping those composers that are...
The Do's of Composing for Middle School
I have talked about how we can help young and emerging composers get the tools necessary for writing for young players, but what about helping those composers that are...
A Lack of Imagination
Yet again, I was witness to what seems to still be an endemic practice with some private music teaching studios: lack of contemporary music and bad programming. Out of over...
A Lack of Imagination
Yet again, I was witness to what seems to still be an endemic practice with some private music teaching studios: lack of contemporary music and bad programming. Out of over...
Success Despite Limited Resources
One of the posters commenting in response to my column last week wrote, “Of course you need a healthy music program in the schools,” in reference to my idea about...
Success Despite Limited Resources
One of the posters commenting in response to my column last week wrote, “Of course you need a healthy music program in the schools,” in reference to my idea about...
Student Composers-in-Residence
Last week I was digging through my bookshelves and came across a small paperback called Comprehensive Musicianship: An Anthology of Evolving Thought. (I must have bought it at some used book...
Student Composers-in-Residence
Last week I was digging through my bookshelves and came across a small paperback called Comprehensive Musicianship: An Anthology of Evolving Thought. (I must have bought it at some used book...
You’ve Got to be Carefully Trained
I am going through the ritual every parent of toddlers experiences: potty training. I have not thought much of it until this week when I asked my daughter’s nursery school...
You’ve Got to be Carefully Trained
I am going through the ritual every parent of toddlers experiences: potty training. I have not thought much of it until this week when I asked my daughter’s nursery school...
Making Sure Students Don’t Graduate…from New Music
A colleague said to me over lunch recently, “Our young musicians are often quite resistant to playing new music. Some come around, some don’t…” This comment quite surprised me, as...
Making Sure Students Don’t Graduate…from New Music
A colleague said to me over lunch recently, “Our young musicians are often quite resistant to playing new music. Some come around, some don’t…” This comment quite surprised me, as...
Looking for Masterable Challenges and Masterpieces
When I asked some trusted music educators what they look for when picking a piece for students to play, almost everyone’s answers came back with the following items:
Looking for Masterable Challenges and Masterpieces
When I asked some trusted music educators what they look for when picking a piece for students to play, almost everyone’s answers came back with the following items:
Question of Degree
I meet many “non-trained” composers who write more successful music for amateurs than the trained “professional.” But it is these “home-grown” folks that seem to most often question their own...
Question of Degree
I meet many “non-trained” composers who write more successful music for amateurs than the trained “professional.” But it is these “home-grown” folks that seem to most often question their own...
Knowing Your Limitations
I know there is a whole flourishing industry of writing for bands and that there are composers that focus solely on this medium. But how do they get their chops?...
Knowing Your Limitations
I know there is a whole flourishing industry of writing for bands and that there are composers that focus solely on this medium. But how do they get their chops?...
Can Kids Slow Down?
“Slow music (in general)…[It] is always a challenge—not only is counting more difficult but attentions wander.” Slow music? Of all the things we discussed, this comment really stood out for...
Can Kids Slow Down?
“Slow music (in general)…[It] is always a challenge—not only is counting more difficult but attentions wander.” Slow music? Of all the things we discussed, this comment really stood out for...
Writing Music For Young Players
Many composers shy away from writing music for young players, thinking that this is a “dumbing down” of their talents or time unwisely spent on musicians who have little interest...
Writing Music For Young Players
Many composers shy away from writing music for young players, thinking that this is a “dumbing down” of their talents or time unwisely spent on musicians who have little interest...
Sell It To Children – A Manifesto for Composers
When I began my journey with with posting for NewMusicBox, I was driven by a passion to address the neglect of composing music for young players in the classical realm....
Sell It To Children – A Manifesto for Composers
When I began my journey with with posting for NewMusicBox, I was driven by a passion to address the neglect of composing music for young players in the classical realm....