From the category archives:

Performance and Inspiration

Get Inspired to Practice by Yuri Bashmet

July 22, 2011

Have you ever heard a performance so inspiring that you immediately wanted to rush home and practice? I heard one such performance this morning . Chicago’s classical music station (WFMT) broadcast a recording of renowned Russian violist Yuri Bashmet and pianist Mikhail Muntian performing Sergei Prokofiev’s “Scene of Farewell and Juliet’s Death” from Romeo and [...]

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What Singers Can Learn From The X Factor Auditions

May 24, 2011

Somebody at Pepsi thinks I have Klout because  last Friday Viola and I attended the final X Factor auditions here in Chicago.  So thanks to the folks at Pepsi for giving us tickets to attend the X Factor auditions.  I guess it pays to be active on Twitter… The X Factor is a new singing [...]

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Eric Whitacre Speaks at TED, Gives Sneak Peek of “Sleep” (Virtual Choir 2.0)

April 1, 2011

I was sent this video today of Eric Whitacre discussing the making of the “Lux Aurumque”, the first every virtual choral performance on YouTube, at TED earlier this year.  Whitacre explains how this idea came to be, the process of making it, and what happened thereafter.  In addition, he gives a test of what’s to [...]

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Animals as Leaders Guitarist Does Serious Guitar Tapping

December 18, 2010

If you haven’t heard of Animals as Leaders, then allow me to introduce you to an amazing progressive metal band.  I learned about Animals as Leaders about a year ago when Viola heard about them and forwarded me link to check out. My initial reaction was “wow” these guys have some serious chops. I bought [...]

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There Is No Substitute For A Great Live Performance

April 25, 2010

As Viola mentioned, we attended the Transatlantic concert last week.  You can read our review here.  One segment of the concert was such a profound experience that I wanted to expand on it.  “Is It Really Happening?”, the eleventh song on The Whirlwind , is an example of how a live performance can capture an [...]

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A Little About Kertsopoulos Æsthetics For Guitar

March 23, 2010

The aural aesthetics of today’s instruments has evolved over time.  Pick your favorite instrument and I guarantee that what it sounds like today is different from even 30 years ago.  Musicians and instrument makers constantly find new ways to improve upon existing instruments.  Whether it is exploring how to improve the construction of an instrument [...]

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Figure Skating and the Classical Guitar

February 16, 2010

Nothing has anything to do with the other.  However, underneath all my metal loving, this classical guitar junkie has a great appreciation for figure skating.  When I was a student in college, I started paying closer attention to figure skating.  I don’t remember exactly how it happened.  I can’t ice skate at all.  In fact, [...]

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An Eigenharp Alpha – It’s What I Want For Christmas

November 24, 2009

With Black Friday just a few days away, luckily the new toy I want won’t be found in Toy R’ Us.   What I want is an Eigenharp Alpha.  I know… what the hell is it? According to Eigenlabs website, the the Eigenharp Alpha is: A professional level instrument which allows the musician to play and [...]

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The Orchestral Experience-When It’s Good, It’s Very Good, and When It’s Not, It’s…

September 8, 2009

While browsing the Comcast home page a few weeks ago, I came across this video about The Really Terrible Orchestra. I looked at their website, and part of their mission statement struck me: It began with our envying the pleasure our children gained from music. And as nobody else would have us, we formed our [...]

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Harnessing the Power of Inspiration

March 18, 2009

I have yet to meet a musician that hasn’t been inspired by another musician in one capacity or another. My first experience with classical guitar was listening to a sound recording by Angel Romero. That single moment in my musical history had a profound impact on me. I was simply blown away by what I [...]

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