“When musicians with scant listening experience try to play or sing repertoire from unfamiliar genres, they produce the musical equivalent of a clumsy accent.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 98 Most of us can recall hearing music that left us cold initially but that we...
“Only after I have become familiar with the style and character of the work can I start shaping an interpretation.” —Yo-Yo Ma, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 24 Suppose that you’re an actor who has been hired to perform in a play. When you receive the script, what...
“Beware of missing chances; otherwise it may be altogether too late some day.” –Franz Liszt [Updated: Oct. 2018] October 22, 2011 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt. Although best known for his virtuosity as a pianist, beyond being a superstar...
“Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.” –Miles Davis, trumpeter and composer Miles Davis poetically captures the essence of artistic musicianship. That is, we don’t pursue musical excellence to retrace other performers’ steps. Rather, we...
“For you to perform with native inflection, you have to listen and listen until you break through to the soul of a style.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 98 We all enjoy listening to music. But there’s a level of musical perception that transcends ordinary hearing. Deep...
“It is music’s lofty mission to shed light on the depths of the heart.” –Robert Schumann, composer and pianist June 8, 2010 marked the 200 anniversary of the birth of Robert Schumann (1810-1856). The quintessential Romantic composer, Schumann wrote more than 150 works...
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