Music is my religion. Whether I’m listening or performing, my favorite pieces provoke strong emotions and/or provide enjoyment or relaxation. I’m sure most of you are the same with your favorites. Recorded or live, slow or fast, with others or alone: The right chords, rhythms, and (sometimes) words can transcend this crude matter called a […]
2018 ACB Convention
I just got back from my first Association of Concert Bands (ACB) convention, and friends, I had an amazing four days! I met composers of some of my favorite band works, and made new friends with fellow Concert Band geeks (musicians and conductors) from all over the United States and Canada, and got to perform […]
Music Memories
Hey music lovers! I thought I’d go in a different direction this week and pull together some real-life examples of the potentially awesome gigs, events, and non-musical merriment you could be part of when in a community music group. This post is very personal, since I’ve created this list from my own life experiences, and […]
Time to Tune
One major difference between professional ensembles and many amateur ensembles is the focus on tuning instruments before the rehearsal or performance. Pros know how helpful this is, since it’s obvious how awful an out-of-tune band or orchestra can be – kind of like a car horn or the old nails-on-the-blackboard sound. I am constantly amazed […]
Audience Etiquette for Formal Concerts
The “rules of etiquette” for attending a formal orchestra or band concert have been in place for hundreds of years, and they exist to help make a performance (whether amateur or professional) as enjoyable and distraction-free as possible for both the audience and the performers. Keep these rules in mind to make your concert experience […]