community outreach – Sticks and Drones

Actually only ONE thing needs to change about Classical Music Concerts

December 4, 2015December 24, 2014 by Ron Spigelman

Baldur Brönnimann made waves with his 10 things he would change about concerts post, but he didn’t bring up the most important thing! So in October Baldur’s blog post went viral and not that this discussion shouldn’t take place, or that several of his ideas aren’t valid, however his list is mostly about current tastes and aesthetics and not structural change. I will give my brief take on his 10 Things and then introduce my ONE thing that I believe really will make a difference. It has very little to do with … Continue Reading

Context versus Urtext – Part 3 – Thinking Inside the Box

June 3, 2014June 2, 2014 by Ron Spigelman

To many Bach, Beethoven and Mozart IS new music. We can’t abandon the classics that got us here in the first place!

Context versus Urtext – Part 2 – The First Time We met

March 6, 2014 by Ron Spigelman

So you have become a Music Director, bravo! Time to work on that repertoire bucket list…well yes, but not yours!..

Context versus Urtext – Part 1 – It should be about not caring what we play!

January 9, 2014 by Ron Spigelman

The wringing of hands over programming might as well be the wringing of necks because it can literally put a stranglehold on the success of an organization. Warning pop culture reference and cliche dead ahead!

If it hurts everywhere….your finger is probably broken!

May 5, 2012 by Ron Spigelman

Yet another article on how to save Classical Music or at least in this case live concerts. On the list: Slow down Bach, clap between movements and after solos, the score is only a suggestion so improvise….I think more cowbell would be as good as a suggestion!…

How to turn up the quiet…by Alecia Lawyer

February 15, 2012 by Ron Spigelman

With several incidents of conductors stopping performances for children (this article from Dayton) and cell phones (seemingly the only way to make the news these days), it begs the question especially in the case of children: is there something short of ostracizing them (and their parents) that can be done to allow quiet in a concert hall with children present? Most definitely yes, as guest blogger and Founder/ED of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra Alecia Lawyer will explain…..

Moneyball meets the Mellonball!

February 6, 2012February 6, 2012 by Ron Spigelman

So a hot blow in Miami meets a cold blast in Denver as two completely different orchestras try out two models for attracting audiences. There are huge differences between the future plans for the New World Symphony and the Colorado Symphony, not the least of which is the fact that in Miami they are using someone else’s money and are not taking any risks, whereas in Colorado they are risking it all!….

The CON in Conscience…..

December 28, 2011 by Ron Spigelman

I have written that the true deficit that leads to an orchestra’s downfall, is the deficit in leadership. There is something else that also is a huge contributing factor that can also lead to major systemic problems, and potentially can lead to the deficit in leadership: The erosion of a collective conscience. It takes on many forms, but the whole pension debacle puts it into a very sharp focus….