May is here and along with ushering in a new summer, it also serves as the gateway for swimsuit shopping. As magazines begin telling us which suits are now fashionable and how certain ones work best with certain body types, many of us are beginning to think about how we’ve changed over the winter and if our current swimsuit still fits. At the same time, I’m comfortable with my body and don’t lose sleep over whether or not I conform to the latest fashion craze. Tired clichés such as “Does this suit make me look fat?” and “Does this one make my butt look big?” just don’t go far with me.
Neo Classical
Too Much Of A Good Thing
While reading the last few editions of International Musician, the best reference orchestra musicians can use to find the latest job openings, it seemed as though there were far more job openings than usual. My initial reaction was one that I’ve had ever since I was in college: excitement from all of this opportunity.
Trombone Envy
As a violinist, every now and again I come down with a classic case of trombone envy. Warning signs include angst about the amount of notes I have to play, yearning for a naturally louder instrument, and worst of all, utter frustration over why the trombone isn’t used in half of a symphony. On more than a few occasions I catch myself thinking ‘this isn’t fair’ as I rub my tired arms during rehearsals.
String players, violins in particular, usually slave away for an entire piece while the trombone players get to sit for 40 minutes and come in for just “the good stuff” in any given symphony. The good stuff is what my parents used to call it when the brass would come in at the end of a symphony and dominate the scene making the audience jump to their collective feet at last loud chord.
Too Much Information
Last night’s concert started off just like any other concert; the lights went down, the orchestra tuned, and the conductor came out bowed to the audience. What happened next caught me by surprise. Immediately after the conductor took his bow he assertively turned to the orchestra and gave the downbeat. What resulted was an energy in the hall that was driven by anticipation followed by a feeling of relief when the first phrase of music was completed. This might not seem like an unusual event but in the last several years of … Continue Reading
You’re paid?!
“You’re paid?!” It’s the question every professional musician hears at one time or another. The conversation usually goes something like this: Patron: “We really enjoyed your performance today. My wife and I were just remarking how beautifully the ensemble played together. How long did it take to get that tough piece together?” Musician: “Glad you enjoyed the piece, we had four rehearsals this past week.” Patron: “Wow, four? That is amazing! How do you find the time in the week with work?” Musician: “This is my job.” Patron: “You’re paid!?” Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare occurrence. In … Continue Reading