News
The legendary clarinetist Stanley Drucker passed away on December 19, 2022. He was 93. Born in Brooklyn, Drucker entered the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of 15, but left after a year to accept a position with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He went on to become principal clarinetist
Whether you’re learning simply to play your favourite songs or because you want to pursue a career in music, playing guitar is one of the most useful skills anyone can have. It can also be one of the most frustrating, with many people giving up at the first hurdle
Music Education
Some of the composers and moderators who worked on our new Woodwind syllabus give their tips on how they care for their instruments: Bassoon Flute Recorder Storage * The box is the safest place to keep your instrument, however it doesn’t have to go back in its box every time;
Music Education
At the age of three, I remember jumping on my parent’s sofa, waving my arms in the air conducting a record of Gilbert and Sullivans Pirates of Penzance. Last week, my four-year-old son was doing the same thing, only to the soundtrack of Disney’s Frozen. “What are you
Know Your Composer
Maria Theresia Paradis (1759-1824) was the daughter of the Imperial Secretary of Commerce and Court Councilor to Empress Maria Theresa. She lost her eyesight at the age of 4, and although she initially responded to treatment, she relapsed into her previous blind state. Although she lost her eyesight early on,
Features
You sing like angels. Yes, you do. Why don’t you record your songs professionally? Twenty-five year old Joel Samuel and his twin brothers, Johan Paul Samuel and Jowin Sam Timothy Samuel (22), heard such comments with increasing regularity. The brothers, residents of Chennai, India, had been making home videos
Purchasing a drum set for a beginning student can be overwhelming. You often have to consider the following: What kind of spending plan do you have? What type of music would you like to play? What location will the instrument occupy? These questions can be difficult and confusing to answer
Interviews
I had not heard of Reena Esmail before, not being a regular follower of the work of contemporary composers of music other than for the guitar, in the Western tradition. When I was approached to consider a Q&A with Ms Esmail, I proceeded to hear some of her
Music Education
A brief history of a tradition that marks the beginning of every new year for European lovers of Western classical music. Every year, on 1st January at 11.15 in the morning CET, the Vienna Philharmonic ushers in the New Year with a concert of music by the Johann Strauss
For many years, parents have debated what the best age might be for children to start taking music lessons. Parents thinking about beginning their child’s musical education usually fall into two distinct camps. Some parents, inspired by stories of musical prodigies like Mozart completing a symphony by the age
Know Your Composer
Recently, Antonio Salieri (1750-1825) has gotten some seriously bad PR. But we need to be clear about the fact that he did not cause Mozart’s death. Salieri was a serious and steady man, but there is also mention of him as friendly and cheerful. The Irish singer Michael Kelly
Know Your Composer
Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor opens with one of the most powerful and iconic introductions in music history. A mighty four-note descending line, stated three times in the horns, is punctuated by orchestral thunderbolts. A soaring and expansive theme emerges in the strings, accompanied by colossal