Music Education
In the last century, very often the concept of “progress” was projected upon the arts as a measurement of quality: “good art” was “progressive art.” If an artist did not commit some “groundbreaking” artistic deed, his work was considered worthless. While progress in science is a fundamental notion, in the
Music Education
Some folks have an inner pulse that rivals most metronomes. Others have to work for rhythmic perfection. Singers, we know you all get bad reputations among classical music circles for not being able to count, and frankly, sometimes you earn the stereotype. Singers who work regularly have excellent rhythm, and
Music Education
English speakers, this one’s for you. You might have already discovered that singing in your native language can be trickier than expected, sometimes even more than singing in a language you don’t speak well. When you’re in the rehearsal room getting note after note about your unintelligible
Music Education
The tango has travelled far beyond Argentina and Uruguay to find a well-respected place in the classical music canon. To trace the journey of this musical genre (and dance style) is to unearth its strong links to its place and culture. By Beverly Pereira Few other art forms evoke
Music Education
When you ask non-classical music lovers why they are not fond of classical music, the most common answers include “I am not intelligent enough to appreciate it”, “I don’t know music theory” and “it’s so boring”. However, does it really take an intellectual to appreciate the beauty
Music Education
When it comes to sorting out a nasty bit of coloratura, stutter-inducing patter, or rhythms that make your eyes cross, slow practice is where it’s at. Conversely, sometimes it’s just as handy to try speeding things up. Music that’s meant to be slow can come with
Music Education
Zane Dalal traces the life and music of Rachmaninoff and Stravinksy – iconic contemporaries with the same roots, whose lives intersected, but whose music could not have been more different. If any of our ON Stage readers remember the Norman Jewison comedy from 1966 with Carl Reiner and Eva Maria Saint
Music Education
Next month, the Symphony Orchestra of India will begin its Autumn 2018 Season with compositions from some of the greatest masters. Sandipan Das breaks down the programme. Prokofiev (1891-1953) Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major (1944) Prokofiev wrote this during the war years and it is his first
Music Education
Many musicians spend their early years of training – and maybe some of the later years – fighting a cold, hard fact about their practice habits: the slow way is the fast way. Slowness is the magic ingredient that makes the idea of repetition valuable. When a singer or an instrumentalist is
Music Education
Parts 1 and Part 2 covered what, why and how to practise and the final article explores the final stages of examination preparation. When to change the focus of practice Once the initial stages of learning are secure and the musical detail, phrasing, interpretation and speed are stylish, the focus
Music Education
Among the British Library’s extraordinary collection of materials relating to the history of Indian music in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries lie dozens of European accounts of the nautch—intimate musical parties at which troupes of high-status North Indian courtesans would sing, dance, recite poetry, and match
Music Education
The first of these articles discussed the need for practice to be relevant in terms of fluency and accuracy, musical detail, style and character. This article explains how to practise mindfully. How to practise Practice should be mindful, with clear objectives that take account of what needs to be learned