Music Education
This is the story of a musical instrument that was birthed, died, and was reborn in the 230 or so years of its existence. The harmonium was conceived in the West, but today largely resides in the East, particularly in the Indian subcontinent; so much so that many mistakenly think
Music Education
Yuja Wang is a renowned Chinese classical pianist known for her virtuosity, musical sensitivity, and charismatic stage presence. Born in Beijing in 1987, she began playing the piano at the age of six and made her professional debut with the Beijing Central Philharmonic at the age of 11. By the
Music Education
In Europe and the USA, while aspiring school-aged athletes spend their Saturdays on sports, their music-loving peers come together to train as musicians. For many of these young aspirants, this training is provided by their county or state. However, for those who excel, there is the opportunity to receive the
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
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
Music Education
What do we classical musicians spend most of our time doing? That’s right: practicing. Nowadays this is mostly a completely closed and private process, where we are completely alone and prefer other people not to listen. As teachers, we don’t really know how our students practice, let alone
Music Education
In the month of Leo Tolstoy’s death anniversary, an exploration of why the immortal novel stands out as a ballet. Immersed in the realm of words, one of the greatest writers of all time, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy went on to create a 90-volume legacy for generations to come. He
Music Education
Literature declaring the piccolo’s grand entrance into the symphony is widespread. Sharing debutante status with the trombones and contrabassoon in the triumphal final movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the piccolo’s arrival at the doorstep of music’s Great Western Canon in such an iconic masterpiece is celebrated
Music Education
“I don’t own a piccolo,” was one of the first statements the principal flutist of a local community orchestra claimed as she watched me finding my place at the bottom end of the section and beginning to set up the stand for my piccolo, concert, and alto flutes. How
Features
A four-part series of reflections on the pleasures and paradoxes of learning to sing or play an instrument. For parents, musicians, and would-be musicians of all ages. The Ultimate Holistic Practice What is the meaning of “holistic”? The Oxford Dictionary gives two definitions, the first related to philosophy: “characterized by
Music Education
My son’s piano lessons afford me an opportunity to look at piano sheet music up close. Piano scores seem to have a unique visual beauty that music written for other instruments doesn’t quite match. I’m writing this after taking a look at ‘Children’s Corner’ (L.113)