Sound Bits: Page 5

The New Bedford (MA) Symphony Orchestra (NBSO) has a remarkably creative education program, led by Terry Wolkowicz, a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and Harvard University. Recently, the NBSO completed a year-long education project that engaged over 55 schools and used the concept of gravity as a theme for the year.  Students had […]

You may have heard it called the creative economy, the sharing economy, or the gig economy. What these names refer to is a growing trend of workers who are pursuing career paths dictated by their own unique set of skills and services, as well as their preferred work schedule. In other words, they are building […]

In this short video clip from the October 2016 INNOVATE. LEAD. MUSIC. Conference, Paola Prestini, Composer and Director of National Sawdust discusses the importance of authenticity and thinking one step ahead. It’s a little boost of inspiration, and maybe the nudge we need this week to make sure we are not getting too comfortable!

Musicians are typically very creative people, and often those who choose to work in the arts as administrators are also creatively inclined. But it is easy to fall into rhythms of work and life where we don’t give our creative muscles the chance to work and stay active.  We are busy with emails, practicing, and […]

In this video from the 10/8/16 INNOVATE. LEAD. MUSIC. Conference at Eastman, Managing Director Peter McDowell of Eighth Blackbird discusses an innovative collaboration that was forged between the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, and Eighth Blackbird, a renown contemporary chamber music ensemble.  Over the course of a year, Eighth Blackbird rehearsed in the museum, providing […]

Regardless of whether your ensemble is one year old or embarking on its 20th season, the summer is a great time to set some goals and get things done.  Sure, it is also a great time to relax a bit.  But summer offers an opportunity for many ensembles to spend some dedicated time on current and […]

As musicians, we are frequently in the position of evaluating opportunities to decide if we want to accept them or not.  Sometimes we have a strong feeling very quickly about a particular opportunity, and the decision is easy.  But what about those times when the decision isn’t quite so clear? Here are ten questions to […]

No, this is not an April fools joke.  There really is a video recording of the Eastman Saxophone Project performing the entire Rite of Spring by Stravinsky, without a conductor, FROM MEMORY!  Just another reminder that excellence and innovation can go hand in hand to produce a stunning result. 

The deadline to apply is April 2, 2017! Chamber Music America’s Classical Commissioning Program provides funding to ensembles and presenters for commissions of new chamber works.  From the CMA website: Grants are made for commissioning fees, copying costs and ensemble rehearsal honoraria. Compositions must be written for small ensembles (2 to 10 musicians) performing one […]

A couple of years ago, the San Francisco Symphony turned a bland rehearsal space into SoundBox, an innovative concert space that includes informal seating for 500 audience members, a bar, video projection capabilities, and a state-of-the-art sound system which turns the dry acoustic into endless sonic possibilities.  According to a recent article in Wired magazine, […]