#GivingTuesday

 

For a long time, I’ve wanted to share my take on the Bach cello suites with a wider audience, so I’ve decided to make a series of videos – each one will cover one movement.  No better place to start than the beginning, with the most famous of Bach’s pieces for solo cello, the Prelude to the G major Suite. I hope you like the video and that the music brings you the same joy it brings me. In exchange, I’m asking you to consider supporting something else I care deeply about.

Many of you know I have also started a non-profit string quartet, 4-Way, and we’re raising funds for our free education program. So, especially because it’s Giving Tuesday, please think about making a tax-deductible donation if you like the video. Please post your comments, and share this with your online community!

 

https://youtu.be/I-DPPsrzXCI&w=550

 


Donate Button with Credit Cards

 

Till next time (and the G major Allemande!),

 

Nat

Back to School

Feature_Woodford

Today, the school year begins here in Cincinnati, and as a parent of two, I couldn’t be happier. Even better is the news that Cincinnati Public Schools is putting the arts front and center at two magnet elementary schools, and I’m pleased to announce that 4-Way will begin its education program this year at one of them!

As part of its Vision 2020 plan, CPS has designated Woodford Paideia to be one of its specialized schools, with an emphasis on strings – that’s where we come in. There will also be a band program at Chase Elementary in Northside, as well as programs built around tech, entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship at various other schools around the city. To make the arts the central, defining feature of two elementary schools is a bold step, and I hope we can help CPS make the case that all schools should have the same opportunity.

Today, 4-Way will perform for the entire school. Beginning in October, once a week, we will come in and teach chamber music and ensemble skills to the 5th and 6th grade orchestra classes. We’ll also begin identifying kids to join our free, after-school lesson and chamber music program, which will start in January. By the spring, we hope to have the kids performing short pieces, both as soloists and in groups without a conductor!

This will take a lot of help, from Woodford’s students, parents, teachers and staff, and we’ll need your help too! We’ve already secured grants from ArtsWave and the Ohio String Teachers Association, and will be doing lots of fundraising this fall to raise more money for the program. Here are three ways you can help us:

  • We’ll be performing a series of house concert fundraisers – if you’d like to host one, click here to e-mail me.
  • In a few weeks, we’ll begin an Indiegogo campaign – we’d love to hear your suggestions for 4-Way swag to be given to donors, so please post them in the comments, or e-mail us!
  • If you’d like to contribute directly, click here to go to the Paypal site set up by our fiscal agent, the Kennedy Heights Arts Center, to accept tax-deductible donations to 4-Way’s education program. You can also find the link to donate at our website, 4-WayQuartet.com

Sorry, got to get to class now! More news soon – thanks for your support!

Nat

You Don’t Look A Day Over 330

Bachand4-way(hats)

Today is Bach’s 331st birthday! 4-Way celebrated yesterday, with a performance at Cincinnati Museum Center, as part of Bach In The Subways, the annual celebration of JSB’s big day. If you haven’t already, take a few minutes today and play or listen to some Bach – it’s a nice way to wish him a Happy Birthday, and will make up for the present you forgot to get him.

Till next time,

Nat

Come Together

It’s Election Day where I live today, and unless you’ve been off the grid entirely, you know that politics isn’t bringing people together as much as it might. But there is hope – I offer you this picture as proof that people can overcome their differences, no matter how great they may be.

NatWillUMOSU

 

In 4-Way rehearsals, Will and I look past his unfortunate choice of football teams our contrasting views, and work together. So, when you go to vote, and feel discouraged by the distance you feel from the “other side” (whichever one that is), take comfort in knowing that Will and I, along with Kevin and Sujean, are setting a better example, forging our often competing and conflicting views into a better interpretation than any of us could come up with alone. Maybe our elected officials could follow our example.

If you want to see the power of cooperation and compromise in action, please come see us this Sunday, March 20, at 2 P.M. at the Cincinnati Museum Center – we’ll be performing as part of Bach In The Subways 2016 to celebrate JSB’s 331st birthday! Bring the family (the Children’s Museum is right downstairs), and while you’re at it – bring your congressperson – they might learn something!

Nat

House Music

https://youtu.be/uQVgdyrF6Ts&w=550

In my last post, I talked about the upcoming debut of 4-Way, this Sunday at 2:30 at the Taft Museum. Here’s a video preview, with footage from a recent rehearsal in my living room, a very appropriate setting- much of the great chamber music repertoire was intended to be played in private homes, something we plan to do a lot of ourselves (more on that soon). Hope you enjoy this sneak peak and if you’re in town, please come by on Sunday!

Till next time,

Nat