Ernie Banks, conductor
"People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby I normally write about the classical music world and its evolution, but today I just want to share...
Too Much Respect?
"The trouble with music appreciation in general is that people are taught to have too much respect for music - they should be taught to love it instead." - Igor Stravinsky Regular readers of this blog know that I have little patience for the sanctification of...
You’re Not Helping, Part 3 1/2
I know, I know, I said I wasn't going to write about this anymore, but this issue won't go away! Last week's post was about Kyung Wha Chung, and her strong reaction to some coughing at her comeback recital. Well, she has responded to the criticism she received with an...
New Video!
I am really excited to share a brand new video about Bach and Boombox, courtesy of my friend and awesome videographer Kyle McCarthy at Mean Key Productions! We filmed it at the Carnegie Theater in Covington, KY a couple months ago - much thanks to Katie Brass and her...
You’re Not Helping, Part 3
I really hadn't planned to continue this series, but more questionable behavior in the classical music world has given us a third installment. Today's subject - audience noise at concerts and the out of proportion reactions it provokes from performers....
You’re Not Helping, Part 2
Last week's post was about Mark O'Connor's attack on the Suzuki method, which I (and many others) found quite harsh, mean-spirited and a huge waste of energy. This week's example of unnecessary squabbling in the string world is a similarly strident (and...