Kudo’s to the Baltimore Symphony and Music Director Marin Alsop! The Orchestra invited amateur musicians — what they called “Rusty Musicians” to join them. They were so overwhelmed with requests that they ended up scheduling a second concert to handle the 400 volunteers. By all accounts, the experiment was a resounding success. See the story in The Washington Post or this blog entry from The Baltimore Sun. Continue reading
Author Archives: Webmaster
Pint-Sized Inspiration!
Had an opportunity this afternoon to attend the finals of the Sphinx Competition. It’s my second year at the finals concert of this amazing program, which hopes to change the face — and expand the repertoire — of American orchestras by including more people of color and more music written by African American and Latino composers. Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Musicians of Note
Concert Time!
The last several weeks have seen a large number of community music groups holding concerts. Continue reading
Filed under Personal Journey
The Wonder of Encouragement
More than anything else in our lives, we seek encouragement and support. A little encouragement is often all that’ s needed to take a risk, try something new, or pick up an instrument again when you left it behind years earlier. Encouragement can be a very powerful motivator. Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Personal Journey
It’s Music Season!
It’s back to school – and the season for most local community groups to resume rehearsals for the season. Many are looking for players, and it’s the perfect place for a midlife musician who has some experience to hone their skills. Continue reading
Filed under Opportunities to Play
Passions Know No Boundaries …
This week, I learned that even professional musicians may have a little “midlife musician” in them. Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Musicians of Note
Learning from the Pros
Jazz Pianist Hank Jones will play and talk in the Jazz Tent
If you’ve ever had the chance to sit in on a master class, you can learn quite a lot to improve your own playing. (Once you get past the point of being glad YOU aren’t the person whose playing is being critiqued in public!!) Continue reading
Filed under Musicians of Note
Practice? or Playing?
I was browsing through an (old) book about piano technique the other day. The book, written by a virtuoso piano player in about 1902, pointed out that practice involves not just the body, but the brain, and that effective practice is a lot of work. Continue reading
Filed under Returning to Music
Midlife Musicians 