Instruments | amateurmusicians.net

sensibility training

Thursday, December 20, 2007

So what's this blog all about? Fundamentally.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Here’s a clip to accompany my previous post, of Glenn Gould playing variation 25 from the Goldberg Variations. It’s from a recording made for television, late in his life. I include it here because of the sheer contrast between this [...]

genius score scribblings for dummies

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

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Terrible handwriting = genius? I'll say! Any other ways to find out how truly gifted you are?

music+tricks, techno+shift

blog review: music practice tips

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

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When I started this blog, I initially had this idea of a web resource for music practice advice. Providing such a service, I thought, would help remedy a recurrent problem in music education. That is: despite the abundance of educational/mentorship options available to budding musicians today, useful resources on the topic of practice strategies and tactics [...]

black slab of spirited energy

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

4 Comments

If a big bad building assails you with unsympathetic vibrations, can it be re-tuned like a musical instrument?

magic+mystery, music+tricks, perception+training

musicians: make your own economy!

Sunday, August 5, 2007

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In the last few years, we’ve seen a rapid increase in social and economic opportunities for DIY‘ers (do-it-yourself’ers), both on- and off-line. I’d argue that changes in our communication technologies are enabling this home brew entrepreneurship revolution. For example, the so-called “Web 2.0” paradigm shift on the Internet, describes a new way of creating wealth with [...]

5 expert ways to turbo-charge your practice routine

Monday, July 30, 2007

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Feel your motivation flagging at the thought of yet another dreary practice session? Your instrument starting to pick up dust? Never fear! We’re living in a brave new age of gurus, and there’s a solution-head out there for every spiritual and practical problem that ails’ ya. Here’s a shortlist of techniques and approaches from trusted authorities in [...]

community guitar: interview with Andrew Lawrence

Sunday, June 24, 2007

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For my June 2007 podcast, here’s an interview I conducted with Andrew Lawrence while I was attending Django In June in Northampton, Massachusetts. Andrew is founder of the Community Guitar Program, as well as being the director and coordinator of Django In June, the only annual music camp in North America dedicated to the pursuit of [...]

gypsy (camp) fire, new england rendez-vous

Saturday, June 9, 2007

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In a few days, I’ll be heading south of the (Canadian) border, for a week-long vacation in Northampton, Massachussetts. Why Northampton? What’s so special about the place? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were allegedly spawned there. One of my all-time favorite movies - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf - was filmed (in part) in [...]

why it’s easier to play for strangers

Monday, June 4, 2007

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You’re ten years old, it’s Christmas eve. Uncle Fritz (fictitious name) has gotten in disguise: Santa’s about to distribute the gifts. The living room is packed with relatives, in dizzy anticipation at the surprises to come. Alas, before Santa Fritz can grab the first gift, your mom stands up, and blurts out to all ears: “Wait, [...]