amateurmusicians.net

music. it’s really simple.

Why is it so complicated for musicians to summarize their occupation using general language? Here's my theory...

the silence of the sheep

When art becomes religion, even art pranks seem deeply profound. But what if avant-garde composer John Cage had placed a urinal on the concert stage?

what is ‘experimental’ music?

How an unconventional music workshop opened up a can of (beautiful) worms. Hint: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Bach wave

Who sez Bach can’t surf? Here’s my first ever public recording of Bach’s famous Prelude in D minor (BWV 999) played on guitar, with oscilloscope accompaniment. Found the results intriguing, so posted the video on YouTube, for your viewing pleasure. What fascinates me the most is this staggered wave effect in response to the patterned musical [...]

look around you. write it down.

I just got sourced something (merci Kirsi!) which puts a fun spin on one of my old grievances: our educational system. Indeed, thanks to the BBC’s Look Around You, my anger with the industrial-age assumptions that drive much of the world’s formal educational systems is ripe and fresh anew. That’s because Look Around You offers a [...]

Vivaldi made me do it

It’s true, Vivaldi’s the dude behind my initial decision to learn a musical instrument. Recently pondering on the movers and shakers of my life, I’ve been left wondering how many other wannabe violin virtuosos Vivaldi must has spawned. And, conversely, how many misguided career choices. We’ve all heard of people who were compelled in childhood to take [...]

I want to (hear you) complain

I never thought I’d see the day where bureaucracy gave way to music. Or perhaps it’s my middle-class angst that has finally found its ideal outlet. Regardless, whatever hurts your soul, thanks to artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, it’s goodbye (Swedish) Ombudsman, hello (Finnish) “Valituskuoro”. Valituskuoro – literally “Complaints Choir” in Finnish – is a figure [...]

breaking news: Pachelbel hates cellists

Alright. So Pachelbel isn’t around anymore to defend himself. But really, what got into your head, dear Pachelbel, to compose that ditty, now so pervasive in popular music and classical FM radio that even Christmas music can’t hold a candle to the powerful “meme” effect of your Canon in D major? This clever rant by comedian [...]