by Brianna Jaeger, Catoctin School of Music It’s Autumn 1939. The Wizard of Oz, featuring Judy Garland, premieres. LaGuardia Airport is unveiled in New York City. “You Are My Sunshine” is recorded for the first time. Concert pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman is performing a Chopin recital broadcasted for Polish Radio on September 23rd. In the background rings something percussive. Violent. Abhorrent. Harshly punctuating the lyricism of Poland’s beloved composer...
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by Jamey Mann, Catoctin School of Music An important part of learning an instrument and performing is bowing properly. Often overlooked, taking a bow properly puts the finishing touches on a performance and adds to a student’s confidence. Not knowing this skill can lead to awkwardness in what otherwise might be a fine performance. Every teacher and instrument have their own process for taking a bow. The...
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By Alyssa Cowell, Catoctin School of Music My favorite egg shaker cracked recently, boo! Instead of hopping on Amazon or running to a local music store, I thought it might be fun to try using some modern technology to see if I could make my own! Let’s get started: I have a laser cutter and a stash of thin stock hardwood scraps – a promising start. Now...
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by Robert Fisher, Catoctin School of Music Have you ever felt like quitting? You’re in the middle of an extremely technical etude and after many endless hours of practice, testing new techniques and tips, it hits you like a ton of bricks: I just want to quit! Or maybe, it is simply a feeling of defeat one may feel after trying various approaches and methods of...
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by Jamey Mann, Catoctin School of Music A highly debated and personal topic in the guitar world is changing guitar strings. Generally, it is recommended that guitar strings be changed about every three months which may seem fairly often. However, depending on how much you play and your personal tolerance/preference for aging strings, your mileage may vary. While strings should be changed regularly, it is surprising how...
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