December 2008

V.com weekend vote: What's your favorite new-release recording from 2008?

December 27, 2008 01:09

Here's your chance to vote for your favorite violin recording of 2008!

The year is coming to its end, so let's collect our thoughts on violin recordings released in 2008. I've compiled a list of some of the biggies for you to vote on, but please tell me if you'd like to vote for another 2008 release that I somehow overlooked (apologies in advance!) or that is violin-related but in a different genre than those I've listed.

It doesn't really matter whether you've listened to all of these, I think what's more interesting is: did any of these make it to your ears? And if so, which did you like? That means you are quite welcome to vote for the only one you heard, or one that you heard just part of. I welcome your comments below, as well!

And BTW thanks to Paul G for inspiring this idea with his blog about CDs he bought this year!

poll by twiigs.com

14 replies | Archive link

V.com weekend vote: Is music a necessity, or a luxury?

December 19, 2008 11:05

Do we really NEED music?

Before you take the predictable view that food, clothing and shelter are really the only things necessary for human survival, consider the fact that pretty much every kind of human society around the globe finds ways to make music. Also, that beauty, sanity and the desire to live contribute to our desire, even our ability, to find food, clothing and shelter. We're a bit different than animals. "Outlook" is perhaps quite central to humans, in a way that it is not to rabbits or dogs or birds.

Is music a luxury, or a necessity, for humans?

poll by twiigs.com

22 replies | Archive link

V.com weekend vote: Professional musicians play for free?

December 13, 2008 00:46

Here's a question for tough economic times: should professional musicians agree to play for free if the orchestra for which they are contracted is having financial troubles?

The argument is that the musicians, by playing a free concert, are showing the community they care, and showing board members and administrators they care.

But does anyone care if we care? Or does this simply send the message that this whole business of paying musicians is rather like paying someone to go fishing or take a walk in the park? I mean, you have to pay rent on the office, you have to pay administrators, you have to pay vendors, but pay musicians? Pah!

What are your thoughts on the matter? Is there wisdom to doing this, as an act of good faith? Or is it a kind of foolishness to which artists are prone? Or is there just no choice, play for free or watch orchestras die?

poll by twiigs.com

40 replies | Archive link

V.com weekend vote: What kind of vibrato do you use, predominantly?

December 5, 2008 23:55

For me, learning vibrato was like learning to ride a bicycle: I didn't get it, didn't get it, then one day it was there, quite suddenly.

But that was just the beginning. Then came the refinement: learning to vibrate at different speeds, different widths. There's narrow vibrato and wide vibrato. My vibrato started as a hand (sometimes called wrist) vibrato, but then in college I needed to learn arm vibrato, for double stops and other occasions that required it.

Finger vibrato -- what the?

Actually, Mendy's vibrato adventures are what inspired this vote.

It seems that everyone learns this skill in a different way, and though there are many exercises to try, it boils down to finding your own way.

Before I sermonize and suggest exercises for students, I try to remember to at least try the following:

"Do this!" and then just have them try, whatever the result. Because that's where we start!

Where did you start? And how did you develop your vibrato, and what is the kind you use most frequently today?

poll by twiigs.com

20 replies | Archive link

More entries: November 2008