There is method to the mastery
Virtuoso Ray Chen hardly needs an introduction, but let's start with his Gold Medal at the Queen Elisabeth competition in 2009, at the age of 20! His career since then, by all appearances, has been an …
Continue Reading about 020: Ray Chen – how insecurity leads to maturity →
Before my first rehearsal as a member of the Chicago Symphony, I asked my grandfather how I’d know the exact moment to come in after Barenboim’s downbeat. “Ha! You’ll know.” I had hoped for …
Continue Reading about Robert Cole (1923-2016): flutist, teacher, Grandpa →
Editor's note: The original version of this post was missing several concertos, each of which was pointed out by my faithful readers. I have now added the most requested, including one that was …
Continue Reading about Which violin concerto has the toughest opening? →
Way back in the 90s, my parents in Lexington, Kentucky sent me away to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. I had never lived on my own before, so they made sure I had some essentials with …
Continue Reading about 10 essential back-to-school gifts for the 21st-century violinist →
We had a great run, didn’t we? We finished all ten Suzuki books, learned the Tchaikovsky concerto, went to Curtis, won some prizes and a few auditions… I’ve been with you longer than I’ve been with my …
Continue Reading about Why I ditched my shoulder rest after 30 years →
