Music Meets Drama

Musical America – the mention of that publication to any classical musician means the holy grail of the international performing arts scene.   When the annual directory appears at the beginning of the year, artists from all avenues of the performing arts rush to see what artist management company their friends and colleagues may have, who ran ads promoting upcoming performances, what concert series are presenting for their upcoming season, what new music festivals listed by state and country are available, what music schools have run ads and much, much more.  It is the Holy Grail! Today’s editions of the directory feature “Musician of the Year” photos and an article about that person.  It’s an honor to be chosen for the cover of Musical America.  Recent honorees have included singer/actor Audra McDonald and conductor Gustavo Dudamel.  October 8, 1898 marked the debut of Musical America published by its founder, John Christian Freund....

Music teachers…..the words evoke memories of our first piano teacher who helped us learn the names of the lines and spaces on the staff, note names and values, rhythm, and, practicing every day for a half hour as our fingers fumbled on those first pieces. What has that piano teacher memory to do with Gena Branscombe? In her extensive career Gena had numerous music teachers and professors whose guidance and teaching abilities help jettison her into the public eye. Yes, those teachers had a diligent pupil who took her studies seriously, who strove to have a music career by her hard work and determination, never sitting on her laurels yet always looking for an opportunity of self-promotion. One-on-one lessons with music teachers are more than just one hour of playing or singing your assigned pieces. They are sessions of intense personal happenings that deal with not only notes, phrasing, tone color and technique, but also, one’s emotions in expressing what the composer intended. Te...