The pros and cons
Last Friday, Archibald Noodlefish’s rant raised a question – is it possible to to be like an amateur and a professional musician at the same time? Is it possible to love what you do and earn a living at it too?
Conductor Mark Wigglesworth asks:
Financial considerations aside, are the two words mutually exclusive? Can professionals maintain an amateur’s enthusiasm and spirited freedom every day? And is it possible for amateurs to approach performances with the discipline and reliability of professionals?
The answer is yes. In fact, if you combine the best of both worlds, to be amateur and professional at the same time probably represents an ideal of musical performance.
(More.)
Julia Rose says farewell
I was sorry to read this message at Julia Rose’s site:
APRIL 17, 2012
I have decided to discontinue my horn page, and here are my reasons. I’ve decided that I no longer want to offer free advice and information, details of my professional life, or my personal thoughts up here for all to see. I have been asking myself, “Why do I even have a website?” It’s gotten me in trouble a number of times with my orchestra management, I don’t get paid for my work and it’s not like I have an ulterior motive, like trying to recruit students.
It really sucks up my spare time, and I no longer have the time to blog or update my website any longer. It is just not just writing blog posts- I receive constant e-mailed questions from people, so maintaining this website takes much more work that it seems. My life has become impossibly busy lately and I don’t see that letting up, and so I need as much time as possible for myself and my horn playing.
Back when I began my website over 10 years ago, there were very few horn websites on the internet. Now there are lots, so I hope my absence will not be missed too greatly. Thank you for your readership and support all these years.
Julia
Her voice will be missed. An archived version of her site may be found here. Her articles on the Balanced Embouchure are here.
A new web site for Wes Hatch
Who is Wes Hatch you ask? For many years he was the Foreman of Final Assembly at the Holton factory; and through that experience, began making his own custom horns.
Random reviews
- David Wilktone looks at Still Playing, My Journey Through Embouchure Surgery and Rehabilitation
- Jeffrey Agrell reviews the tongue-in-cheek When All Else Fails: A Horn Player’s Vade-Mecum
- James Boldin lists some of his favorite horn duet books
Random stuff
- The importance of moving ahead and not stopping
- Partnering with a metronome
- Better music by prescription
- All posts on Tumblr, tagged as “French hor”
- Johanna Lundy on being a union local president (page 7)
- Part 3 of Bradley Zint’s report on learning the French horn for a professional concert
- Bruce Lee on limitations
- Dale Clevenger in Russia on a recent CSO tour
- A cute picture of some girls and their horns
Random memes
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What’s popular
Here are today’s most popular articles.
- Humor: Louisville Orchestra Memes to Share and Help Spread the Word
- Ultrasonic Cleaning FAQ
- Tips on Auditioning Horns, Part II: Mouthpieces, Leadpipes, Hybrids and the Schmid Double
- Ask Dave: How can I play high notes without squeezing them out?
- Use of the Assistant First Horn
- Louisville Orchestra Moves Ahead for Replacement Musicians; Recognition for the League’s Man of the Year
- A Community Concert, Students and Adults Together
- On Performing the Konzertstuck, and being Ready to Play Horn
- How to Clean a Horn Mouthpiece and Sanitize a Lead Pipe
- A Look at Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2, ‘Romantic’
- Hornmasters on Horn Chords
- Random Monday: Beer, Community Orchestras, Art Song and Beat-Boxing
- (Ouch!) Four Practical Tips for Painful, Swollen Lips
- Archibald Noodlefish: What Defines Worthy Professional Experience?
- Hornmasters: Berv and Tuckwell on the Glissando
- Internet Memes: What If Action Mega-Star Chuck Norris Played French Horn?
- Playing the B-Minor Mass on YouTube
Random videos
How Dennis Wick mutes are made.
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John Cleese speaks on creativity. There are a number of excellent points in this 36-minute video that will be re-iterated in a future article. This video is highly recommended.
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John Williams has composed a new fanfare celebrating the 100th anniversary of baseball’s Fenway Park.
The entire fanfare can be heard here.
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