In this short Life that only lasts an hour How much – how little – is within our power —Emily Dickinson Capturing the essence of Emily Dickinson’s pithy, penetrating poem, Ryan MacEvoy McCullough’s setting for voice and piano plays...

While investigating fascinating snippets that I have read about how taking breaks can help our practice, I came across this gold mine of information about how to practice with much greater efficiency and retention of learning. Dr. Molly Gebrian, a violist...

If you think vocal music is just not your thing, then you need to know about Roomful of Teeth. This groundbreaking, Grammy-winning ensemble will expand your understanding of what the human voice can do.  Caroline Shaw’s The Isle, in the group’s recording...

Even though it is attributed to Jascha Heifetz, no one really knows who first said, “If I don’t practice for one day, I know it. If I don’t practice for two days, the critics know it. If I don’t practice for three days, the audience...

The internet is so full of content that it is hard to find the most useful. The latest flash in the pan can easily distract us. We musicians must constantly search for the inspiration that keeps us moving forward. Here are five podcasts that will change...

St. Louis composer, pianist, teacher, and Ascenda Partner Kim Portnoy, professor of composition at Webster University, has placed a new music video of his song “Please Call Me By My True Names” on his YouTube channel. Set to Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem’s...

Maybe it’s just me, or maybe it’s my age, but the turning of the year seems less important than the act of putting one foot in front of the other every day. Perhaps the real significance is just to say, yes, the old year has passed, with all that was...

The violinist, composer and arranger Luanne Homzy has a varied career as a chamber musician, LA studio regular, and Gypsy jazz performer. This live take of Trio Dinicu from a few years back takes me to a happy place—I hope it does for you too.

I have long been a fan of the new music band Alarm Will Sound. The band just released a new album on Nonesuch Records called Land of Winter, composed by Donnacha Dennehy. Its twelve continuous movements align with the months of the year, but the first...

Our spines can carry our weight in a way that feels easy if we are in alignment, but it can be a real pain if we don’t honor the way Nature put us together. Musicians often complain about back pain and discomfort. Here are some basic facts about spinal...