by Matthew Ogden, December 2020 The month of December marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven. Great concerts and celebrations of this composer’s music had been scheduled around the world, but due to the global pandemic, these concerts have been postponed indefinitely. Instead of the sublime music of Beethoven filling concert stages and symphony halls across the globe, all we hear is...
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by Robert Fisher, The Catoctin School of Music As we charge towards the end of Autumn into Thanksgiving and the holiday season, it’s easy to begin to lose sight of the many blessings and benefits music brings us in the midst of the hustle. The stresses and exceptional tasks faced by all and those particularly within the music/arts community, present unusually daunting challenges for both...
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by Alyssa Cowell, The Catoctin School of Music With so many of us spending more time at home, we have more time than ever for practicing music. How is your music practice holding up as we enter another week of quarantine and social distancing? Here are a few practice ideas for those of us who are feeling a little stuck or need a change to refresh our practice habits: Review your...
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by Matt Ogden, The Catoctin School of Music As a musician, in the past few days, I have reflected on the life of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, especially on her life-long love for opera. She was famous for appearing in the front row of almost every performance of the Washington National Opera and the Washington Concert Opera (I personally...
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by Robert Fisher, The Catoctin School of Music The challenges of social isolation, the suspension of ensemble gatherings and an overall sense that live musical performance with large audiences may not be the norm for some time can certainly discourage budding and professional musicians alike, especially in this season of uncertainty. You or someone you know may be facing challenges with staying motivated and optimistic with...
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