by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Jan 6, 2018 | Uncategorized
Many celebrations are enhanced with live music, and Epiphany (aka Three Kings Day) is no exception. Customizing a Strings of Silk Music program to fit the festivities and traditions surrounding any celebration, the first thing would be to make sure the audience is participating at their level of understanding and mobility. So, using the template of Jennifer’s Blarney and a little imagination, a gift of fun and blessings is in store for you and yours: Epiphany Song Sheet A Gift For You for 2018
Many blessings to you and yours for a happy and healthy New Year!
by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Jan 5, 2018 | Uncategorized
Professional Musicians most popular request!
After performing for three New Year’s Eve concerts, led by an amazing conductor and surrounded by eighty highly trained musicians, the volunteer usher asked “So, is this a professional orchestra?” If the multiple standing ovations, the program filled with the biographies of the award winning soloists and the $65 ticket prices wasn’t enough to make it clear that it was indeed a professional music ensemble, then there must have been another question or two that needed to be asked and answered: “Can you make a living playing music or do you have a ‘real’ job?” Maybe the misunderstanding is complicated by the fact that professional musicians GET to do what they love and get paid to do it. We understand that people appreciate what we do even if they don’t understand what it is that we do.
The great answer is that YES! We do make a very good living playing music and YES! it is a real job with real taxes and bills to be paid just like everyone else with a “real” job. As professional musicians, we are held to the music industry’s highest of standards – we not only have to play each note perfectly but we also have to have experience for many other events as well. If only our music teachers had told us that we could make our living at this and have this much fun, we swear we would have practiced more!
by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Jan 4, 2018 | Uncategorized
Don’t be flat – stay sharp with music lessons!
Professional musicians hear from their audience members about the time they too played an instrument. The majority of them also say that they wished their parents hadn’t let them quit! Others wish they could play an instrument now but that they are “too old” to learn. The good news is that as an adult, you learn faster and understand the concepts quicker than the children do. The difference is that the adult student expects to be as good as the teacher after one lesson…okay, maybe two! There are numerous studies that prove that learning to play an instrument is good for you on many levels.
Here are the questions professional musicians hear from adults wanting to learn: What do I do first? How do I find a teacher? Which instrument should I pick? Is it expensive? The first thing to do is to keep it simple and commit to it for 6 weeks – that’s it! As for a teacher, there is a saying “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear”. Which instrument? You probably already have the answer and it is neither right nor wrong.
And the best part is priceless – You will be amazed at what you learn about yourself!!
by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Jan 3, 2018 | Uncategorized
It’s possible to have fun with music without playing a note!
One of the ways to express harmony is with “note-worthy” expressions AND you can do it without making a sound! You can attend a concert, listen to music or donate your time and/or money to a favorite ensemble. Most professional musicians would agree that hearing that you attended and enjoyed their performances is music to their ears.
So go ahead and “like” us on Facebook or applaud loud and long at the next live concert – it is never expected but greatly appreciated!
by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Jan 2, 2018 | Uncategorized
Mastering the music makes musicians merry!
Happy Tuesday, January 2nd!
There are many questions asked of professional musicians: How long have you been playing? About 15 minutes. Is that a Stradivarius? If it isn’t, I just blew $50 bucks! And the #1 question is…do you practice? When you are studying with a teacher of your chosen instrument, the answer is YES! When you are a professional musician, you have mastered the technical aspects of the instrument. Therefore, professional musicians “rehearse” the music put in front of them so that they can have command over the music, not the instrument. Yesterday’s string-changing for the violin and viola was a success!
In other words, doctors and lawyers “practice”…musicians “play” and violinists just “fiddle” around!
Thanks for “tuning” in…
