Here is a fascinating 8 minute animation about natural history by Czech surrealist Jan Svankmajer. Reminding me of Monty Python, I wonder whether having a science teacher like Svankmajer who had this kind of a sensibility might not have made me more curious about science as a lad.
I couldn’t tell by the credits who did […]
In America, we are “celebrating” presidents day, which, I guess, combines George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in one weekend. Hmm, why no Grover Cleveland day?
I have a great idea, and I bet if I put if up for a national referendum, it would pass: Let’s forget about “President’s Day” and make it Valentines Weekend, […]
For our third Ogden concert, our guest artist will be none other than ME, singing at the piano. A number of the songs that I used to play on the guitar I have now transcribed for piano–an interesting technique for sure. I will not be performing my music, but rather a handful of my favorite […]
An update for those of you who have been so kind to write me both here and via email, good news: the recalcitrant (as it were) K-stone has exited. I was able to capture it per the doctor’s request. Daniel was generous in his designer sense referring to it as a “pyramid.” I saw it […]
I watched the Dog Whisperer in amazement as he dealt with an out of control dog by pinning him on his side and, ultimately, dominating him. The dog fights back ferociously baring teeth as though to say “I’ll rip your face apart.” But Cesar Millan does not give up. And the struggle can go on […]
I checked my Visa account this morning to find two mysterious purchases that neither of us recognized. It turns out that someone got my card number and charged $420 worth of Vi*gra and then a $70 phone from Verizon. I told Jeffery Hansen about my problem to which he brilliantly came back with “Well! It […]
Many teachers, myself included, wish they did not have to grade students. Grading can be wildly subjective and mean different things in different fields. Grade deflation in the arts is rampant, and I suspect and have heard that grade inflation is the norm in the sciences.
In teaching composition, the way I teach undergraduates is […]
This is inspiring me to change my career. I especially envy his bouncing around and shoulder action. I’m practicing these moves right now. Yeah! Yeah! This is fun! I can almost whistle as high as he can. I wonder where old Jack is now. I can hear his wife now: “Honey sit down and stop […]
Cesar Millan and dogs © MPH Entertainment
I have been catching up on the popular TV show, THE DOG WHISPERER with Cesar Millan and have now watched two seasons on DVD. I know I ‘m dreaming, but I think watching this series should be required of all potential dog owners.
There was one issue that Cesar continually […]
I have instituted a new tradition in my 2 year core music theory class at UCLA: Show and Teach. These are ungraded 3 to 5 minute presentations by a member of the class that are, truth be told, variations on “show and tell” where music or something related to music is presented to the […]
Roman Polanski’s film on Dicken’s OLIVER TWIST is terrific. I checked IMDB.com to see what awards it won and was shocked to see it got none. There is a bullet at the bottom of the page that says “Why did the Academy deny this movie nominations?” and the answer: “Politics. Roman’s history got in the […]
Rufus Wainwright will release his fifth album, Release the Stars, on Geffen on May 15. Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant executive produced the Want Two follow-up, which is Wainwright’s first self-produced album. Producer Marius DeVries (David Bowie, Björk, Madonna, Melanie C) mixed the record, and it features contributions from Richard Thompson, Joan Wasser (Antony […]
VOX joins forces with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Classical Ensemble, the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus and the USC Percussion Ensemble in a exciting performance of Carl Orff’s popular “Carmina Burana!”
Wow, does this mean I’m opening for Carl Orff?
Wes Montgomery - YesterdaysUploaded by madafonka2
Rufus Wainwright has sold out all performances of his Judy Garland show in both London and Paris. And for you Angelenos who didn’t get to go to Carnegie Hall, fear not as he will be doing the show at the Hollywood Bowl September 23, 2007. Tix will go on sale mid-February.
Go Rufus!
I thought it would be of interest to report the feedback I got from our “honest interviews” last week. One student had an audition, and it was not a good one. He could not identify intervals, chord qualities and their inversions, couldn’t sight-sing a melody, and knew very little classical repertoire. I held up the […]
I just realized that part of my love for the music of Gram Parsons was actually a love for the music of a songwriting team I didn’t realize I idolized: Boudleaux and Felice Bryant. Having sold 500 million records and written some 1500 songs, they have written some of my favorite music. Besides the list […]
My Dear Rufus,
Silence is an important compositional element. Pepper it throughout your music and you’ll find it helps the music breathe. Phrases chunk better. Silence can range from complete silence that lasts for just a moment, to a long silence that lets a powerful chord or orchestral stab reverberate throughout the auditorium.
Think carefully about the […]
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