Astor Piazzolla was a composer of incredible talent that figured out a way to navigate both worlds of Tango and Classical Music. As a Classical Pianist and composer, he was winning world-renowned competitions and had the privilege to study in France with Nadia Boulanger (one of the best piano teachers at the time). On the other side, as a ...
Switching from classical to flamenco effortlessly
If you are into classical guitar, and you know anything about Misael Barraza Diaz, you probably already know that he keeps winning international classical guitar competitions at a fascinating (and scary) rate. So far he just got his 10th international first prize and he is not looking to stop there at all. But still, his passion does...
Did he really premiered this composition missing a page?
Imagine you're under the microscope of the musical elite in Vienna and you have to produce a whole sonata in very little time. This, for Mozart, was probably the norm. But for this one, the sonata also was to be presented with the most popular violinist at the time in a special concert for the Austrian nobil...
CGW is the Guitar Festival you don't want to miss
The 2018 Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival & Competition is right around the corner and it's time to get signed up and ready to compete. As a classical guitar player myself, entering in competition mode is fun because it helps you focus and become a better player. No matter how the results unfold, you already know that if you sign up, you...
La Música no sirve
Muchas veces escuché esa frase. Que la música no sirve, que el arte no sirve, que tocar un instrumento no sirve, y muchos etcéteras más cual tributo al "no porque no". Si embargo, no por eso me detuve y gracias a no detenerme es que estoy aquí. No obstante, si lo analizamos un poco, esa polémica frase tiene algo que aportarnos ¿pensamos j...
How can musicians really exploit social media?
We all know it and we all say it: Social Media is an addiction! But how many of us really simply shut it off? The honest truth is that we musicians have to use it for business purposes but keeping some important issues at bay. Social Media is a tool. Obviously, you will not be making money directly from social media but there is an art on how ...
Wasting your money on a music degree is stupid!
Everyone (including myself) has fallen into the trap of "purchasing" a music degree via an established institution. It took me a verry long time to realize that the cost in "Time and Money" had no tangible Return of Investment. This is is main topic of the article. The schools are not properly educate us musicians in the business of music...
Do Guitarists actually suffer of a God complex?
It's interesting to see how many people start playing guitar because they are on their way to fame and fortune. The truth is that the music industry (backed by Hollywood) has made the figure of the guitar player into a semi-divine figure of awesomeness. Today, new guitar players have to suffer from the reputation created by the previous generation ...
Your brain can benefit big time from learning guitar
The Classical Guitar is an instrument that requires left-right hand coordination. This kind of complex task demands the brain to utilize the opposite hemispheres in different ways, forcing the performer to focus in a quite particular way. When playing classical guitar, the left hand is in charge of the notes while the right hand is in ch...
Maria Callas: Passion is the secret ingredient
I prepare myself for rehearsals like I would for marriage. by Maria Callas Today is a special day to remember Soprano Maria Callas as the 40th anniversary of her death still casts a shadow on the hearts of every opera enthusiast in the world. Callas had an exceptional talent that led her to develop a fascinating career. However, there was more than...
How to pin and boost your musical presence
A brief description: Pinterest is a tool that people generally use to store ideas and remember simple visuals because it helps them achieve goals. The niche of Pinterest is fascinating because women absolutely love this platform. It's worth underlining that 81% of Pinterest users are women and the largest portion of them is between 20 and 40 y...
Pianists that really know how to play relaxed
Learning and memorizing music is a process that sometimes takes blood, sweat, and tears and it could lead to tension. Practicing relaxed is important to play relaxed. In those two videos, Lang Lang and Josh Wright introduce why relaxing is important and how we should go about it in very simple ways. First, Lang Lang says that stretching and breath...
Five wonderful violinist jokes that you need to share!
An important matter: "Violinist tend to be tedious because they think very highly of themselves"... This is a wide spread popular belief that actually is is far from true and we must stand for what is right. Many say: "I have innumerable violinists in my life that I am proud to call friends" while behind their back they blast them with jealousy and...
Tango on the other side of the word
Listening to Anikó playing music from my country was a wonderful experience this morning. The truth is that this was also a wonderful surprise. Anikó and I met via Instagran and my immediate reaction when I heard her selection to feature in the blog was a bit of that emotional bittersweet sensation that Tango leaves in your throat. I know that Ani...
Why should I have a professional website?
Your web presence as a musician is important but it should complement the objectives you have for your career. A fundamental truth is that technologies can only evolve into the most extreme absolutes and we must take profit of having a site that opens doors to an infinite world. Today, building a website is fast, easy, simple and cost efficien...
Social Media debunked for musicians and artists
Why do we need Social Media?Social Media is an ocean of opportunities and it requires skill, attention, consistency and energy to make magic using the platforms that can make our career blow out of proportions. The truth is that no one will be ready for the exposure and being a famous musician will require a great ordeal of grounding and balance in...
Amazing Bach piece played by a Blooming child prodigy
We decided to feature Olivia Chiang beacuse it is an example of how musicianship can be inspired at an early age. The important part of the message is not the awards and the success but remembering how much time and hard work we must put into building up musicianship and virtuosity. This Discipline is essential no matter how young or old any player...