daily observations

cycling = music? August 2, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : cycling, music, viola, 1 comment so far

I was reading a great collection of diary entries and columns by the great Bob “Bobke” Roll, who had a career racing both road bikes and mountain bikes in the 80’s to the early 90’s. He was also a training partner for a young upstart Lance Armstrong as he made his comeback from cancer.

As I read these various stories of pain, misery, disappointment, triumph, strangeness and fun, it struck a chord with me in my struggles with my meager rides, and also with my years of struggling with the viola, and other aspects of being a student of the arts. (more…)

instrument petting zoo April 25, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : education, music, the orchestra world, video, youth orchestras, add a comment

As part of our partnership with different communities each year, our education department includes what is called the instrument petting zoo. No, it’s not a bunch of instruments in a fenced in area, with children walking around them petting them with timid hands.

What it is in actuality is a chance for kids to get their hands on an instrument and be taught or guided in how to make some sort of elementary sound on it. The theory is, if they get a small taste of creating new sounds on an instrument they’ve never seen or heard, they’ll want more, and might even want to take up an instrument in school or at home.

Here’s a YouTube movie I found of a youngster named Soren getting his first taste of the violin, with OSO violist Stephen Price giving him a hand with fingering the notes:

Here’s another video of OSO music director Carlos Kalmar giving the Portland Metropolitan Youth Symphony a workout in Beethoven’s Egmont Overture.

world music April 5, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : contemporary, fun, music, add a comment

Click the thumbnail image above to enlarge this cool score - find more info here.

freeway philharmonic January 21, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : freelancing, music, the orchestra world, add a comment

I just found out about a documentary which might provide great insight into the lives of musicians who are making ends meet in orchestras that are part-time. There is a group of orchestras in the extended Bay Area of California which are collectively known as the “Freeway Philharmonic”, because their musicians spend most of their time driving on the freeways from one gig to another to make a living. (more…)

cascade head loses founder/director January 11, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : music, soloists & recitals, add a comment

David Stabler breaks the story that the Cascade Head Music Festival’s founder and artistic director, Sergiu Luca, has left the festival. This is a tremendous loss for the Oregon festival scene, and I hope that he finds a way to get back into the Oregon arts circles again.

once more into the breach… January 10, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : music, 1 comment so far

I’ve been thinking a lot about practicing lately. Maybe that’s because I’ve actually been practicing lately. Or not. But I’ve been thinking about the process of practicing, and it’s really quite militaristic! (more…)

more eddins audition news January 9, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : conducting, music, the orchestra world, add a comment

bill eddins, conductor Check out the latest posts from conductor Bill Eddins (music director of the Edmonton Symphony) as he contends for a post with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Good stuff.UPDATE, SON OF REDUX: ~~fourth~~ ~~fifth~~ sixth seventh installment added today

arts advocacy at the presidential level January 8, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : music, politics, 1 comment so far

If you’re concerned about maintaining the current level of federal funding for the arts, or actually increasing the amount of funding for the arts, take a quick surf over to this website: Arts Vote 2008, and fill out and send the online letter which will be sent (either electronically or on paper) to each of the remaining presidential candidates.

While at the site, you can also visit links to the candidates’ web sites, including pages which state their positions on the arts in American life.

Sorry for the imbalance in political candidates presented here, but only Mike Huckabee of the Republican candidates had responded to the queries of Arts Vote. I’ve presented only (in my view) the remaining viable Democractic candidates’ views - head over to the web site to see everything.

Mike Huckabee:

Music and the arts are not extraneous, extra-curricular, or expendable - I believe they are essential. I want to provide every child these “Weapons of Mass Instruction.”

Hillary Clinton [pdf file]:

Hillary Clinton understands that strong arts programs are part of a well-rounded education that helps enrich the next generation of America’s leaders and develop their abilities to think creatively and independently.

Though she does not explicitly refer to music - for her “the arts” seems to refer only to visual art forms.

John Edwards [pdf file]:

The arts lift our spirits, elevate our thoughts, and draw us closer together. I believe that
there is a national role in nurturing painters, writers, poets, musicians, theatre artists and
other performing artists. We must preserve America’s precious cultural heritage by
supporting museums and performance spaces for theatre, dance and music. The arts also
play an important role in our education system: arts in schools can improve reading and
math, foster self-expression and individual thought, and improve socializing among
children.

Barack Obama [pdf file]:

To remain competitive in the global economy, America needs to reinvigorate the kind of creativity and innovation that has made this country great. To do so, we must nourish our children’s creative skills. In addition to giving our children the science and math skills they need to compete in the new global context, we should also encourage the ability to think creatively that comes from a meaningful arts education. Unfortunately, many school districts are cutting instructional time for art and music education. Barack Obama believes that the arts should be a central part of effective teaching and learning. The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts recently said “The purpose of arts education is not to produce more
artists, though that is a byproduct. The real purpose of arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society.

favorite intermissions January 5, 2008

Posted by Charles Noble in : contemporary, music, recordings, the orchestra world, 1 comment so far

This is just fascinating, and I’m ashamed that I’ve only just discovered this! “This” is a CD of composer and “sound artist” Christopher DeLaurenti which consists of surreptitiously recorded audio tracks from intermissions of orchestral concerts around the U.S. (more…)

letters in response to Seattle NYTimes article December 29, 2007

Posted by Charles Noble in : labor issues, music, the orchestra world, 1 comment so far

In the upcoming Sunday edition of the New York Times, several letters are printed in the Arts section - you can read the complete letters (as printed) here.

Here are some of the best parts of some of them: (more…)