Picking the best music teacher
I grew up in the soviet music education tradition where you were supposed to take lessons only with your teacher and not play for other teachers unless you had a…
Career During and After College
Picking the right teacher and school of music: When looking for a school to study music, I recommend picking the school with the teacher you’d love to learn from. You…
Recording for a classical music competition
When recording for a competition, the sound quality is more important than many musicians realize. Capturing high-quality sound not only ensures the best-produced version of an excerpt or piece, but…
Placing microphones for classical music recording
Once you have a microphone suited to your recording needs, you have to figure out where to put it to get a good sound. Where to put the microphone depends…
Affordable Microphones for Classical Music Recording
These days, we’re less reliant on the big bad microphone with all the fancy recording capabilities and that clear sound only studios can capture. Nowadays, there are Chinese companies that…
Tips for Improving Recording Quality on a Budget
Making a good recording for a competition or sample is not complicated. You don't have to be an audio engineer or even an audio aficionado to get high-quality audio; you…
Becoming an Orchestral Musician
I was around 16 when I decided I wanted to become a professional orchestral musician. I actually never wanted to be a soloist -- I love the social aspect of…
Advice on Choosing the Right College of Music.
At first, my parents were a little hesitant on the idea of pursuing music as a career, but they’re super supportive now. I also knew I wanted to stay close…
How I Became a More Serious Musician.
I decided my senior year of high school that I wanted to pursue a career in music. I began playing the flute in fifth grade, but it was really in…
Is a DMA worth pursuing?
Is a DMA worth pursuing? Yes, it is definitely a worthwhile endeavor, but some clarification may be helpful. As a DMA is geared toward preparing someone to teach in a…