Tonal Diversions

Lori’s Midwest Clinic Adventure

I got to attend the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic this year! It’s right nearby in Chicago every year, but this is the first time I’ve been to the entire conference. A few years ago, I got a chance to attend for a day. Ever since, I’ve wanted to return for the full experience. This year, I made it happen and had a fantastic time! What cemented my commitment to go was a chance to participate…

Musical Ability and the Perspective of Being a Late Bloomer

I am a late bloomer.

I never dazzled anyone with a virtuoso piano performance when I was five. Nor did I graduate early or win any “young performers/composers” competitions.

Looking back, I’m amazed I even got accepted into music school.

Me at a young, impressionable age. I’d been taking piano for a year or two at that point.

I began piano lessons in kindergarten or so, taking lessons…

Facing writer’s block? Here is my journey from battling writer's block to successfully getting music onto the page and premiering my pieces.

Ah, writer’s block, my old friend. I used to fear you. I didn’t know how to deal with you. Especially when I was a young (and then a not-so-young) composer.

I’m happy to say I’m learning how to defeat writer’s block. It’s been a long and winding road! I’ve had to challenge my views on the composing process and rethink what I expect from myself. I’ve had to battle fear and impostor syndrome.

Check out what I've been reading over at Tonal Diversions!

It’s been a while since I’ve written any sort of “what’s playing” post — I’m long overdue! I have some goodies I’ve read that I’d love to share with you.

Please note that I’m an Amazon affiliate and purchases made through these links help support the blog.

Books on music Sounds Like Titanic: a Memoir by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman

This book fascinated me. Hindman writes of her…

Holst Suite Showdown: First vs. Second

British composer Gustav Holst (1874-1934) paved the way for modern concert band music.

Other composers had written for groups of wind and percussion instruments before (sometimes called “bands”), but Holst’s two suites for military band signaled a change toward the ensemble we now know as a concert band.

Statue of Gustav Holst Photo by Jongleur100 on Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Whi…

Learn music appreciation with the rousing “Overture to Colas Breugnon”

Sometimes the overture lives on for far longer than the rest of the show it introduces.

Wood-carved face by photosforyou. Used under CC0 Creative Commons license.

Such is the case of Colas Breugnon, an opera by Dmitry (Dmitri) Kabalevsky. You may have heard of Kabalevsky’s famous piece, “The Comedians.” The work was based on a 1918-9 novel of the same name by French author Romain Rolland. The…