Student instrumental musicians are given a checklist for instrument maintenance and supplies. For a string instrument, the instrument maintenance list might look something like this:                        Violin: Clean, Bridge and sound post in proper location, bridge not warped, no open cracks or seams, pegs move smoohly. Strings: Not unwrapped or false, wrapped properly on pegs Bow: Not warped, bow grip not loose or damaged Bow hair: clean, not thinned, and proper length        Most commercial real…

Bans on large gatherings due to coronavirus (“COVID-19”) can be devastating for performing musicians who depend upon large ticket sales for their income. Not to be deterred by COVID-19, musical groups ranging from the Berlin Philharmonic to the Metropolitan Opera in New York, to Quartet Dafne in Venice, haven’t canceled their performances. Instead, they have taken them online. Performing in empty auditoriums to huge audiences via live-streaming or YouTube, these musicians have replaced thunderous applause…

Music conductors have one of the most challenging jobs in an orchestra. Orchestra musicians mostly need to keep track of their parts. The conductor needs to keep track of everyone’s parts. Therefore, instead of reading music with just one line of notes, conductors have an entire musical score. A score includes everyone’s parts. If you’ve taken piano lessons and found it challenging to keep track of the left and right hand parts on two staves,…

Suppose you are planning a private musical soiree where a famous string quartet will perform. You have a core group of friends and families who regularly attend these intimate gatherings, and you expect that they will jump at the chance to attend this one. Then, you discover there is another event that conflicts with your soiree that most of your friends and family will attend. To have a big enough crowd, you decide to post…