Warp Speed Vocal Percussion

Lori Cotler grew up as a jazz singer, embracing improvisation and scat singing from an early age.  But her career was transformed after studying a highly complex South Indian rhythmic solfege system known as Konnakol or Solkattu.  The syllables from this language correspond to rhythms and playing techniques applied to percussion...

Chamber Music Reaches a New Low

Sure, you’ve seen string quartets.  You’ve probably even seen saxophone quartets.  But how ’bout this: a bass sax quartet?  That’s right.  Four low, rumbling, oversized, gritty, bass saxophones. In the same room nonetheless!  That’s what you’ll witness in this video of the German/Dutch group Deep...

String Quartet: The Solo Instrument

Diego Stocco is a sound designer and composer who specializes in creating new sound experiences in unusual ways.  Many of his creations are include found objects or instruments he builds from scratch. This video features his Experibass, which combines violin, viola, cello, bass, a fork, and a kick drum foot pedal.   While there are hundreds of...

Clarinet, Costumes, & Ice Skates

Swedish clarinetest Martin Frost is a virtuoso, but he is so much more than that. This video demo shows off his unusal and fascinating world.  Martin Frost is a featured artist in The Savvy Musician.               Photo by Mats Bäcker While there are hundreds of thousands of great performances captured on tape, the music videos...

How To Write a Fugue

Just in case 18th century counterpoint never quite made sense to you, this video showcases Dan Pi explaining the concept of a fugue.  His subject is based on Britney Spears hit Oops, I did it again.     While there are hundreds of thousands of great performances captured on tape, the music videos featured on TSM blog feature musical creations...

Rachmaninoff had Big Hands

Aleksey Igudesman and Richard Hyung-ki Joo are two classical musicians who have taken the world by storm with their unique and hilarious theatrical shows, which combine comedy with classical music and popular culture. Their clips on YouTube, to date, have gathered over 15 million hits, and they have appeared live on television in several...

Roller Blading Never Sounded So Good

 Mozart 41…on wheels…           While there are hundreds of thousands of great performances captured on tape, the music videos featured on TSM blog feature musical creations that are unusual, innovative, humorous, or otherwise purple. This collection is fun–perhaps a stress reliever or diversion at a late night bash! It also...

Beatboxing Flutist

Greg Pattillo took the flute world by storm after posting some videos on YouTube combining his flute playing with beatboxing.  By now, the video below, where he performs Inspector Gadget, has been viewed over 18 million times!  Greg Patillo is a featured artist in The Savvy Musician.     While there are hundreds of thousands of great...

Music for Vegetables

Linsey Pollak  is well known all around Australia as a musician, instrument maker,  composer, musical director and community music facilitator. In the first video, he begins with Bugs Bunny’s favorite food, and ends up with a woodwind instrument.  Or should I say vegie-wind?         Here we see him grooving with a potato. As...

Warning: Mixing Percussion and Real Estate Can Be Dangerous

Rhythm is everywhere.  Even in the bathroom.  If you don’t believe it, just check out this piece. Composed by Ola Simonsson, it has a pretty self-explanatory title: Music for One Apartment and Six Drummers.        While there are hundreds of thousands of great performances captured on tape, the music videos featured on TSM blog...