The A Capella Auto

It may seem strange for us to feature a singing car on The Savvy Musician Blog.  But this commercial, by Honda, features a 60-person a capella choir performing the soundtrack.  And instead of singing, they make all kinds of wonderful and bizarre sound effects that really “drive” home the experience of this motor vehicle.  In fact, I recommend you watch the video with eyes closed upon...

Choosing the Perfect Grad School: Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, we looked at faulty assumptions that many musicians make when seeking a graduate school. So, if you decide to pursue an advanced degree in music, what question should you ask above all others?  In my opinion, this is the most important one: How will this next degree advance my life goals?    Many musicians never ponder this angle before applying to schools, let alone attempt...

Choosing the Perfect Grad School: Part 1

The process of choosing the perfect graduate school can be both exhilarating and scary, as you consider the next phase of your life.  But many musicians approach this challenge with a faulty set of assumptions, while failing to explore the most important question.  Assumption #1: Grad school is non-negotiable In the music world, and especially for performers and composers, there is a notion that advanced...

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

In this video, Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.  Some powerful points he argues include: Creativity is as important as literacy. People don’t grow into creativity, they grow out of it (or are educated out of it).  If you are not prepared to be wrong, you won’t come up with anything...

Isn’t it Time You Became a Savvy Musician?

It’s clear. The evidence is indisputable.  You’re a talented musician.  Really talented.  And accomplished.  You work hard, and have a top notch education.  Heck, you’re even good looking!  A prosperous life in music is nearly guaranteed, no?    Unfortunately, no.  Not by a long shot.  But you surely realize this already.  Being talented is wonderful, but technical skills alone do not...

Stravinsky and Halloween

Happy Halloween!  To celebrate and spook you, all at the same time, here’s a video that combines Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite  with macabre imagery, edited by Gilda Tabarez.  Just for fun.  Oh…and BOO!               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,...

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 instruments such as the Ghatam (clay pot).  Many Indian musicians...

Creating a Budget

How much money is going in and out of your life?  Most musicians have no idea.  One practical and helpful exercise is to create a budget. CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE BUDGET   Click the link above for a budget template where you can calculate earnings and expenses for an average month.  Another great exercise, especially for students, is to try projecting these numbers as they will look in your future. ...

MONEY

Money.  Now there’s a word that can strike fear (or denial) in even the boldest of us!  As musicians, we often come to believe that money is a forbidden, taboo subject. That our calling to make great art takes precedence over building a healthy financial profile.  When doing a presentation for a wonderful group of musicians this past weekend, I was shocked by the response to the following question:...

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 Schrott.  This piece, called Cultural Value, was composed by Dirk...