In my latest article for Strings magazine I researched six popular music notation software programs and apps. The article is out now in the July/August print edition, and also online through the link below (I love that Strings also embedded videos ...

(If you prefer to listen to this post rather than read it, please scroll to the bottom of the article and click the play button in the Violin Geek Podcast player.)

Pain and injury related to playing a musical instrument like the violin, viola, ...

After 15 months of lockdowns and restrictions in California and many other parts of the country, upon reaching June 15th, the date when California’s year long mask mandate would be lifted, we had less than a 2% positivity rate throughout the state ...

We’re all wondering how life will adjust to the current global crisis surrounding the spread of the coronavirus. Seven cases were reported in my county over the last few days. Until then, people didn’t seem particularly concerned locally. The stores ...

Music making can be enjoyable, intellectual, and creative, but we can often underestimate the athleticism required, perhaps particularly on a bowed string instrument like the violin or cello. Like any great athlete, we soon discover the need to create ...

Whether you’re a musician for hire, or want to book one for your upcoming wedding, corporate event, birthday party, or other engagement, it's important to make sure expectations are clear at the time of booking. Although it might feel quite formal, ...

Performers and athletes often talk of being “in the zone.” Some might describe it as being in a place where they loose themselves in the activity or music and it appears as though it is happening all by itself, smoothly and automatically. Some might ...

It’s September again and with an influx of new violin, viola, and fiddle students as well as many longterm students getting back into the swing of lessons after vacations and time off over the summer, there’s been a lot of talk about practice lately ...

I’ve just learned that in late June 2014 Canada repealed it’s work permit requirements for foreign musicians playing time-limited engagements in the country. As someone involved in a Canadian-American musical duo, this is some of the best news I’ve ...

A student’s first lessons with a new private music teacher are usually a mixture of excitement and possibility, nerves, and often a bit of overwhelm. Over the course of a few lessons, a perceptive teacher will identify certain areas of technique, posture, ...

Never heard of Parkour? I hadn’t either until a few weeks ago when a friend tried it. Wikipedia describes it, based on the original French name, l'art du déplacement (the art of movement), as a “physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle ...