Posts Tagged ‘musicalamerica’

Twilight of the Machine

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

By James Jorden Revelation comes in the strangest places. Like, for example, I had this eventual moment of clarity about what it was that went wrong in the Lepage Ring, and what do you think sparked it? Of all things, last night’s performance of Ernani at the Met. 

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Getting a Feel for Fees

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

By: Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. Dear Edna: I am a pianist, seeking to obtain performance opportunities without a manager. Can you please give me some guidance with regard to negotiating a fee? How can I tell what is reasonable and within the budget of the organization in question? How much […]

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A Peculiarly American Paradox

Monday, January 30th, 2012

by James Conlon Gore Vidal once observed that at a certain age writers turn to politics or alcohol. I am a musician and am turning to neither, but in recent years have found, conversely, an increasing satisfaction through writing. For that reason I welcomed the invitation from MusicalAmerica.com to write a blog on a somewhat regular […]

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The Secret Ingredient for Success

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

By: Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. I was recently honored to be asked to participate on a panel at the annual Astral Artists auditions, during which I listened to a substantial number of pianists and wind players. While all were on a rather high level, I was struck by the relatively […]

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You Don’t Know Me, But…

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

By: Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. Dear Edna: I’m an artist sending out letters of inquiry to a handful of presenters. Can you give me an example of an inquiry letter you might send, as an artist, to a concert series or presenter when proposing a concert? —Kimball Gallagher Dear Kimball: […]

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One Stop Shopping for Management and Public Relations

Thursday, January 12th, 2012

by Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. Dear Edna: I am a well-established soloist who has always booked and promoted myself. Once I reached middle age, I made numerous efforts to find an agent who can do for me what I’ve done for myself, only with more savvy and sophistication. But I’ve […]

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Pursuing Two Careers Simultaneously

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

   by Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. Dear Edna: I am a composer, recently graduated with two Masters degrees, and I have chosen the administrative route for a small and ambitious organization. In your earlier column entitled “Overqualified and Underemployed”, you rightly wrote that many connections can be made working in […]

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Do We Take Ourselves Too Seriously?

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

By: Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. A few nights ago, I attended a musical evening of sorts—not at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center but at Carolines Comedy Club in New York City. Intrigued by the advertisements I heard on radio station WQXR for its Classical Comedy Contest, I bought two tickets, […]

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Peter’s Principles

Friday, November 4th, 2011

by James Jorden “I’ve almost come to the conclusion that this Mr. Hitler isn’t a Christian,” muses merry murderess Abby Brewster early in the first act of Arsenic and Old Lace, and to tell the truth I’m beginning to think I’m almost as far behind the curve as she was. Recent new productions at the […]

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Is There a Good Way to Cancel?

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

by Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. Dear Edna: I am a cellist studying at an American conservatory and I try to read your blog regularly. A few weeks ago, you wrote about proper etiquette for working with a presenter in a case where a member of your ensemble is unable to […]

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