Last weekend I had the immense pleasure of attending and presenting at the first ever conference on Music and Physical Disability by the OHMI Trust. There was such a range of attendees: music educators, performers with disabilities, medical professionals, music and occupational therapists, computer programmers, developers of digital music technologies, and more. I left the … Continue reading OHMI Conference
Innovative Techniques
Renaissance Recorder
If you told me seven years ago that I would play Byrd’s Fantasia 2 in a Renaissance recorder consort, I wouldn’t believe you. But that’s what I did last Monday night! I recently got a Renaissance alto recorder in F, and as it was with my other recorders, it was a group effort to make … Continue reading Renaissance Recorder
Guitar Technique with George Dennehy
George Dennehy is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. He was born without arms and uses his feet to play guitar, bass guitar, piano, and cello. I recently had the opportunity to chat with George about his guitar technique. George started playing the cello when he was seven years old. He studied with Jennifer Petry, a Suzuki string … Continue reading Guitar Technique with George Dennehy
Divide and Conquer
Today I started learning Liszt’s O quand je dors to play with a friend. As I sightread the piece and began to write in fingerings, I split up an arpeggio between my hands. Easy. I arrived at my solution instantly; it is second nature to me now. Yet I didn’t always know how to divide … Continue reading Divide and Conquer
Hot Jazz: Fingers Working Overtime
Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) was one of the world’s greatest guitarists. His improvisations and compositions have inspired jazz and popular music guitarists for decades. Fortunately, Django recorded extensively during his short life; he made over 900 sides of 78-RPM records between 1928 and 1953. Listen to one of Django’s solos and you will marvel at his … Continue reading Hot Jazz: Fingers Working Overtime
