The Musician's Way Blog

“Beware of missing chances; otherwise it may be altogether too late some day.”
–Franz Liszt

October 22, 2011 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt.

Although best known for his virtuosity as a pianist, beyond being a superstar soloist, Liszt was also a prolific composer, writer, and all-around music entrepreneur.

He forged his own path and musical identity, contributed broadly to the evolution of Western music, and left behind an enduring legacy.

In celebration of his bicentennial, in this post, I’ve compiled links to some of the extraordinary Liszt resources available on the Web. Continue Reading

“Playing is never difficult; it is either easy, or it is impossible.”
-Kato Havas, violinist (The Musician’s Way, p. 21)

Thanks to the brainy primates at MailChimp.com, the October 2010 issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter has now arrived in subscribers’ inboxes.

As usual, this issue features links to diverse resources of interest to both aspiring and veteran musicians. Included are links to notable sites offering free scores, career-building strategies, and more. Continue Reading

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
–Albert Einstein, physicist

The May issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter highlights topics such as creative thinking, self-recording, performing on a cruise ship, the evolution of digital archives, copyright law, and more.

You can view the newsletter online via this link. To subscribe, visit this page on MusiciansWay.com. I maintain a strict Privacy Policy and do not share, sell, or rent subscribers’ information.

The May issue features a new look and is being dispatched by the clever primates at MailChimp.com. It’s free, and recipients can unsubscribe at any time. Enjoy! Continue Reading

Robert Schumann

“It is music’s lofty mission to shed light on the depths of the heart.”
–Robert Schumann, composer and pianist

June 8, 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert Schumann (1810-1856).

The quintessential Romantic composer, Schumann wrote more than 150 works of exceptional variety. And the radiance of his musical voice continues to enchant audiences worldwide. Continue Reading

On March 1, 2010, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frédéric Chopin.

In honor of this occasion, I’d like to share with you a few thoughts about Chopin’s music and bring together links to valuable sites offering scores, information, and more. Continue Reading

Have you ever performed a piece of music for a teacher or coach only to learn that the printed edition you’re using contains errors or odd revisions?

This post describes the 4 main types of published music editions – facsimile, urtext, performance, & critical – and suggests ways in which we can avoid the pitfalls of faulty publications. Continue Reading

In recent years, sources for free online classical music scores have blossomed on the Web.

Here are a six outstanding sites.

Additional websites offering free and low-cost downloadable sheet music can be accessed via MusiciansWay.com under Practice, Instrument-Specific Resources, and For Singers. Continue Reading