Bill Cahn: Blog

    The NEXUS concert in Kitchener, Ontario on June 13, 2014 was comprised entirely of the music of Russell Hartenberger.  The first half of the concert consisted of a NEXUS favorite, “The Invisible Proverb” (recorded By NEXUS on their “Drumtalker” CD) and the first of two world premieres, “Moondog Suite,”  which was followed after… Read more »

I am very excited that one of my compositions is programmed on the Sunday, March 30, 2014 concert of the Rochester Chamber Orchestra under the direction of David Fetler at the Hochstein School of Music.  The Bach Children’s Chorus of Nazareth College will join the RCO in a performance of On Wings of Song with… Read more »

From time to time I receive inquiries from percussionists – students and professionals – regarding instrument selection and repertoire.  One such inquiry arrived recently seeking advice on the “cricket callers” (split bamboo) in John Cage’s “Third Construction.” Q:  “I recently discovered your video of Nexus performing the piece in 1984.  I would love to know… Read more »

On February 25 the final session of the Eastman School’s 2014 spring semester “Creative Music Making” course concluded with a free improvisation recital.  The seven-week ALP course is open to all Eastman students – instrumentalists and vocalists – and it is structured to provide practical experiences for the participants in performing and teaching freeform music… Read more »

    As a part of my regular visits to the Showa Academy in Japan, I am sometimes asked to visit an English language class to have a conversation in English with some of the students for an hour or so.  It’s my experience that we English speakers can be very spoiled as we travel… Read more »

Monday, Dec. 16 Another mild sunny day in Yokohama and Kaz picked me up at 8:30 for the drive back to Showa.  Yashio stayed in Yokohama to host Mark Boseman on his last day of masterclasses.  He will fly home tomorrow (Tuesday).   The students have really enjoyed Mark’s sessions on Stevens grip and technique,… Read more »

    While in Yokohama, Japan to observe the masterclasses given by Mark Boseman at a studio in the Steinway piano showroom, I noticed a large poster on the wall with a great blowup photograph taken on a street in front of a row of townhouses in Harlem in 1958.  Standing there was a “who’s… Read more »

Tuesday, Dec. 10 download adobe master collection cs6 It was rainy and chilly this morning, and it’s a good thing that I packed an umbrella because the rain was strong at times during my short walk from the hotel to the school.  I didn’t need to be at Showa until 10:15 so I worked on… Read more »

Saturday, Dec. 7 This morning I woke up at 5 AM again and couldn’t go back to sleep. so I turned on the TV to see if I could find anything interesting and while surfing through all if the channels I booted up my laptop and spent over an hour writing the previous blog posting. … Read more »

download antivirus software Since 1998 I have had the privilege of regularly visiting the Showa University of Music and Arts, first at the original campus in Atsugi, Japan, and then from 2007 at the beautiful new campus in Kawasaki.  This is my 12th visit at the invitation of Kazunori Meguro and his wife, Yashio Sudo. … Read more »

I regularly receive emails from college students and recent grads asking for some career advice.  Here is an edited example: Dear. Professor  Cahn, I was referred to you by [a friend] in possibly knowing musicians in [any city].I am a hand percussionist that did some studying at [any school].   Since I won’t be returning to… Read more »

The weather cooperated fully on Sunday, September 15 as sixty-six percussionists from Rochester and Buffalo unloaded several carloads of drums, cymbals, tam-tams, sirens, and assorted sound-making implements at the High Falls historic area along the Genesee River in downtown Rochester, New York.  The skies were partly sunny and the temperature mild on this late summer… Read more »

Working Together: Orchestra Musicians, Boards and Management by William L. Cahn   The Wall Street Journal for Friday, June 7,2013 carries an article in the “D” Section, “After Orchestras Strike: A Tale of Two Cities” by Terry Teachout.   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323844804578527110776069672.html?KEYWORDS=After+Orchestras+Strike   The article compares the ways in which two orchestras – The Minnesota Orchestra and… Read more »