Artist profile - MOC - Mark O'Connor

For those of you who don't know the dynamo, violin and fiddle virtuoso Mark O'Connor - take a look at this incredible website:

www.markoconnor.com

As a kid, I listened to this fiddler, who was only a few years older than me, and marveled at his career as he rocketed into the musical stratosphere.

Mark is currently finishing up a week at his fiddle camp in NY - the first year he's held his camp on the East coast. There are successful MOC fiddle camps at UCLA in California and in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mark recordings, music, teaching, blogging, twittering, facebooking, and myspacing are frequent and incredible. It's easy to be musical inspired by his works - young and old alike. Join his facebook page and you get an in depth look at an artists' life (a great exercise for our students??!!)

If you ever have a chance to see Mark play live, take it - he's a dynamic performer and a marvelous ambassador to non-musical people and young musicians.
Enjoy!

EVS newsletter - a great way to stay 'connected'

Here's something to help you stay connected to the coolest equipment - sign yourself up for the Electric Violin Shop's newsletter "Currents". Not only can you stay up-to-date with the equipment that comes through their shop, but they give advice and good links to interesting sites. Here's their current newsletter link - you can sign up on this page to get the newsletter sent to your email:

EVS Currents Newsletter

El Sistema

If you've never heard of El Sistema - the incredible system of orchestral and choir training in Venezuela these past 35 years - then you might enjoy getting a glimpse into the brilliance of the man who started it all. If you know of the system (LA Phil's newest director, Gustavo Dudamel, is a product of this incredibly artistic program) then you'll undoubtedly enjoy this video of the creator of El Sistema, Jose Abreu, receiving the TED prize this past February:

http://www.ted.com/talks/jose_abreu_on_kids_transformed_by_music.html

Then, you can watch Gustavo Dudamel conducting the youth orchestra of Venezuela:

http://www.ted.com/talks/jose_abreu_on_kids_transformed_by_music.html

I personally love how much movement is encouraged by these musicians - I think that's something that's really lacking in American musical groups - orchestras and the like. I also like how in the Dudamel video they're not wearing stuffy black or colorful outfits... they're just dressed like people... neat! Enjoy!

Video - "United Breaks Guitars"

Love this! Hope it makes a difference... (it's a video song of an artist who's Taylor guitar was broken by the employee's at United at Ohare)



And, then a quick note from the artist (because, apparently United decided to offer some assistance after the video made a huge impact around the world)...

Mariachi Music Program Helps Keep Students in School

(From Oregon Arts Teacher newsletter)

Mariachi Music Program Helps Keep Students in School
Mariachi music, a long tradition in Mexican culture, is finding its way into school programs with an interested population of Latin American students. In one school district in Los Angeles, a mariachi music program has helped counter the area’s high school dropout rate.

Find an article about the program, and a link to an NPR report, at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99798089

Youtube Videos of Quartet San Francisco

From Jeremy Cohen...

Hello my string player pals,
I'd like to share some new Quartet San Francisco youtube videos with
you. Please feel free to click on any or all of these to see the new
members playing some cool and original stuff.
OH DARLIN (Beatles)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGG3-B2MW3U

TANGO TOSCANA (Jeremy Cohen)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Imt5a0oCk

LIBERTANGO (Astor Piazzolla)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq5RyWEMAv8

BOY SCOUT IN SWITZERLAND (Raymond Scott)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv6xLiBAa6g

Best,
Jeremy Cohen

Artist spotlight - Christian Howes

Christian Howes is an amazing jazz musician... a totally dynamic player - he teaches a fantastic summer camp program in Columbus, Ohio, teaches at Berklee Boston, and plays all over the globe. I encourage you to check out his website which has tons of info and links to see and hear his incredible style:

http://christianhowes.com/

Here's to Jazz Violin - done right!!!

Not necessarily alternative... but, neat

Here's a link to the website of the keynote speaker for this year's Australian String Teachers Association - AUSTA:

http://www.practising-in-flow.de/

FLOW is a method of practicing and playing (and teaching) that incorporates both hemispheres of the brain to create the most focused experience. There's a lot of information on this site!!

Rockin' Anthem... happy 4th!

From Blaise at Electric Violin Shop... awesome... I want one!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9LXHrzOVYA