Music Matters is a series of carefully curated conversations and workshops hosted by NEPACMS Executive Director, John Vaida, to explore matters in music and why it matters.
- String Workshop with Cellist, Lisa Caravan
Saturday, April 10, 2021
7:00 PM ETString pedagogue, cellist, and conductor, Dr. Lisa Caravan, currently a professor at the Eastman School of Music and a sought-after clinician who works with orchestra ensembles regionally, nationally, and internationally, presents an interactive workshop, Effective Practice Strategies: Cultivating Awareness and Mindfulness in the Practice Room. Participate with your instruments, all string players are welcome! Have a short passage you can’t quite figure out? Bring it to the workshop!
- Conversation with James VanDemark
Saturday, March 20, 2021
7:00 PM ETLegendary double-bassist, James VanDemark, shares some of his adventures from a decades long career as a distinguished performer, collaborator, and teacher; and his many interests outside of music.
- Wind Workshop with Clarinetist, Nuno Antunes
Saturday, March 6, 2021
7:00 PM ETMaintaining a diverse and active career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra musician, and Broadway musician, Nuno Antunes will give an interactive workshop on articulation, tuning, and phrasing, aimed at bringing all wind players to the next level!
- Conversation with Nancy Sanderson
Saturday, February 6, 2021
7:00 PM ETJoin us in a conversation with the NEPA Philharmonic’s Executive Director, Nancy Sanderson. Dedicating her life to music, music education, and to the Northeastern Pennsylvania region, discussions will include her insight into the current situation and future of the arts, locally and globally.
- Broken Bows
Saturday, November 14, 2020
7:00 PM ETBring your instruments for an interactive session to hone your right arm skills! John Vaida will explore a methodical approach to bow division and its artistic application to repertoire. Exercises and repertoire have been selected for use on any bowed string instrument. Learn how the study of bow distribution can develop a focused sustained tone, build rhythmic accuracy, fulfill musical conception, and lead to artistic freedom.
This program is presented free of charge, thanks to the support in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
- Stringed Instruments Inside and Out
Saturday, November 7, 2020
7:00 PM ETColin Maki, dealer and consultant in fine and rare stringed instruments, and Jerry Lynn, a restorer of stringed instruments with decades of industry experience share their expertise on instruments and their insight into the dealings of the industry.
This program is presented free of charge, thanks to the support in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
- Music Business
Saturday, October 17, 2020
7:00 PM ETDr. Daniel Andai, Dean of Music at New World School of the Arts (Miami, Florida), Artistic Director of Killington Music Festival in (Killington, Vermont), and artistic director and principal conductor of Alhambra Orchestra in Miami, shares his experiences and views on the workings of the music business, and answers questions from those aspiring to enter into the music world.
This program is presented free of charge, thanks to the support in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
- Fifteen Minutes to a Better Left Hand
Saturday, October 3, 2020
7:00 PM ETDr. Theodore Buchholz, cello professor and head of strings at University of Arizona, performer, and a nationally recognized researcher, gives an interactive session exploring creative strategies for forming a fifteen-minute regiment designed to develop or enhance a highly effective left hand. Within this fifteen-minute workout a wide array of technical ideas will be covered including left hand set up, intonation, ear-to-hand coordination, efficiency, relaxation, coordination, shifting, and vibrato. Mix, match, and adapt the concepts from this session to tailor make a fifteen minute workout that works for your or your student’s hand as your own creative application of exercises really solidifies technique.
This program is presented free of charge, thanks to the support in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
- All Things Broadway
Saturday, September 12, 2020
7:00 PM ETWade Preston, pianist, vocalist, composer, and arranger; and Jonathan Weber, violinist; have both played thousands of shows on Broadway and have countless stories to tell of their adventures on and off Broadway, on stage and behind the scenes.
This program is presented free of charge, thanks to the support in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.