The Philly Sound Off

• Day in the life of Chris
• Chris's background and evolution from classical music player to jazz player
• Chris's dad's impact and influence  on his life
• How time his time in prison shaped him musically
• How he learned different perspectives from different cultures in prison 
• Chris's first "five gigs" and how he got them and where that took him
• How Chris helps and teaches Orchestra players to get out of their own way when having to play something non-classical
• Chris explains teaching students to create musical vision
• Chris and I talked about Group Classes
• Chris talks about his non-professional adult students 
• Being creative in the pandemic
• Chris talked about being "in the room" in order to grow musically
• Chris circles back to integrating his family, teaching, playing and entrepreneurship (money!)
• We talk about how we both currently respond to nerves as a long time musician

On this episode, we have a conversation with Jonathan Warren. Jonathan makes his living touring as both a soloist and a utility player with various national and international multi-genre acts Some of his favorite genres to perform include Jazz-Fusion, Country, Rock, Pop and Christian Contemporary. He tours the world with many well known ensembles.

When he is not touring, you can find him in his home studio recording for artists, composing string arrangements, or shooting teaching and performance videos for YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Jonathan is incredibly passionate about sharing 

Lhis love for the violin with everyone he meets and proving that the violin really can groove! 

He is extremely proud to be a part of the 3Dvarius and Codabow Family of ambassadors, jamming on a 5-string Line Model Electric Violin, and playing a Codabow Diamond GX and Joule!

Timothy and I reflect on how we dealt this pandemic and the lockdown.

• what we missed during this time
• what new things we discovered that were not related to music

We discuss practice routines

• preparing for competitions
• daily practice routines
• amount of time and breaks 
• scale practice routines

Preparing for competitions

• concerto selection
• acquiring stamina 

Recording oneself 

• audio and video 
• knowing your threshold

Comfort with speaking to the audience

• learning the are of vocally speaking and connecting

What is required learning for major Intl. Violin Competitions

• repertoire
• what happens each day of the event and each round
• Hanover versus Queen Elizabeth
• environment of the competitors
• conditioning for solo playing versus orchestral playing
• Orchestral auditions versus Solo competitions 

Timothy's violin 

• how he procured his Strad
• his plan for a future violin
• modern violins?
• pairing of violin and violinist 
• del Gesu versus Strad

Timothy's influences

• Zukerman
• Sarah Chang
• Oistrakh and Ivry Gitlis
• modern day soloist and concerto 

His approach to playing Bach

• historical versus the modern versions 
• equipment (instrument and bow) and the  influence on Bach 
• vibrato and Bach

Timothy's evolving relationship to music

• as a child 
• as a career 
• within the current situation... discovery 

Social media

• violin forums 
• connecting with audiences 

If Timothy wasn't a musician???

What is the last piece of music that Timothy listened to?

• classical and non-classical

Benjamin discusses his approach to different Symphony Orchestras.

We talk about how musicians and listeners respond to a musical experience and inspiration.

Benjamin discusses "shining eyes" and "one butted playing" and reaching students and musicians. 

We discuss more tempo and impulses and the impact on audiences.

I ask Benjamin about the "it factor" and how performers reach certain heights and transcend. 

We talk about shifting our mentality of life as it relates to performing and how to respond to mistakes. 

Benjamin explains the need for humor and authenticity.  

Lastly we discuss Benjamin's music listening habits. 

In this episode, Benjamin and I discuss my initial road of how I was introduced to him through my golf pro. Next we discuss time and how everyone experiences "time" in such a personal way. Benjamin then gives many musical examples at the piano of tempo and time. Some of the examples analyzed and discussed are Beethoven's 9th, Beethoven's 5th and Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 amongst other pieces. 

Benjamin also discusses how he interacts with the orchestras he conducts and the unique way he receives feedback from the musicians. 

Benjamin then discusses how he will go ahead with this year with his Youth Orchestra without meeting live. 

We then discuss other topics such as vibrato and the metronome. 

In this episode, Andrew and I discuss different Rock bands. Andrew gives his list of top ten, and he details his reasons for liking them and the influence it had on his compositions.

I also list my favorite bands and we discuss...

• Amy Beth's beginnings and pathway to playing the violin 
• Her bond with her Mom 
• Playing and performing during church services and how that influenced her life as a performer
• Amy discusses her opinions on using beta blockers
• We discuss where being nervous emanates from
• Staying present in performance
• Amy Beth talks about the value of repetitions of perfomances
• We talk about the relationship of parent/musician to child/musician
• Amy Beth talks about her "Breakfast with the Violin" with Ava
• We talk about the transition to Ava having moved on to a private teacher that wasn't Mom
• Amy Beth talk about the "concierge program" approach that she and I both implement
• We talk in depth about how violin students find their "sound"
• Amy Beth talks about finding what tools she learned from her teachers that helped her find her sound
• We talk shop about violin technique (bow technique and vibrato
• Amy Beth talks about her favorite violinists 

In this episode, I have a conversation with Rob Kesselman. Rob is in native Philadelphian, attended Temple University and Curtis Institute of music. In 1980, he won a bass position with the Pittsburgh Symphony and remained there until 1987. In that year he became a member bass section of the Philadelphia Orchestra. When not playing in the orchestra, Rob enjoys teaching, playing ans performing chamber music. Currently Rob teaches at Temple University. So now let's work on to the Philly sound off Rob Kesselman.

Superfan Kenneth and I debrief about the last couple of weeks starting with the Orchestra's performance of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess as well as the two new works... Escaramuza by Montgomery and Coincident Dances by Frank. In addition to that we talk about the outstanding Spiritual sung by the Morgan State University Choir. 

We then discuss the previous week about Paul Jacobs fantastic performance of Daughterty's Organ Concerto as well as the Orchestra's performance of Elgar's Enigma Variations.

We then talk about the upcoming Beethoven Cycle.

In this episode, Assistant Principal Cellist of the Seattle Symphony, Nathan Chan, and I have a great conversation about massive presence on social media. We talk about how it all started on Youtube when he was a teenager. 

We also have a discussion about Classical music and where it fits into social media. 

Nathan and I also talk about our overall relationship to all kinds of music.