Shar Music Blog

I'm not sure if you all follow Alex Ross's music blog The Rest Is Noise but today I came across a post that has my brain in a tailspin. In a good way.Ross's post is titled "The Appoggiatura Imbroglio", and whatever the words "appoggiatura" and…

Given the unprecented popularity of last week's "What Violin Concerto Are You" quiz, I decided to craft another one. I am quite certain that you have all, at one time or another, found yourselves wondering where you would best fit in music history! So…

Nerissa Nields, one of our regular contributors, writes about Suzuki guitar lessons with her son Johnny. Nerissa describes how Johnny, initially uninterested in guitar lessons, comes around to them and even says that he "wuvs" them. Nerissa's thoughtful…

If you were transformed into a violin concerto, which one would you be? I admit that I have certainly given thought to this. If you have, check out this quiz that I wrote:

Have you struggled with a playing-related injury? Or if not, have you made a commitment to injury prevention? Read on for some ideas on how to deal with or prevent injury from playing.

Music and arts education programs matter because they engage the bizarre and beautiful creativity of Generation Y.So, I've been thinking about education recently. Entries on the joys and trials of being a Suzuki Mom have flooded my inbox (send more!),…

Playing a string instrument is a tremendous investment for both the student and the teacher. Money, time, energy ... so is it worth it? Based on my own experience, I believe that this sacrifice is one that reaps endless rewards.

So many of you have responded to our Notes from a Suzuki Mom series that I contacted Nerissa Nields and asked for another article. Nerissa kindly agreed to allow me to repost her latest Suzuki entry from her blog Singing in the Kitchen. In today's…

This week I finally talk about the Super Bowl and Madonna's halftime show. I'm both fascinated by and suspicious of the spectacle we witnessed, and so I ask, What's the value of the solo performance? And what sort of armor do we put on when everything…