As a kid, I was a musical disappointment. My mother, a proud teacher, tried every pedagogical tactic–first, of course, piano lessons; later the clarinet, then the saxophone and finally a bass clarinet, hardly a lady-like choice. Then there were the Saturday young people’s concerts at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Leonard Bernstein. At the […]
At my ripe-but-not-old age, I have finally, yet reluctantly, concluded that mothers know best. This message was brought home to me Saturday night by the mother of the famous clarinetist Derek Bermel. She whispered (entre nous) to me “I told him not to play the trumpet.” Thus, she took credit for his world renown as […]
My first piano came with the house that my mother rented, with an option to buy, on Deerfield Road in the Wavecrest section of the Rockaways. The landlord, Mr. Silverstein, insisted that the piano was key to the deal (no pun intended there). It was a George Steck baby grand, which took up half of our […]
This week’s post is by guest blogger Rocío De La Roca, Communications Associate at ArtsWestchester. To fans all around the world, Steve Pollak is “the Dude of Life,” lyricist and singer behind numerous hit songs by the jam-band Phish. Since his songwriting days for Phish, the “dude,” who toured with the Vermont band in the […]
The world and the music world lost its Prince. He was an original… a one of a kind… an innovator who spanned many generations. We salute his legacy with some quotes from our multi-generational staff. He touched them all with his brilliance. “The profound impact of Prince’s influence on the entertainment industry is deeper than […]
Celebrating the Westchester Philharmonic one night, I found myself breaking bread with Jamie Bernstein, daughter of the late and great composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Jamie is a narrator, writer and broadcaster, all of which reflect her lifetime devotion to music and her family legacy. We reminisced about the Young People’s concerts led by Bernstein […]
I looked up from my computer this morning and was struck with the realization that summer is almost over. That led me back to my computer to check out the last few weeks of Music in the Air. Yes, there’s still a reason to pack a basket and a blanket and sit out under the […]
Some folks say lefties have more fun. With that in mind, and, because I had rotator cuff surgery on my right arm yesterday, I tested out that theory. In between ice packs and Advil, I dusted off my best left-handed hunt and peck and soothed my anxiety about spending the next six weeks in a […]
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