Benjamin Zander: The transformative power of classical music

A very good talk on how classical music can tell a story everyone can relate to with a good example from one of chopin's music (with a cameo of the first movement of mozart's piano concerto no 16). A little long but definitely worth it to watch.

It has an interactive session that you can join in near the end. You will see what Chopin had to say.

Top 5 : Bach's Air on the g string;Who does it better?

A little countdown on the oh-so-popular piece from bach in youtube, the orchestral suite 3 in d major air. It was dubbed "Air on the G-String" when violinist August Wilhelmj transposed it down 1 note and play it only on the lowest string, the G-string and that names is now stuck. Despite most of the performances not played on the g-string., it's still called so.

Now that that's over, shall we?

5. Bach - Air on a G String 

A more modern-sounding intepretation of the piece. It comes 2nd on the youtube search result of "air on the g string". I'm sure some people prefer this version better, but I personally like baroque styles better.

4. Dublin String Quartet: Air on a G String

I love string quartets. These women did a very good job of interpreting the piece. The acoustics of the video is great too; it sounds as if we are on the same room as the musicians. This is the only string quartet entry in this countdown, and righfully deserves to be on the list for the best interpretation of air on the g string.

Violin Accidents? (and solutions)

The WRONG way to play a violin. LOL

Playing an instrument isn't as safe as it seems. In fact, I have experienced some of these myself since I play the violin quite a lot. Some of them even get me to stop playing for quite a while. For you beginning violinists like me, (not to frighten you or anything) this may be a handy guide to get you aware of stuff

Chin Acne

This is perhaps one of the weirdest thing to happen to some violinists. Pimples started coming out on the chin where they always rest on their violin's chin rest. I have experienced this myself. It got me to stop playing for a week or two. Whenever I start playing, it just hurts real bad. (which is a very weird explanation to tell my violin teacher)

Possible treatment : 

1. Wash the chin area with water and soap to clear of bacterias and cool your chin off.
2. Apply a topical (applied to the skin) acne medication that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to the lesions as soon as they appear.
3. Cleaning the chinrest with alcohol/water

This is called 'Acne Mechanica'. It happens because of various reasons, including repetitive friction against the skin

The Most Popular Classical Pieces on Youtube

Think classical music is underrated? Think again! The total views for the following classical music videos alone is over 208 million hits!!

Experience yourself why the following 10 pieces can be so popular and find out about these exquisite music that will leave you breathless on your chair!

This Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata 1st movement have received 45 million hits so far. Wow! This is the classical music video with the most views I can find!

Beethoven completed it in 1801 and dedicated in 1802 to his pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi,


Mozart is also pretty popular with his requiem's views of more than 24 million~! Even though he died before the piece was finished!

Yet another work from Mozart, is his piano concerto no 21. This Andante receives 24 million hits like his other popular video.

Vivaldi, my favorite composer, has composed the music on the following video which has been viewed for more than 20 million times!

Another Beethoven, Fur Elise have received 20 million views! No wonder Beethoven's so popular!

Must-Listen Baroque-Era Classical Pieces (by Composers)

Classical Music has different eras. One of which is the 'Baroque Era' which extends approximately from 1600 to 1750. Music from this era has a unique grand and ornate feeling to it.

Click one of the following videos and you won't be disappointed ;)

Click 'Read More' to discover more music like the following!

Pachelbel - Canon in D major

Yes. He is a baroque composer. And it is hard to find the best version since a lot of the recordings of the piece says something like 'best version' when some of them sounds exactly the same. But here is the best version I have found. Not the most baroque, but yes, the best version.
Vivaldi - Concerto for two Violins in A minor RV522

This has gotten to be more popular than his violin concerto in the same key, RV356 which is a good piece for beginner-intermediates. But I can see how this has become more popular. It has the 'movement' and energy only Vivaldi can create. This is on baroque tuning, which means it's a half step lower than our usual A minor key.

Amazing violin playing! Bach's Air on the g string with solo violin

It's guys like this that makes me feel unworthy.

Wii Music

A little spam since I feel like it. It's been a long time since I came here :D

It's so beautiful

A beautiful home performance

Nobody, I mean, NOBODY can perform as graceful as Scarlet. I feel really bad for the table. (I feel bad after laughing at her too though. Why is it so funny to see people in pain XD)

Another unrelated post. Sorry =3

Teh Nyan Catz~!!11!

What could be better than rainbows, kitties, and poptarts? A freaking flying, rainbow-producing pop-tart kitty!! As you know, the video (with the slider OMGZ) has been claimed by prguitarman. He said he did not file a copyright claim and did all he can to bring it back. In the meantime, enjoy this other nyan cat video for 10 hours straight. It's 2 gigabytes of fun

Viola Rock n Roll

Urrgh.. I'm so jealous of violists right now. I've tried these tricks on my violin but it's just not as epic.. Check it out

Canon in D miracle =')

This must be what heaven sounds like *Sob*

Violin Concerto

I know I play very badly, and I'm far away from having my own concerto, but this video is just hilarious =D

I like her interpretation though.
some funny comments
She was embarrassed so she banished her self and the crowd with her magical powers -kionkion411-

u should use anti-breakage shampoo for ur bow xD  -warrock3mo-

Composers Personalities?

You have listened to their music, you know how famous they are, but do you know their characteristics? If you somehow meet them in real life, how would they act towards you and others? Here are some composers characteristics and personalities. I hope you see your favorite composer here

1.) Beethoven
The talented Ludwig van Beethoven was often irascible and may have suffered from bipolar disorder. But he had a close and devoted circle of friends all his life, thought to have been attracted by his strength of personality. Toward the end of his life, Beethoven's friends competed in their efforts to help him cope with his incapacities

I whip my violin back and forth!!11!

Do you like commercials?
Do you like like shampoos?
Do you like the violin?
Do you like dramas?
Do you like a shampoo drama commercial about the violin?
If you say yes to ALL of the questions above, you are officially weird.

Click read more to watch the video(and maybe this will make more sense)~!

Violin Death Fight!!!111!!

A fun trivia about me is I WANT to make my violin a weapon. but if it's violin vs Gun, that is just ridiculous. Here is a video example of my vision @.@

Haydn's Masterpiece

Want to experience something beautiful? Try Haydn's symphony no. 94 movement 2, dubbed as the 'surprise symphony'. It was because Haydn "...was interested in surprising the public with something new, and in making a brilliant debut..." Check it out (not for the faint of heart though. I'm not responsible if you get a heart attack and die of the beauty)

Vivaldi's Four Seasons

The Four Seasons (or in Italian is Le quattro stagioni Fancier, isn't it?) is a set of four violin concertos by (My favorite composer) Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is a pretty popular Baroque music.

Paganini

Niccolò Paganini (27 October 1782 – 27 May 1840) was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time,

Paganini was so good at the violin, it's said that he could play it behind his back, while being upside down and blindfolded. While I can barely get the right tune with the violin on my chin, body upright, and eyes staring at my violin without blinking =(

Most Popular Classical Music

Think you have never heard any classical music before and know nothing about it? Think again~! There's classical here and there sometimes. Here are some classical music you might have heard before. Maybe it'll get you closer to classical music =) Happy listening

Minstrels

Minstrels were Medieval European bards. They performed songs about faraway places and/or about a real(or not) events. Minstrels usually create their own tales, but sometimes the would memorize and use others' works too. Minstrels were replaced at court by the troubadours, and a lot of them became wandering minstrels who performed on the streets. A lot of people liked them until the middle of the Renaissance,