Whitney Cash

Composer Series: Dmitri Shostakovich

Up next in our composer series: Dmitri Shostakovich! 

Dmitri Shostakovich
9/25/1906 - 8/9/1975 

Dmitri Shostakovich was a Soviet and Russian composer and pianist. 

He was what’s called a polystylist—he used multiple styles and techniques in his compositions.   

Shostakovich faced much adversity as a composer under the soviet regime. 

Multiple times, Shostakovich withdrew work under the threat of Soviet authorities.   

Shostakovich was officially censured in 1962 for his Symphony No.13, ‘Babi Yar.’ The piece condemns anti-Semitism and injustice. 

Our favorites: 
Symphony No.5 
String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.47 

What composer do you want use to feature next?! Tell us in the comments!

Meet Sam!

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Meet Sam! 

We're excited to welcome Sam to the A&G team! Sam began playing piano in third grade and clarinet in middle school. She continued her music education at Wayne State University where she received her Bachelor’s in Music with a concentration in Instrumental Music Education. 

It was at Wayne State where Sam discovered her interest in instrument repair, and now she's joining us to continue her education as an instrument repair technician!

7 Tips for Learning Music Online

Hey Gang! Not long ago we asked for you to share some things that make remote learning go smoothly for you! You stepped up and shared some great ideas. Here’s some of the best. 

  1. Ensure there are as few distractions as possible

  2. Keep a practice journal

  3. Set up your learning space to double as a practice space --- have your music stand and instrument ready and accessible

  4. Take advantage of natural lighting if possible, or have a well-lit learning space

  5. Get familiar with all the capabilities of the learning platform you are using. This ensures you'll receive the best online experience as possible

  6. Adjust your platform settings for best audio processing

  7. If you are having difficulty with video (it’s lagging or choppy) use the chat feature to let your instructor know. That way your instructor will know that you are missing some content and can circle back and get you caught up later, without disrupting others

If you have another tip or suggestion, please share them with us! Thank you Hive Mind!