Music by Black Composers for Cello - Free Class!

Celebrating Make Music Day 2020!

This weekend I will be teaching a free class on Zoom called “Music by Black Composers for Cello”. Over the last few weeks I have been contemplating my role as a non-Black musician and what I can do effect change in my own way. I have long believed that music in the traditional repertoire has been severely limited to a select few composers who are mostly deceased European men. While there is nothing really wrong with dead white guys, it is problematic that 99% of the music played is by dead white guys. How can we support living composers? What about all the other people who composed truly incredible music but who’s compositions have been pushed aside because of their gender or race?

Join the class here on Zoom at 6p on Sunday June 21st!

I have been transposing some music from the book written for violin “Music by Black Composers” as well as transposing other pieces of music by Black composers. I am doing this in preparation for changing my repertoire for students in the fall so that my students will have a well rounded experience and value diversity in their musical repertoire.

In this class, we will warm up together (hooray for injury prevention!), I will share some of my transpositions/arrangements for you to learn, and I will introduce several pieces of music by Black composers for cello that have moved me. The class will be guided by your questions and if you’d like to play for some feedback, I’d love to hear you!

Soon, I hope to make my arrangements and transcriptions available for public use! Stay tuned!!