Let's Quartet: Recent Episodes
Nathan Cottrell
Hey! I'm Nathan. Most of my days are spent in rehearsals with my string quartet and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's not always easy....actually it's usually really hard, but it's worth it. I hope this podcast will be a valuable resource for students, teachers, and all musicians who want to learn more about how to enjoy and flourish in their music making. Through 25+ years and many ensembles, chamber music has taught me how to be a better artist, colleague, and friend. We'll talk about how to rehearse, learning new music, performance preparation, working together, recording, and even super nerdy stuff like the style differences in Bartok and Shostakovich, matching articulations, how to tune to each other, and so much more. As with most good things in life, chamber music takes work. But it's worth it. So plug in those headphones and let's quartet! Check out more at LetsQuartet.com
The musical landscape is vast with many areas you can express yourself.
But how do you figure out where you should be?
Doug Balliettis a musician based in NY who has found fulfillment in early music, composing, and teaching courses on the Beatles.
In this episode we talk about:
- University vs. Conservatory
- The 'orchestra life'
- The language of early music
- The difficulty most people have with early music
- Doing what you love (after deep thought and reflection)
Read the transcript at: nathancottrell.com/letsquartet/6-doug-balliett
Enjoy!
In this episode, we talk with David Shifrin. Renowned clarinetist, artistic director, and just a beautiful person.
- Early beginning in music
- Teaching philosophy
- How he approaches performances
- The role of an artistic director
- Finding intent in the music
Thanks for listening! If you enjoy it, please share :)
In this episode I talk about sound - it was the big takeaway for me (besides the special prize we won!) after hearing some amazing quartets at the Wigmore competition. Sound is at once simple yet so complicated and finding a group sound is very difficult, but I'll give you everything you need to get started. I'll break down why a group sound is so important for every group, how to practice finding your group sound, and what it should feel like when you've got it.
You can find the workshop that I mentioned here.
View transcript
Recording. We all know we should do it, but how do we make it a regular part of our rehearsals and, most importantly, how do we listen back so that it's helpful and not just painful.
View transcript
Today, I'll be answering a question from a musician just like you! And in the process we'll talk about how to format your rehearsals so you can work on the right thing at the right time.
To download the worksheet, click here.
View the transcript
Many of us start rehearsing without having thought about what the exact goal of that specific rehearsal is. The result? Some wasted time and a foggy idea of what was actually accomplished.
In this episode I'm going to break down what setting goals looks like and how they can transform your rehearsals and performances. It's not complicated, but it does take a little thought and effort.
Have a question or topic you'd like me to talk about on the show? Send me a message or email me Hello@nathancottrell.com
Thanks for listening!
Hello and welcome to Let’s Quartet!
I’m Nathan Cottrell and this show is all about chamber music. Making great music in a small ensemble is hard, really hard, and for so long it was a mystery to me.
Why did some groups seem to work really well instantly and why did others totally fall apart?
25ish years of playing the cello and dozens of different ensembles later, I’ve wasted a lot of time, made a lot of mistakes, and most importantly - learned a lot. I’m excited to share these tips and inspirations with you over the coming weeks and I hope to take some of the mystery out of what it looks like to be a group - not just different people that happen to be playing the same music. But a real chamber group with a single voice and message.
You’ll be hearing mostly from me, but I’ll also be bringing guests on the show and answering your questions as well. If you have something you’d like me to talk about, just send an email to Hello@nathancottrell.com and make sure you subscribe to Let’s Quartet on your favorite podcast app so you can get each episode when it comes out.
I think that’s all for now. Grab those headphones, turn up the volume and Let’s Quartet