Musical Chairs Now Providing International Listings

Musical Chairs is now providing international listings with it's new website launch. As of today, there's twenty-two (yes, 22!) announcements listed for percussion and timpani jobs. Head on over and find yourself an audition!

History of the Wiener Pauke

A great history of Hans Schellar's pauken (timpani) can be found at History of the Wiener Pauke. Many thanks to Stefan Gawlick for pointing out this wonderful reference. Nick Woud also has historical photographs of the drums on his website as well.

Ed Thigpen, 1930-2010

_{Photograph credit: Nicola Fasano}

Legendary jazz drummer Ed Thigpen passed away yesterday, 13 January 2010, at the age of 79 years old. The first memory I have of Mr. Thigpen was being humbled by his Interworld Music instructional video from 1991 during college. Every time I play brushes, I always think of his lessons from that video and how to use brushes to express what no stick ever could. Let us remember his genius which is made clear in the following video

Elliott Carter: 101

Elliott Carter, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer born and living in New York City, turns 101 years old today. Happy birthday!