By Alexandra Gardner

Given the fact that composers who happen to be female are making a greater worldwide impact than ever before, it boggles my mind that they continue to be overlooked by the larger institutions of our musical world.

By Alexandra Gardner

I wonder about competitions that want compositions with unusual instrumentations. A piece written for eighth blackbird could be performed by a number of other groups, but what about that work for tuba, guitar, and accordion?

By Alexandra Gardner

Earlier this week Washington Post classical music critic Anne Midgette pointed to two contrasting reviews of the same concert, and asked readers to comment on the pros and cons of each.

Composer, guitarist, arranger and bandleader Joel Harrison’s 2010 CD Life Force, featuring Wendy Sutter on cello and Tim Fain on violin, spotlights five compositions inspired by and dedicated to relatives and close friends.

By Alexandra Gardner
Amy Chua, the “Tiger Mother,” started quite the firestorm with her Wall Street Journal essay, especially among mothers utterly appalled at the militaristic approach Chua has taken towards the musical education of her two daughters.

By Alexandra Gardner

Situations ranging from a bout of the flu, the needs of family members, or forces of nature can and do occur at totally unpredictable times, causing scheduling snafus ranging from missed events to having to push back composing deadlines—the ultimate forms of life dissonance.

By Alexandra Gardner

It seems that the older generation should be proud of, not to mention reap the benefits of, the years they spent building musical roadways, while the younger generation, which is (and should be) taking advantage of those routes and repaving them using their own materials—as the generation after them will surely do—can always be learning from the past.

By Alexandra Gardner
I thought I would put together a selection of iPhone apps—in no particular order*#8212;that have made their way into my musical life this year, to inspire those of you who may find iTunes gift cards in your stockings.

With his latest venture, the group Slow/Fast, saxophonist and composer Ken Thomson seeks to combine the disparate areas of his musical life—contemporary classical, rock, and jazz—into one integrated whole that he calls “21st Century Third Stream.”

By Alexandra Gardner

Lately quite a few people have been asking me about issues surrounding audio production and electronic music composition, such as tips and tricks to help effectively incorporate electronic music into their instrumental compositions. I wanted to share my reply to a student’s inquiry.