Fiddlers Casey Driessen and Christian Howes discuss extensive clips from Casey’s album Otherlands. We talk about chopping/rhythm, and other aspects of musical collaboration for fiddlers and string players who want to expand their creative voice, musical community, and career or lifestyle. We play a tune together as well in this hour-long interview. Find more at www.christianhowes.com

Fiddler Casey Driessen on Collaboration, Rhythm, and Drawing Musical Language from Otherlands

Join us with Guest Speakers Caleigh Drane & William Seiji Marsh as we discuss how to conquer your stage fright and better achieve your musical goals through mindfulness and mindful practice.

Mindful Practice with Caleigh Drane & William Seiji Marsh

Join us with Guest Speaker and former Creative Strings Workshop participant Marlene Cruz Lozano as she talks about her new studio, Violin Bootcamp, which centers adult women violin students, their goals, and needs.

On Teaching Adult Students With Marlene Cruz Lozano

"I really enjoyed finding myself in different contexts and being able to explore different parts of myself in different styles."
Classical Cellist turned multi-style master

I sat down with Cellist Mike Block to discuss his classical training (Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master's for Julliard) and how he moved into alternative styles. We also discuss the importance of music camps including the Mike Block String Camp, the Global Musician Workshop and the Creative Strings Workshop.

Scroll down to learn about:

Mike's classical training and how it helped him transition to playing in multiple styles
His happiness "checklist" and how he applies it to the various aspects of his performance, education and business
The life-changing potential of string/music camps
His work with Yo-Yo Ma and world influences
There's still time to register!

For the 2016 Creative Strings Workshop and Festival July 3-9, 2016 near Columbus, OH. Immerse yourself in a week of fun and music with world-renowned faculty. Podcast guest Mike Block is a prior attendee of the Creative Strings Workshop and as you will hear in the podcast, he highly recommends attending as many camps as you possibly can!

Huge thank you to our sponsor Electric Violin Shop, your one-stop shop for electric instruments, amps, gear, accessories, and most of all, expertise. Use code CHOWES at checkout and take 5% off of your order. Call 866-900-8400 to get your questions answered on "all things electric strings".

While you are talking to EVS, be sure to ask them about the new Yamaha Electric Violin (you can check out my video review here). I've been a Yamaha performing artist for almost 20 years now and am very proud to be a part of the Yamaha family.


Finding yourself in different styles of music with Mike Block - Creative Strings Podcast Ep. 17

Christian Howes presents the Creative Strings Podcast: Exploring intersections between creativity, music education, string playing, DIY music business, and culture

Since 2011, performer, educator and composer, Christian Howes was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll (“Rising Stars/Violin”), named among the top three jazz violinists in the JazzTimes critics poll, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association. He received the Residency Partner Award through Chamber Music America for residencies in school orchestras, earned a USArtists grant through the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and was invited by the U.S. State department to teach and perform as a cultural ambassador in Ukraine and Montenegro.  His 2013 release on Resonance Records, “Southern Exposure” earned recognition in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Downbeat, Jazz Times, as well as a six-night run at Lincoln Center.  His 2015 release, “American Spirit” was named among the Best Jazz Albums of 2015″ by the Huffington Post. Howes is the founder of “Creative Strings“, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to expand music education through the creation of online curriculum, an annual summer conference, and dozens of visits to schools annually teaching improvisation, contemporary styles, and related subjects. He endorses Yamaha violins and D’Addario strings.

Finding yourself in different styles of music with Mike Block - Creative Strings Podcast Ep. 17

Christian Howes

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