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The Musical Steroid?
The arguments against performance enhancing drugs in athletics are pretty clear-cut: they’re illegal, unsafe and unethical. But how about classical music? As it happens, the use of an anxiety-reducing drug called Inderal is helping an increasing number of musicians endure stressful auditions and solo performances. The drug is legal, non-habit-forming, and has no serious side effects, and yet, many musicians argue that using it amounts to cheating. We examine the issue today with musician, arts consultant and blogger Drew McManus, and we also take your calls. Also joining us is composer and music critic Danny Felsenfeld, who reviews new recordings of two pieces written on the grandest of scales, by Leonard Bernstein and William Bolcom.
» Performance Enhancing Drugs for Musicians? by Drew McManus
» Bernstein’s Mass CD information
» William Bolcom CD information
» Legendary BBC radio DJ John Peel dies
» Robert Merrill remembered Listen
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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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Introducing our Video Contest
Soundcheck
John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
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Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
Soundcheck
Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
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In Studio: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
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In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
