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Soundcheck

Tuesday, August 29, 2006
  • music school

    Music Conservatories: Are they Worth it?

    As students are heading back to school, US News and World Report has published its annual ranking of "America's Best Colleges," which includes a special category for music and arts schools. Today, we take a look at the list and at the state of higher education for music. Robert Morse, the magazine's data research director, explains the rankings. Also with us to look at music training and the job market is Chris Pasles, Staff Writer at the Los Angeles Times, and Robert Sirota, president of the Manhattan School of Music. Also: New Orleans trumpeter Maurice Brown talks about his career post-Katrina.

School Daze

Music schools crank out 2,600 students a year but those students have to fight between each other for only 160 available positions. We take a look at music schools role in this increasingly narrow job market.
» US News and World Report arts schools

Maurice Brown

A year after Katrina took away Maurice Brown's home, he is living in New York. The jazz trumpeter joins us for a performance and to talk about the past year.

Spiral Frog

A new online music store promises free legal downloading. Will it work? Joining us is Ina Fried, senior writer for CNET News, the online computing and technology news service.
» SpiralFrog inks music deal with Universal (CNET News)

Noteworthy New York

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We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.

Your "Democracy Song"

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As we march toward Election Day, Soundcheck wants you to identify a song that captures the spirit of democracy. It might be Woody Guthrie’s populist classic “This Land Is Your Land” or Sly and the Family Stone’s funky hit “Everyday People.” It might even be a current Top 40 hit with mass appeal. Put on your musical thinking cap, get creative, then post your song here.

Buying Music: A Smackdown Series

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Check out our ongoing series of Soundcheck Smackdown debates on the music marketplace -- and how we shop inside it. Part I: the pros and cons of MySpace. Part II: two documentarians throw down over music at Wal-Mart. Coming up: Part III: iTunes and Part IV: iPod vs. Zune

Atmosphere

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With minimalist beats and confessional rhymes, the hip-hop duo Atmosphere became the toast of the hip-hop underground after it formed 10 years ago. Now, the group has turned to classic funk and soul, and frontman Slug is still telling captivating stories. They perform in our studio.

Tin Pan Alley

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A two-block stretch of West 28th Street was once the home of American songwriters and music publishers. But buildings in area are now up for sale, and preservationists fear a major development is in the works. We look at the history and future of Tin Pan Alley.

I Am Azerrad ... No, I Am Azerrad!

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Nirvana biographer and indie-rock historian Michael Azerrad writes about musicians for a living. Now, the British band Tubelord (pictured) has written about him -- and the lyrics are a tad scary.

Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile

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Two major players from the worlds of classical and American roots music have joined forces for an album of new material. They perform in our studio.

Tina Dico

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Singer-songwriter Tina Dico tops the charts in her native Denmark. She joins us to share songs from her latest full-length album, "Count to Ten," as well as a trilogy of EPs.