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Soundcheck

Thursday, September 04, 2008
  • youtube

    YouTube and Music Lessons

    The video-sharing site YouTube is a reliable source of homemade comedy, political manifestos and quirky confessionals. It could also put some music teachers out of a job. Today we examine the pros and cons of music lessons offered through the popular online destination. Plus: folk icon Joan Baez talks about "Day After Tomorrow," her first studio album in five years.

Viral Music Lessons

YouTube contains millions of music videos, oddball comic sketches, and TV clips. It also contains free music lessons for aspiring amateurs. We talk to Andrew Furmanczyk, a pianist whose YouTube channel gives free piano lessons, and Elizabeth Wolff, a pianist who offers in-person lessons, about the advantages and disadvantages of learning an instrument without a teacher present.

Our blog: John Schaefer on learning guitar "off the grid"

Tell us: What do you think about online music instruction? A good idea, or a good way to learn badly?

More about Elizabeth Wolff
Video: Watch videos from the Piano Lounge
Andrew Furmanczyk's web site

Joan Baez

Joan Baez

As a teenager in the late 1950s, Joan Baez became the leader of the popular folk music movement on the strength of her voice and her repertoire of traditional songs. She's well-known for introducing Bob Dylan to the world in the early ‘60s. But she also remained an advocate for folk music and political change for the next four decades. She joins us to talk about teaming up with songwriter-producer Steve Earle for "Day After Tomorrow," her first studio release in five years.

Joan Baez appears tonight at the 92nd St Y in a conversation with music critic Anthony DeCurtis. She performs at Town Hall on Oct. 28 and 29.

Joan Baez site

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.