Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted to this blog, but I came across this article from Time today that I justhad to share. Enjoy and I promise I'll write some more posts this year for the blog here! http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2103335,00.h...

I started out in June full of aspirations and energy for this blog. It is still all there, but if you've been following Classical Newb, you know only about half of what I had originally planned for this month has come to pass. The main culprit is time. Between work and summer semester at college and one fire after another in my world this last month, I've simply not had the time I wanted or needed to accomplish everything I had originally planned for June here. July may be a slim pickings...

There are probably a million and one ways of putting together a music collection, any of which will work. They all pretty much have the same thing in common: buy a piece of music and add it to your collection. So what do I have to offer? A couple of suggestions if you will... 1) Decide if you will collect CD's or MP3's or both. Personally I go for the CD's and from time to time add in some MP3's and convert a lot of my CD's into MP3's. 2) Determine a buying strategy. Mine is to purchase at least...

Ludwig van Beethoven has such a repitore that it can be difficult for the newbie to classical music to get a handle on all that is available. It can be said of the same thing for several other composers as well, but Beethoven is one of those composers that seem to naturally draw people into classical music. Mostly because he is so familiar to use, even before we get into classical music to begin with. People tend to know at least something about Beethoven even if they couldn't tell you what music is his or recognize it...

I take a lot of pride in my classical music collection. Each piece of music that I add usually comes with a lot of thought, some research and information gathering and at least some appreciation of the musicical piece coming into my collection. Within a reasonably short period of time, I've managed to put together a fair sized music collection, though I will be the first to call it small in comparrison to those who've been collecting a lifetime. I've identified various orchestras and conducters...

I'm sure it doesn't come as a big suprise that I'm highlighting Dvorak today. As I look through my previous posts it makes me realize I need to talk about other composers I listen to as well! You'd think I only listened to 3 or 4 of them. I first heard Dvorak's "A Hero's Song" late one night on NPR. I simply fell in love with the piece and quickly sought it out and added it to my collection. If you are a fan of Dvorak's later symphonies (7th through 9th) then you will love his tone poems and shorter pieces like...

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been checking out this blog! I would also like to encourage you to become a follower and leave your comments here! Coming up in June I expect to blog about: - What I've been listening to lately - Recent selections and purchases - More reviews! - More information about my personal collection - Expanded vocabulary page - Expanded web site pages of use to other Classical Newb's out there I look forward to writing more blogs soon, so stay tun...