4Part Podcast

4Part

Westheimer String Quartet
Discussions on music, life, and the world around us through the eyes of four musicians who sometimes make music together. Each episode features music recorded by WSQ and touches on topics relevant to our lives as teachers, performers, and classical musicians.
#4: Diversity
Does classical music lack diversity? In this episode, we begin to scratch the surface on the topic of diversity in classical music: how do the biases of the institution that shaped us as musicians continue to influence our perceptions today, and what do we do to course-correct? We also hear excerpts from Florence Price’s tuneful 5 Folk Songs in Counterpoint.
Apr 15, 2021
58 min
#3: Music and Mindfulness, continued
We continue our conversation on mindfulness. How does mindfulness affect us as teachers, and what do we do to help our students on their own path of learning to learn? Part two of this discussion hits on auditions, soybeans, tennis, and more. Daron and Zach will also play solo excerpts, and one of them is an original composition!
Feb 25, 2021
1 hr 5 min
#2: Music and Mindfulness
Can you practice practicing? Join us as we explore the idea of mindfulness, and how paying attention to how we pay attention has influenced our lives as instrumentalists and teachers. We’ll also hear short solo excerpts from Sean and Alexa.
Feb 4, 2021
54 min
#1: Coping and Creativity
How does music help us cope? In our pilot episode, we discuss how creativity can be used as a tool for dealing with crisis, and how composers throughout history have used their music as a way to share both their suffering and their hope with the people around them. We also talk about how Covid-19 has affected our lives as professional musicians.
Jan 21, 2021
51 min