Still Life
University Park Airport Emergency Response Exercise
Commencement across Penn State: Spring 2012
Spring commencement 2012 under way
Penn State, Moroccan students problem-solve together
Finals Week Spring Semester 2012
Painting the Lines at Beaver Stadium
Did They Get It Right? - RedTails
Iconic Penn State elm taken down over spring break 2012
We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)
Disease stricken matching elm tree slated for removal
Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone
Linda Patterson Miller, the 2011-12 Penn State laureate and professor of English at Penn State Abington, is sharing her thoughts and observations of her laureate experience as she journeys across the Commonwealth aiming to engage people in the beauty of the humanities, specifically early 20th-century American literature and art. "Literary Landings" is a travelogue scheduled to appear periodically during the fall 2011 and spring 2012 semesters on Penn State Live and in Penn State Newswires. In her entry "Come Celebrate Artistic Collaboration" Miller enthusiastically invites the college community to the first-ever Penn State Laureate Jubilee on April 24. (more)
Linda Patterson Miller, the 2011-2012 Penn State laureate, invites students, faculty, staff and community members to the Penn State Laureate Jubilee, a public event featuring past, present and future Penn State laureates in celebration of the University's commitment to the arts and humanities. The first-ever event takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the University Park campus. An opening reception with light refreshments begins at 3 p.m. in the center's Frizzell Room. The program follows at 4 p.m. in Worship Hall. (more)
Q: What do we mean by tone color?
A: Do tones have different colors? Tone color and timbre are terms that refer to the character or quality of a musical sound. They do not refer to colors such as yellow or green.Instead, these terms describe the difference in the sounds that you hear from the various instruments. (more)
Q: What does acoustic mean for a classical musician?
A: "Acoustic" means "made for, designed for or having the quality of facilitating the perception of sound" (Webster). No microphones are necessary. In fact, a microphone can interfere with the sound waves that are created and reflected by the surfaces on the floor, sides and ceiling of the hall. Just like lighting an exquisite gemstone, so that you can see the sparkle of every facet, a great acoustic allows every aspect of the music to be heard. (more)
Whoops, I broke my "G" String ... and other hazards of playing concerts.
Musical performance does not come without its particular risks. A cellist can be in the midst of an intensely emotional passage, when suddenly "TWANG!" A string pops loose and you are forced to STOP, replace the string and begin again. Probably the most embarrassing story that I've heard ... (more)
Q: Why (and how) do the violins play with their bows going the same direction in an orchestra?
A: You may have noticed in an orchestra concert that the string players are usually playing with their bows completely coordinated in the same direction. It is almost like a choreographed ballet. Why do they do this? Is it planned, or do they just naturally fall into these patterns? To get a particular "articulation" (clarity or accentuation of notes) it is desirable for every string player to use a certain part of the bow. (more)
Q: What is the best age to begin learning to play an instrument?
A: Although I am not an expert in child development, my opinion is based on my experience and that of friends in the profession. I think the best time to start a child with music lessons is when a child shows interest in learning to play an instrument. (more)
Two cultural events highlight this week at the Penn State Altoona campus. Jim Ellis, swim coach and subject of the movie Pride, will speak on campus this at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. The event takes place in the Paul R. and Margery Wolf Kuhn Theatre in the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. That event is followed by Penn State laureate Kim Cook's cello concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22 also in the Wolf Kuhn Theatre. (more)
Penn State laureate Kim Cook will perform a cello concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, in the Paul R. and Margery Wolf Kuhn Theatre of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. (more)
Q: How much does a string instrument cost?
A: Recently I went backstage after a string quartet concert at the Smithsonian Institute, featuring the famous Stradivari violins, viola and cello. As I waited in line to talk to the musicians, the violist came up to me and said: "Here, hold this viola. It is worth $27 million." (more)
