On the Cover

Leland Sklar

Bassist Leland “Lee” Sklar has guided his career by a simple tenet: “Be cognizant of the song.”

Herlin Riley: Groove & Necessary Conversations

Wynton Marsalis once introduced his friend and jazz orchestra drummer Herlin Riley to an audience as, “A master of the New Orleans drum cadence, tambourine, washboard, cowbell, and many other things that can be hit and grooved upon.”  And that is certainly a fitting description. Because to Riley—who has been playing drums since he was […]

Emily Levin

The Power of Music to Soothe the “Savage Breast” In a time such as now filled with so much strife and anger, it’s comforting to think that music can soothe the soul (or the “savage breast,” as was written in 1697). It was this power of music, in fact, that ignited in Emily Levin when […]

The New Reality for Musicians: How Our Union is Working For Us and How We Can All Adapt to the New Environment

The new reality is a digital one, in which musicians have transitioned to online existence in order to keep creating, marketing, and sharing their music.

Madeline Adkins: Utah Symphony Concertmaster Soars Through the Canyons of Classical Music

Utah Symphony concertmaster Madeline Adkins discusses her journey to the first chair, what a concertmaster’s job entails, and how she has been coping with quarantine.

The AFM and its Members Respond to COVID-19 Effects on Musicians

While our union officials have been monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and potential impacts on musicians since it first became a global health emergency in late January, once music events began being canceled and restrictions on large gatherings were announced by both US and Canadian officials in early March, that is when the impact on musicians and their livelihoods became stark.

Rum Ragged: Spreading the Living Tradition of Newfoundland Folk Music

The members of Rum Ragged were brought together by their shared passion for collecting and arranging undiscovered traditional songs and tunes of their home.

Timpanist Jauvon Gilliam Drives the Rhythm

“I have a dream job,” says Jauvon Gilliam of Local 161-710 (Washington, DC), principal timpanist for the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). “Rarely am I the superstar or the soloist and I relish that. I like being the main support system, like the load-bearing wall, if you will.” From his riser in the back of the […]

The Ancestors Are Calling

At 72, singer and songwriter Laura Vinson has lost none of the natural beauty of her voice. In her striking visual performances, images of elders hover above Native dancers, as ancient drum rhythms summon the past. Her music is not characterized by gritty protest, but the emotional pull is palpable: part dissent, part nostalgia, part […]

Eugenia Zukerman: Renowned Flutist Reflects on What Comes Next After Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Eugenia Zukerman, now 75, has had a long and successful career as not only a musician but also an author, journalist, and music director.