Background

Aaron began his musical life as a rock guitarist but was always interested in classical composition. At the age of fifteen he decided to become a rock cellist, but he knew that, in order to really be successful, he first had to become an established classical cellist. He started cello lessons in his sixteenth year, practicing intensely for the next eight years, graduating with a Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. After the grueling years of conservatory study, and a season with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Caracas Venezuela, Aaron was finally ready to go back to his original goal of inventing an new style of cello playing. Since there was no method available for learning popular styles of cello playing, Aaron set about creating his own method to teach himself. Each piece was based on a different popular style and each incorporated different techniques, but there was one thing that they all had in common: Aaron would not include a piece in his method unless it made him smile! He only hoped that others would feel the same joy.

Having completed his first book, "Ten American Cello Etudes", he began to look for a publisher. His first call was to a well known commercial classical music publisher. He entered into a conversation with their representative which went as follows:

Aaron - Hello. I've just completed a set of cello etudes combining American popular music with classical technique.
Rep. - If you look at our catalog, you will notice that we haven't published a cello etude in over a hundred years.
Aaron - Yes, I did notice. That's why I'm calling!
Rep. - Well, we're very happy with David Popper, thank you. (Popper was the great etude writer of the last century).
Aaron - I'm very happy with David Popper too, but don't you think, after a hundred years, it might be time for something new?
Rep. - Well, you can send it in if you want, but I can tell you right now it won't even be looked at for at least three years.
Aaron - Thank you very much.

Fortunately, his next call was to Oxford University Press, which had the foresight to see the influence that this book would have!

Home|Back to Top

The Books

Below you will find pictures and explanations about each of Minsky's books, published by Oxford University Press. You can also hear audio clips of some of Minsky's pieces (the pieces are rotated, and sometimes include selections from the books below) by clicking this link: http://www.mp3.com/voncello

Please click on the images below to enlarge them!

From Ten American Etudes: The history of music is full of composers who were able to bend music to reflect their time period and country. In this century, musicians in the jazz, pop, and contemporary fields have taken instruments such as the saxophone, the drums, the bass, and the guitar, and given them a new sound reflecting modern times. Yet, the cello, with its wide range, variety of colors, and wonderful capacity for counterpoint, remains an underestimated instrument, assigned a dignified yet restricted role in today's musical world. This book will inspire cellists to help our instrument assume a more central position in popular musical culture, thereby increasing public interest in its traditional repertory and, most important, insuring its continuation as a viable musical instrument which participates fully in changing musical currents.

From Three Concert Etudes: These Three Concert Etudes extend and amplify the techniques and styles introduced in Ten American Cello Etudes, and represent an aspect of contemporary music often neglected in the concert hall.

From Three American Cello Duets: The Three American Cello Duets are rooted in the tradition of cello duets written by performing cellists: Dotzauer, Romberg, Lee, Klengel, and Popper come to mind. Though I have based them on classical technique and on that tradition, these duets view the cello as a popular instrument.

From Three American Pieces for unaccompanied viola: When my Ten American Cello Etudes were published many violists told me of their interest in the pieces and David Dalton agreed to make the transcriptions. As a result, perhaps violists will also be encouraged to improvise, play chords and syncopation, and participate in popular musical forms through the reinforcement and expansion of traditional techniques which I have tried to incorporate in there studies.

From Young American Ensembles: These two-part ensemble pieces were written for...beginning string students, and have been enjoyably tested in class and in performance with the young players. The aim is to provide ensemble experience, with all its fun and teamwork, at a very early stage in the study of violin, viola, cello, bass and guitar. The books can be used separately or together, making a grand string orchestra. Three books: Violins & Guitars, Violas, Cellos & Basses.

From Pacific Northwest Suite: These pieces were composed as I walked, climbed, and drove through the rugged mountains, virgin forests, misty lakes and rocky coast of the Pacific Northwest...The five part books can be used separately, in various mix-and-match combinations, or altogether, making a full string orchestra. Students are encouraged to use these pieces as a basis for improvisation. Five books, intermediate level: Guitars, Violins, Violas, Cellos, Basses

Home|Back to Top

Some Reviews

Musical Journal (Incorporated Society of Musicians), England:
"Aaron Minsky has done a brilliant job with his Ten American Cello Etudes...This collection is for the advanced cellist who is able to tackle demanding techniques and complex rhythmic structures simultaneously!...I continue my exploration of these Ten American Etudes with vigour."

The Strad, England:
"Young students may find these much more enjoyable to practice than the standard etudes. The technical issues addressed in the book are indeed an eclectic supplement to traditional study."

Strings Magazine, USA:
"The etudes are unique in applying traditional cello techniques to vernacular American themes; we enthusiastically recommend them to teachers whose students have an ear for rock, jazz, and folk idioms - who does not? - and want to bring them to life on the cello."
(See article about the etudes, written by Aaron Minsky, Fall 1988.)

American String Teacher, USA:
"I was greatly impressed by Minsky's cello etudes published a few years ago. These Young American Ensembles are reminiscent of the Americana musically portrayed in the cello etudes...Minsky has a gift for composing in a fun, contemporary style that is also pedagogically sound."

Sheet Music, England:
"Ensemble training for young string players is made easy with this series of three volumes."

Home|Back to Top

Some Quotes

These quotes are from letters sent to Oxford University Press.

Janos Starker, legendary concert cellist, professor at Indiana University:
"I find these etudes excellent, innovative, intelligent, useful and amusing. I will advise its use wherever I can."

David Wells, concert cellist, professor at New England Conservatory of Music and Hartt School of Music, formerly at Manhattan School of Music:
"...Three Concert Etudes continue in the same delightful form as his earlier Ten American Cello Etudes. They present new techniques, some of which I have never seen before, and they have rhythmic patterns which will be challenging and useful to young players."

Donald McInnes, concert violist, professor at University of Southern California:
"They (Three American Pieces) represent a "slice" of American style that we do not have in the solo viola repertoire...Without question, I will try to incorporate them into my performance plans. In addition, they will be useful in assigning to my students here at the University of Southern California and elsewhere."

Boris Pergamenschikov, Russian concert cellist, professor at Musikhochschule, Koln, Germany:
"I believe that the new generation of cellists must pay attention to the American popular music using these pieces. I'd like to include the etudes by Mr. Minsky in my teaching and solo repertoire."

Dr. Susan Tephly, professor at Marshall University, West Virginia:
"I plan to use Minsky's Young American Ensembles collection with my string class...I am familiar with Minsky's Ten American Etudes and applaud his ability to expose musicians of all ages to contemporary American music in non-threatening ways. (Recently I programmed several of the etudes from that collection as encore selections on my own recital and received positive audience response to the pieces!) The Young American Ensembles have the same appeal while, to the delight of instructors and audiences alike, sharing American music with younger players, too!"

Diane Harrington Roscetti, associate professor at University of Maine:
"I intend to use it (Ten American Cello Etudes) in my university cello studio."

Home|Back to Top

Home|Back to Top

Some Performers of  Minsky's Music

The following performers have sent programs to Oxford or directly to Aaron:

Patricia McCarty, violist, Silver Medal Geneva International Competition, soloist with many top orchestras, recordings with Nonesuch and Northeastern, faculty at Boston Conservatory.

John Graham, violist,  professor at Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester.

Marilyn Harris, cellist, winner of Mu Phi Epsilon Competition, toured the United States playing Minsky pieces in concerts and broadcasts.

Erica Boras, principal cellist with Rudolf Nureyev and Friends, the Bolshoi Ballet, Berlin Opera Ballet, cellist with New Jersey Symphony and others.

Doreen Da Silva, cellist, performed a Minsky unpublished etude during her recital at Hochshule Fur Musik, Wurzburg, Germany. Ms. Da Silva reported that the piece made an otherwise stone faced serious German audience break out in laughter and applause!

Arno Van Kerkoff, associate principal cellist, Cape Town Philharmonic, and Sarah Acres, Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, performed Minsky's "Three American Cello Duets" in Cape Town, South Africa. (Program forwarded by ASCAP.)

Craig Hultgren, commissioner of modern cello works, Alabama Symphony member and former principal cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama and the Savannah Symphony Orchestra.

Melanie Baker and Matt Fenner, students of Daniel Kazez at Whittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, performed "The Fiddlers" from, "Pacific Northwest Suite". (Program forwarded by Professor Kazez.)

Racheli Galay-Altman, Israeli cellist, opened a concert with pieces from Ten American Cello Etudes, at Tel Aviv University.

Home|Back to Top

Some Performances And Seminars Given
By Minsky Playing His Original Music

First World Cello Congress, University of Maryland, performance
Night of the Living Cello, Knitting Factory, NYC, performance
New Directions Cello Festival #1, Knitting Factory, NYC, performance and workshop
Ithaca Suzuki Institute, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, performance and classes
New Directions Cello Festival #4, University of Connecticut, performance and workshop
Music Publishers Association of the U.S., 100th Anniversary Concert, Lincoln Center, NYC
NYSSMA Winter Music Conference, Monticello, NY, seminar for music teachers
Interactive Music XPO, John Lennon Songwriting Contest Booth, Javits Convention Center, NYC, performances
World Cello Congress III, Towson University, Maryland, performances at the Yamaha booth
New Directions Cello Festival #6, University of Connecticut, performances at the Yamaha booth
Maine Music Educators' Association, seminar for music teachers
Sixth American Cello Congress, University of Maryland, performances at the Yamaha booth
NYSSMA Summer Music Conference, Albany, NY, clinic and conducting of the Directors' Orchestra in a performance of
Minsky's Pacific Northwest Suite
ASTA/NSOA Festival, Jersey City, New Jersey, gave two clinics for the American String Teachers' Assoc.

Home|Back to Top

Some Curriculums That Include Minsky's Music

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, United Kingdom, Professional Diploma, solo cello and viola. (See links.)
NYSSMA, New York State School Music Association, level 2, cello duets.
A Guide To The Standard Cello Repertoire, by concert cellist Jeffrey Solow.
ASTA,The American String Teachers' Association, upcoming curriculum.

Home|Back to Top

Other Compositions by Minsky

Film Composition: Dream City (produced by Steven Seigal) winner of the Silver Award for Experimental Film and Video, winner of the Jury Award in the New York Exposition of Short Film and Video.
Video Composition: So, You're Having A Baby (produced by the TRY Theatre Company) winner of two Nova Awards.
Theater Composition: A dozen shows for the TRY Theatre Company, some of which have made national tours.
Popular Song Contests: Two Certificates of Merit in the Billboard Song Contest. Finalist in other contests.
Hundreds of Popular Songs: Over a dozen volumes of songs are copyrighted. New songs continue to be written.

Home|Back to Top

Some Sellers of Minsky's Music

Oxford University Press, NYC (See links.)
Patelson's, famous music store near Carnegie Hall.
Frank's Music, another well known classical music store in Manhattan.
Shar, a major music catalog.
ITE, Ithaca Talent Education, a major supplier of Suzuki books and materials.
Diefes & Mikolajeski, music dealer to upstate New York schools.
New Directions Cello Association, sells Minsky's music from their web site and at their festivals. (See links.)

Home|Back to Top

Buy Minsky’s Music Books

I plan to sell my music books from this site. In the meantime, if you would like to purchase books see the links or click the following link to send an e-mail with your request to Oxford University Press: music@oup-usa.org.

Home|Back to Top

Book Minsky

If you would like to have Minsky give a seminar, masterclass, performance, workshop, or do a residency at your institution (colleges, schools, festivals, adult education classes, corporations, conferences) please e-mail him. him with the details.

Home|Back to Top

World Premiere Opportunity!

To the best of my knowledge, my "Three Concert Etudes for Unaccompanied Cello" has yet to receive it's world premiere by a major concert cellist in a major concert hall in a major city! One famous cellist (who will remain anonymous) told me that the piece was too difficult for him! Actually his words were, "As Pablo Casals used to say, I think I'm a little too old for that". I don't think he was referring to technique, because, even though the music is very challenging, this cellist has exceptional technique. I think he was referring to the popular idioms involved and the fact that in the finale the cellist must strum the cello with a guitar pick and sing while tapping both feet! Personally, I don't think age has anything to do with it. It just requires a desire to play the cello in a whole new way and to have a lot of fun while doing it! If any major concert cellist is willing to take up the challenge to give this piece the premiere it deserves, please e-mail me.. I will advertise the concert on this site (and other sites) and I will certainly come to the performance!

Home|Back to Top

Minsky On Record

The first public recording of Minsky's etudes has just been released (year 2001). The Ten American Cello Etudes are on a CD called, The American Cello, which includes works by Minsky, Crumb, Siskind and Sessions. The performer is Lawrence Stomberg of Oklahoma State University. We are happy to say that Mr. Stomberg signed a licensing agreement with Oxford, so this is an approved recording. May this be the first of many recorded releases of the published music of Aaron Minsky! Who's next?

Home|Back to Top

Final Note

Updates - To see what has been happening since August, 1999, go to Updates. If you have reviewed, seen a review,  perform, teach, list, or sell Minsky's music; or if you would like to comment on the pieces, please email him. Let him know if you would like to be added to the above lists.

Back to Top