As Allen Vizzutti walks through the music departments of many colleges, he can hear students diligently practicing from the method books he wrote. These books, the basis of a music student’s practice repertoire, are challenging trumpet students to new levels of technique and musicality and are rapidly replacing the method books written by Arban, according to Donald Schleicher, conductor and musical director of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.

Last week, Quad City Arts brought in Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys, one of Louisiana's top zydeco bands, for a residency as part of its Visiting Artist series. The band featured Simien on accordion and vocals, a rubboard or frottoir player, a guitarist, a keyboardist, a bassist, and a drummer.

When the censors of Venice read the first libretto of the opera Rigoletto, they felt that the story was dangerous, shocking, and unflattering to the King of France. The original libretto and the Victor Hugo play on which it was based featured historical figures, King Francis I of France and his jester, Tribuolet. Giuseppi Verdi, who wrote the score, and Francesco Maria Piave, who wrote the libretto, made changes. The King was changed to a Duke, the setting from France to Italy, and the name of the jester to Rigoletto. The censors were satisfied, and the opera was first performed in Venice on March 11, 1851.

I first caught Pocket Dwellers live at Hornucopia 2002. I was immediately taken by the band's musicianship, cohesiveness, originality, and of tons of energy - each of which was unrivaled by any band there, and touring favorites Liquid Soul headlined, if that helps make my point.