This month's On That Note is all about everyone’s second favorite topic - the weather.
For most of us, weather is either nice or annoying. But musicians monitor temperatures and humidity levels with a devotion verging on the fanatical. Their livelihoods depend upon both their bodies and their instruments being in the best condition possible. And when temperatures are particularly cold and dry, it's hard on both.
Cohen plays an almost 300-year-old instrument. Like many of us as we age, the cello doesn't react well to change or temperature extremes: "The real worry is about the wood cracking and the glue that holds it together drying out and the whole thing falling apart," he says. "I mean I’ve had nightmares, like most musicians, about opening the cello case and finding a pile of dust at the bottom."
