The symphony has long been known as the musical essay.  Mozart himself composed more than 40 symphonies in his lifetime.  A branch of research in theoretical physics claims every particle in our universe is simply the resonance of a tiny one-dimensional string.  It has been said by many a researcher, our entire universe is a symphony of these infinitesimally small strings.  But for violinist and professor of music history, Joseph Sylvan, the symphony is not just a format for music and science, but also an attitude and way of life.

Professor, Performer, Astronomer

Having participated in hundreds upon hundreds of musical performances spanning more than 40 years since taking up instruction, one may wonder where the drive to continually pick up the bow and violin comes from.

“I just love what I do,” Sylvan said.
           

Sylvan has performed consistently for years in the southwest and domestically, but also throughout Europe and the Americas.
           

With education, Sylvan’s level of higher learning is intimidating to say the least.  He has been educated at Julliard School of Music, the University of Michigan and the University of Massachusetts. Sylvan is a professor of Music History and String Technique at New Mexico State University department of Music.   Sylvan also provides private instruction in his home.
           

In his spare time, Sylvan enjoys reading up on physics and astronomy.  He has two stellar observatories on his property and relishes the connections he finds with his profession and the world above.
         

“Mathematics and music are closely connected and so is everything else in our world,” Sylvan said.
           

When he isn’t performing musically, teaching or finding music in the stars, Joseph Sylvan enjoys painting, but with this, he needs an extra bit of methodology.
           

“If I don’t lock myself in the house for five days, I never get any of them done,” Sylvan says of painting.
           

More than with teaching, Sylvan was recently instrumental in forming a performance group dedicated to chamber music.  And on this subject, Sylvan’s passion reveals itself again.
           

“Chamber music is something, that is very close to my heart,” said Sylvan.

Originally a style of classical music for small palace performances, chamber music is still alive and well for those who love it for what it is: music for music's sake.  The group, the Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music has performed throughout Las Cruces recently and is now comprised of nine local musicians looking to serve the area. 

Attitude is Everything
           

At New Mexico State University, many students enjoy Sylvan’s style of teaching.  Student Lyndsey Green thinks Sylvan “is very passionate. His class is great.  He is so interested in every aspect of music.  One second he is talking about violins and then he can relate all of it to physics.  Its very interesting.” 
           

In his opening lecture for new classes, Sylvan confesses, “I know some of you have no interest in classical music or things like opera, but please have an open mind.  I have had 300 pound football players weep during La Bohème.”
           

Student Alicia Cardoza remembers her time in Sylvan’s Introduction to Music. “He is such a kinda man with so much enthusiasm.  You really feel everything he does since he loves (music) so much,” she said.
           

With such large classes, occasionally there are those who don’t share his enthusiasm.  “Some students wonder why they don’t get a good grade when they don’t bother to show up for my class.”  Sylvan continued, “Coming from a former runaway and knowing the value of hard work, I think there is nothing that cannot be done. Attitude is everything you know.”

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