Why I Program Hard Music

I like to program difficult music for my ensembles. Here’s why.

When an ensemble sight reads something difficult, you will often see a look of doubt on their faces. They don’t think it’s hard: they think it’s impossible. Too hard for them at their current level of skill.

I program hard music because at the other end of the rehearsal process, there is a moment of realization.

“I thought that was impossible…but I did it!”

Once you achieve something you thought was impossible, a million doors open to you. You start asking, “What else can I do that seems impossible now?”

That is a question I want all of my students to ask themselves all the time.