Don’t rush building your fire.

I’ve been building a lot of campfires this summer. As I build fires, I think a lot about what I do before I ever light a match. The truth is, a big part of a fire’s success comes in how you build it, how you plan it before ignition. I take time, I make careful decisions, and I wait till it’s right to strike a match. If I do it right, the fire will be strong in no time.

I’ll be thinking about that this summer as I begin planning the start to my ensembles’ years. The work I do in the weeks before the first rehearsals, and the work I do in their first rehearsals, is essential. Taking the time to establish practices, goals, and core ideas in the beginning of the year is more important than lighting the match on repertoire too quickly. If we build the fire right, it will spread quickly once we ignite it.

I’m always excited to get to repertoire, and I’m always excited to get the fire started. Taking the time to do it right isn’t always easy, but it always makes for a better fire. And a better year of music.