I got to do a mini-clinic today on a piece I had arranged. It’s almost always joyful to be a guest clinician in that way. The nature of the work means you can move fast, fix things, shake up singers, and generally have a lot of fun. Singers listen to guest clinicians because of the novelty.
The old saying goes, “No one is a prophet in their own land.” But you can be a prophet, inspiring and teaching in short order, when you’re a guest clinician.
On the other hand, you can’t create art as a guest clinician. You can move the needle from 90% to 95%, or 80% to 90%, but in the end, someone else has gotten to make most of the musical decisions – taken the creative journey of discovery.
So, even though it comes with not being seen as a prophet, comes with more chaos and frustration, and fewer epiphanies-per-hour, it’s the better choice in the long run. It’s where the art gets made.