arrange • compose • conduct
You start the school year with a fresh new candle. It’s meant to last you till the last day of school. Every hour spent in class, grading, lesson planning, chaperoning, meeting with parents, etc. burns your candle a little more. But you don’t worry, because by the time June rolls […]
Whenever you always approach a type of problem with a certain strategy, it might be useful to ask: “What other approaches might work?” As a general principle, I often take a few months after a recording session with my ensembles before I sit down to mix it. The distance from […]
I never don’t think of Steve Zegree when I’m in the studio. All these years later, it’s absolutely consistent. I’ve been in the studio a lot this week: ten hours producing sessions with my ensembles, plus two sessions at home singing and engineering some part recordings. I think of Steve […]
This unsung hero of the choral program deserves a round of applause. I’ve written before about the value of good graphic design tools for choir directors. Many other tools are rightly recognized: pianos, pitch pipes, recording tools; even Spotify or Apple Music for sharing example recordings. But what of the […]
These are three keys to success over adversity. Have a Plan B. Or, if not a plan, then the skills to pivot without preparation. (When my studio engineer student got sick, I was ready to jump in, knew who to ask for help, and got the job done.) Work with […]
It’s impossible to be prepared for every eventuality. But… The first time you do something – perform a recital, say, or do a recording session – you can’t know what to expect, or what common pitfalls are to be avoided. You’re going to have to learn, through a combination of […]
Creativity is unpredictable. When every project is different on some level, it’s easy, when asked to take on a project, to say to yourself, “I don’t actually know how to do this.” It’s true – I don’t. I’ve never done this before, precisely, and I don’t know it can be […]
Working with students requires you to occupy three places on the timeline. First, you have the past – what they needed when you started working with them. When this school year started, students needed love, psychological safety, and routine. Second, you have the present – what they need today to […]
“You’re so smart, you should be a doctor!” (lawyer, rocket scientist, engineer) Yes, you could be those things. But how should you use your intellect? Use your intellect to bring more love into the world. However that works for you. Be a teacher. Be an author. Yes, be a musician. […]
All the leadership books, seminars, and past wisdom should fall out the window once you’re in the room with your people you’re leading. Well, they don’t fall out the window. They should still form the core of your approach to leadership. But I have never learned a leadership technique that […]