arrange • compose • conduct
I don’t want to write. I don’t want to practice. I don’t want to do the dishes, make bread, walk the dog. I want to have done them. I want to live in the future in which I’ve done those things. Because I like the outcomes brought about by doing […]
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 […]
I’ve enjoyed Jonathan Fields’ work as an author and podcaster for a long time. He’s an engaging thinker and consistently asks mindful and deep questions of his podcast guests. He’s just released a new book, Sparked, which is a framework for thinking about “the work that makes you come alive.” […]
Be flexible with your expectations, so that students can try as many activities as interest them. Offer retakes on all tests and quizzes. “If they haven’t learned, you haven’t taught,” so let them keep proving that they’ve learned, as many times as they care to. Help them get back up […]
I am a firm believer in offering grace for our students. Grace for their struggle, grace for their growth. Here’s why. I want my students to bite off more than they can chew. I know they won’t know their limits until they blow past them, and when they figure out […]
A good definition of maturity might be: choosing to ignore your first impulses for others’ sake. Maturity is choosing to stay quiet in rehearsal when another section is rehearsing, because your impulse to talk would undermine the other section. Maturity is choosing to practice rather than to look for Pokémon […]
I’ve listened to a lot of music. Like, a lot. But there’s still vast amounts of amazing music I have never listened to. There’s simply not time. When someone seems affronted that I haven’t gotten around to hearing their favorite music, or music held in high regard, I can feel […]
“I finished most of an arrangement today.” “Oh, did it turn out well?” “No idea! I only wrote it!” I truly believe this is the best attitude to have when creating new artistic works. Even as I try to use my best discernment as I create, I simultaneously try to […]
Just because we all have to be in agreement doesn’t mean we all have to be beholden to the page. A rhythmic disagreement between sections tonight offered an opportunity to ignore the sheet music. Sheet music, of course, only contains a fraction of the musicality – there’s a lot of […]
My son loves Scouting – he’s passionate and committed. But he also knows that his forward motion slows down every few months. It’s a natural cycle of the type we all go through in any activity. When he noticed that he always gets reenergized after participating in certain optional events […]