jedscott

Sailboats often can’t go directly toward their goal. The physics of sailing dictates that boats can sail a minimum of 35 or 40 degrees away from the wind direction without losing too much speed. So if your goal is directly upwind (i.e., in the direction the wind is coming from), […]

It can be really effective to you make your art for an audience of one. Mr. Rogers imagined he was communicating directly with a single child when he made his favorite show. Lin-Manuel Miranda recently shared that he sometimes writes with himself at certain ages in mind. And of course […]

Enough with the productivity hacks. You’re productive enough. Focus on happiness hacks. Presence hacks. Family time hacks. Longevity hacks. Connection, love, and empathy hacks. If you’re obsessing over 1% increases in productivity, you’re productive enough. You’re. Productive. Enough.

Not too long ago, 99% Invisible devoted a show to the American adoption of air conditioning in the 20th century. It had a lot of repercussions, one of which is that windows were sealed, and indoor temperatures governed to a narrow range. It turns out that researchers have discovered that […]

“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” – Fred Rogers If you’re […]

When you see a master teacher at work, it can look like magic. The artistry of a brilliant conductor can seem so seamless and effortless that it’s unreachable. Great teachers work smoothly to teach at many levels at once, without breaking a sweat. When you see that happen, remember what […]

The best part of speaking a new language is that you get to see in a new way. When you learn to play guitar, you see harmony in a different way than when you play piano. Switch from soprano to alto, and you learn to understand how the parts fit together, […]

Twenty-seven years ago, in 1991, these four giants of vocal harmony groups all released albums in the same year. (Parentheses indicate their first album release date.) The Offbeat of Avenues – Manhattan Transfer (1975) Hearts of Fire – New York Voices (1989) Röster – The Real Group (1987) He Is […]

Who are your colleagues? The P.E. teachers* in your building might be your colleagues on paper, but if choral educators need counsel, they really need to seek it from their true colleagues. Choral conductor colleagues don’t work in the same building. They don’t work in the same district! If you […]