arrange • compose • conduct
The grass is liberated in my part of Michigan. I went for a run a few days ago on a 65º day and saw the beginnings of new green shoots coming up in many lawns. But in a few spots, piles of snow remain. When some people shoveled or plowed […]
I am three months away from a journey I could hardly have imagined two years ago. With the help of MSVMA and the Carolyn Leep Scholarship, I will head out on July 4 for a week of intensive study and work with the amazing Alice Parker. She will celebrate her […]
I can’t think of many things I’ve done for 150 days in a row. I haven’t practiced for 150 straight days, I haven’t run 150 straight days. Not even writing music, the activity I most crave when I miss a day or a few. Brushing and flossing. But today I […]
According to convincing research over decades from Carol Dweck and others, it’s far more educationally effective to praise kids for effort than for intellect. The entire “gifted” terminology is a trap for kids: it creates a “fixed mindset” in people that convinces them they can only succeed at things they […]
If you wonder whether it is really that important to have a fully engaged face when singing, consider the McGurk Effect. According to Wikipedia, The illusion occurs when the auditory component of one sound is paired with the visual component of another sound, leading to the perception of a third […]
I realize I memorialized Gene Puerling only last week, but today would be his 86th birthday. I don’t need a special day to celebrate the creative genius of Puerling, but I will take advantage of it every time I can. Today, let’s turn to a wonderful live recording from 1978. […]
What a joy it is to have a hand in the creation or premiere of new music. Right now I am working with two composers on commissions for my group, the Rockford Aces. Emailing about texts, style, duration and so on is exciting – together we are shaping what a […]
Are you as frustrated with the lack of quality arts coverage as I am? Over the 20 years I’ve been reading the Sunday New York Times, coverage of classical and jazz music has slowly been replaced with stories of pop/entertainment. The quality remains high of what they do cover, but the space is reduced, as […]
Recently Seth Godin wrote compellingly about humanity’s ability to look away when the problem seems unsolvable. He challenges those who want to effect change to look deeper rather than look away. One of the best ways I know to look is through art. Today the Rockford Aces will present Kurt Bestor’s Prayer […]
We are hardwired to equate time and value. The more something is worth to us, the more time we are willing to spend on it. I think our brains assume the converse is true, too: the more time we spend, the more worth that experience has. By that measure, the […]