arrange • compose • conduct
As you’re programming your music this year, reject the programming/meal metaphor. You know the one: we should spend the bulk of our choral year on nourishing, nutrient-rich music that enhances the education of our students – so that they can have dessert (aka “fun” music, which by definition is not […]
Measuring changes how we behave. We recently got a cork world map – it’s now got dozens of colored pushpins charting our travels around the country and world. I love it! I also noticed that almost immediately, I started imagining trips that would let me put some extra pins in […]
Sometimes, you need to wait till the end to start. Often when I write, I write a clear summation of the idea at the end. Then – at least half the time – I cut and paste it to the very beginning. Part is clarity: I like to start with […]
It’s a problem. Winning short circuits our rationality. There’s something deep in our unconscious brain that want to win, and especially, I think, wants to feel the heightened connection that comes from being part of a winning group. Why is that a problem? Because artistry doesn’t come with winners. The […]
What are the most important things you want your choirs to end this school year with? Got the list? If you’re like me, there are at least a dozen major goals on it. You have to shorten it. Make it three. You’ll get more done, but you can only guarantee […]
As an educator, are you concerned more with rigor or clarity? Grant Sanderson, the amazing math communicator who runs the 3Blue1Brown YouTube channel, addresses how we are often tempted to pursue rigor at the expense of clarity. Even as educators, for whom clarity should be paramount, it’s a pitfall. The […]
Dreaming big comes with failure. If I dream of commissioning ten new pieces in the next 2 years, but only commission six, is that a failure? It is inarguably a success – I’ve helped bring six new pieces into the world. But if I measure it only against the metric […]
You’ll never see me praying with my students, for one simple reason.
One of the hardest things for conductors to manage is their younger students’ lack of perspective.
Don’t believe me? Try it.