arrange • compose • conduct
When is it worth having a Zoom meeting in 2023? I admit that I don’t prefer Zooming to in-person meetings. However, there are several situations when I think that Zooming is better than any alternative, and we can take advantage of our new skills in video conferencing. I don’t always […]
With a vocal jazz quartet, you can’t have someone sick with COVID and still go on. That’s precisely what happened to Shades of Blue a few weeks ago, scuttling our performance at GRCC Jazz Night. We conspired, planned, and got support to put on a Family and Friends Concert after […]
Do you plan your return to health in your head? Like, “I’m feeling crummy today, but I’m sure I’ll feel better tomorrow.” I have been burned by this mindset more than once, because I’m always overly optimistic in terms of how quickly I’ll heal from a cold. I resume my […]
When you’re blindsided by illness at an inconvenient time, you’ll be glad you followed these simple steps ahead of time. Build autonomy into your ensemble from day 1. Make sure they can survive without you. Build extra prep time into your rehearsal schedule, so you’re not slammed at the last […]
I didn’t have a concert tonight. More precisely, I didn’t have the concert I planned – several of my students put together wonderful jazz solos to fill some of the time that Shades of Blue was set to perform in. Unfortunately, a quartet and Covid-19 don’t go together well. It’s […]
We all have the capability to do virtual meetings. Does that mean they’re always the best choice? Of course not. There are many values to meeting in person, particularly when new groups are working to build capacity and develop their relationships. But with a world fluent on Zoom meetings, the […]
“I want to be very clear: The results in today’s nation’s report card are appalling and unacceptable,” said Miguel Cardona, the secretary of education. From The New York Times today How many ways is this incorrect? The dip in standardized test scores is not appalling. It is anticipated and understandable. […]
Back to my old ways… I gained two things during my months of conducting with a mask. First, I learned ever more clearly how to conduct with just my eyes and hands. I, like many conductors, tend to use my whole face, and it was a great education in how […]
My son is not at Blue Lake right now. He was going to experience his first ever real music camp this summer, studying clarinet and being around fellow young musicians, in an experience that is formative for so many musicians and artists. Blue Lake suffered from a significant COVID-19 out […]
Do you tell your students what you plan to change for next year? I prefer to be tight lipped about what I’m planning for the future with my ensembles. Part because I like to process my own thoughts independently, and part because I know I’m a slow thinker and don’t […]