arrange • compose • conduct
Posts discussing education, both in and outside of music
I start my one-on-one coachings by saying, “How are you doing?” My students know I mean it, truly. Before I ask, “What did you practice?” or “When are you submitting your recording?” or “Where were you last week?” I need to make sure my students are surviving. It’s okay to […]
I am a work in progress. Well into my forties, I still learn how to do my work better every single week. I discover new approaches, new tools, new ideas. I seek them. It’s important to me that we make sure that this is the paradigm our students adopt: I […]
I am so glad that music classes rarely focus on winning. Even at state adjudicated festivals, even at the World Choir Games, judgements are based on objective assessments, not on a true head-to-head competition. So any awards or “wins” can be filed under “reaching the ensemble’s potential.” The reason I’m […]
There are two phases of skill growth. One requires solo work, the other requires help. There is a phase when you are developing a skill when doing it every day will lead to inevitable improvement. If you do sit-ups every day, you will get better. If you sing every day, […]
My friend Fred retired this year after several decades brilliantly teaching Calculus. While we didn’t get to interact as often as I would like while he taught (we were both occupied with reaching our own students) he has become a perfect example to me of what a great teacher looks […]
I’m teaching basic reharmonization techniques in my Jazz Theory class. The hardest part for students to wrap their heads around is that there are no easy rules. It’s easy to understand why. Their exposure to music theory is all in the traditional Western tonal theory. You know, the one with […]
We react to sudden changes. Sudden changes can be traumatic, but they are highly visible to us, so we react appropriately. We prioritize that reaction, we make the adjustments we need to make, and we keep moving forward. Problem is, much change happens too slowly. I’m thinking about things like […]
I thought I’d break down the steps to being a great teacher during a pandemic in a lunch note for my wife. That’s all there is to it. That’s all there ever is to it.
The most important job of arts educators isn’t to prepare students for careers in the arts (though I’m proud when former students do pursue arts careers). The most important job of arts educators isn’t to ensure our students make art a vital part of their life journey (though I tell […]
Composition lessons are generally full of careful feedback – I try to mix positive and constructive responses, while always being mindful that I, the teacher, shouldn’t force my own musical vision onto the student. But sometimes the best feedback to give is simply, “More bars.” Write more. Write more. Write […]