arrange • compose • conduct
Posts discussing education, both in and outside of music
If you’re thinking about decluttering or attempting minimalism or just simplifying your possessions, a good question to ask is, “If I were moving tomorrow, would I move this?” It’s a way to quickly separate the things you really want to have from the things that are there just because they’re […]
There are two primary definitions of the verb “practice,” and the one you’re thinking of is its second definition. The second definition is “to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient.” That’s what music educators are usually talking about. But the first definition is “to carry out, […]
Art can feel rare and elusive sometimes – especially for artists, who pour all of their energy into their creation. But I really think that making art is the default. And I was reminded that most forcefully tonight as I watched a dozen performers create a truly remarkable 2 1/2-hour […]
I’ve had this passage stuck in my head since I read it as a high school freshman in 1991 or 1992. It resurfaces whenever I’m thinking about what it takes to be an outstanding learner. In Chaim Potok’s masterpiece The Chosen, the narrator and protagonist Reuven Master, is studying the […]
Choir directors suffer from long-term project overload. Think about it: every one of your projects is a delayed-gratification project. Concert days are eight weeks in the making. You start planning and prepping your musical months before it opens. Even your educational goals can be years in the making – giving […]
It’s easy to get traction starting around a week before a concert, give or take. Suddenly, the looming public performance helps your students get into gear and make big leaps forward. The challenge is to get traction further ahead of the concert. If you can gain traction when the concert […]
If it’s written, especially on paper, it’s real. I was reminded that tonight when my kids were doing their night-time checklist. The sign reads “lunch boxes on counter” – and no matter how many times I remind them, “Dining table, not counter,” they end up on the kitchen counter. When […]
A recent online discussion centered around vocal jazz ensemble singers losing track of their rhythmic accuracy when their rhythm section joined them. Assuming that the rhythm section is playing well in time, and that the singers have rehearsed thoroughly and are capable of the accuracy, here’s the most likely culprit. […]
Want more music? Want harder music? Want more interesting music? No problem… Master what you’ve got. The music you’ve got, you’ve got for a reason. It’s chosen to teach important lessons, to build important skills, to develop your ensemble. And once you’ve done those things, we’ll move on – to […]
I know that sometimes your educational professional development can feel like neither professional nor development. Many of my friends and colleagues are spending their days in lectures, meetings, and various other activities that keep them from doing the work they want to be doing to be their best for their students. If […]