arrange • compose • conduct
Whenever you always approach a type of problem with a certain strategy, it might be useful to ask: “What other approaches might work?” As a general principle, I often take a few months after a recording session with my ensembles before I sit down to mix it. The distance from […]
These are three keys to success over adversity. Have a Plan B. Or, if not a plan, then the skills to pivot without preparation. (When my studio engineer student got sick, I was ready to jump in, knew who to ask for help, and got the job done.) Work with […]
It’s impossible to be prepared for every eventuality. But… The first time you do something – perform a recital, say, or do a recording session – you can’t know what to expect, or what common pitfalls are to be avoided. You’re going to have to learn, through a combination of […]
“You’re so smart, you should be a doctor!” (lawyer, rocket scientist, engineer) Yes, you could be those things. But how should you use your intellect? Use your intellect to bring more love into the world. However that works for you. Be a teacher. Be an author. Yes, be a musician. […]
“For those who have been trained by it, no discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful.” These words, this tune, sing in my ears whenever I’m struggling to find the discipline to do the work I intend to do. “I’m tired.” “I don’t feel like it.” “I can do […]
How should musicians emulate physicians? First, do no harm. Those are the words attributed to Hippocrates, though they don’t appear in the Hippocratic Oath. And they’re a great takeaway for musicians. Do no harm – don’t alienate your music students or inhibit their love of music. Do no harm – […]
A big part of success is knowing when you won’t have time later. Self-honesty in planning ahead is essential to success. There were so many times as I was honing my craft when I thought I could fit more into a busy day than I could. Like, by a lot. […]
Choose remarkable, not predictable. Every bowl of Cheerios I’ve ever eaten has tasted exactly the same. That’s a feature of grocery store food – predictable is better than remarkable. And we’ve come to expect that predictability in a larger and larger part of our lives. Actually, though, in other human […]
Planning only gets you so far. My day was short circuited before it even began, thanks to a middle of the night thunderstorm and a very anxious dog. All the planning and positive intention for the first day back from Spring Break couldn’t prepare me for the day that was […]
Waiting for the right moment doesn’t always work. It’s nice to think you can just wait for inspiration, for the door to open, for the right signs to conspire…but that’s not usually going to work out. Unless you’re fine with waiting a lot. It’s better, most of the time, to […]