arrange • compose • conduct
Provided you’re not hiding, not ignoring the problem, and not being blocked from finishing by forces beyond your control, projects take the time they take. I started a family musical project in May, and finished 90% of it today. It’s not because I procrastinated or because I didn’t think it […]
Motivation can be external or internal. Each of us uses a mixture of the two to get our work completed. This pandemic, and particularly remote education, has compelled many students to become better acquainted with internal motivation. When the teacher is standing ten feet from you, it’s harder to disengage […]
Dish management is the secret to a successful Thanksgiving don’t you think? For a while I thought it was oven management – the flow chart that dictated when each baked dish would slip into the oven so that everything was hot and ready at roughly the same time. But a […]
I just finished a Virtual Game Night with the vocal jazz ensemble I direct, GRCC Shades of Blue. Seven of the nine members this semester were able to attend. We’ve been rehearsing and recording virtually all semester, and owing to the nature of our system, they haven’t all even met […]
In late September I wrote one of my favorite arrangements in my whole catalog. It happened over about 72 hours, when inspiration met a few free hours, and then an entire unscheduled Sunday. Now, in November, having recorded it (remotely) and prepared for its release, I already can’t remember the […]
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 […]
Directing focus is a big part of what I think about as a conductor: How do we direct focus towards the voice part with the melody? How do I direct focus away from myself and to my students? How do I maintain the ensemble’s focus on the music at hand? […]
This is the year to practice abundant grace. Everyone I know is experiencing emotional upheaval – on their own timeline. And in times of emotional upheaval, what we need more than anything from the people around us is grace. We need patience, support, guidance, and unconditional love. Some needed it […]
I finished a small household plumbing project today, one that a plumber could have dispensed with in ten minutes. It took me the better part of the morning and three trips to the hardware store. The big cause of that extra time is that I don’t do plumbing projects regularly. […]
It’s been a long dark nightAnd I’ve been a waitin’ for the morningIt’s been a long hard fightBut I see a brand new day a dawningI’ve been looking for the sunshineYou know, I ain’t seen it in so longAnd everything’s gonna work out just fineAnd everything’s gonna be all rightThat’s […]