arrange • compose • conduct
We sometimes think that all the learning happens during those four or six years of college/grad school. The truth is, lots more learning happens afterwards, if we are open to it. In other words: what used to be hard doesn’t stay hard. I was reflecting on this today as I […]
There’s something special about the bonds we form in choir. That’s true whether it’s the friends you return to, year after year, or the songs you can sing a quarter century later, in 4-part harmony, or in some special occasions, the couples who forget lifelong bonds in their choir. If […]
Dr. Brené Brown launched two podcasts in 2020, including the wonderful Unlocking Us. On the very first episode, she introduced us to her idea of FFTs (the FT stands for “First Time”). She outlines the various ways that dealing with a first-time experience can affect our lives, and gives great […]
I made a list this weekend (during my Singing Brook Day) of active projects in my life right now. It wasn’t a complete GTD Mind Sweep but it was a solid clearing out of my mental to-do list. I ended up with a full 4×6 card in tiny handwriting. So […]
Life’s worthwhile arcs often last a lifetime. There are deadlines, due dates, smaller projects that come and go – but the overall arc is never-ending. Contrast that with the impression we often give students over 13 years of compulsory schooling: that knowledge is discrete; that every unit comes with a […]
I think a lot about the concept of moral licensing. Malcolm Gladwell explained it clearly, and introduced it to me, in the first episode of his podcast Revisionist History. In brief: Past good deeds can liberate individuals to engage in behaviors that are immoral, unethical, or otherwise problematic–behaviors they would otherwise avoid for […]
A math educator friend posted a fun 3-minute math puzzle on Facebook yesterday – it was fun for me to play, though I only got close to the right answer. (If only I was still calculus-adept…). Of the responses, several were by musicians/music educators, and in his replies, my friend […]
We went driving to look at Christmas lights tonight; saw some amazing displays. The thing I thought about, though, is that there are lots of different ways to decorate your house for Christmas. all white lights all colored lights animatronic reindeer inflatables flashing a simple Manger scene or crèche And […]
I’m predisposed to look to the future, not the past. As such, with coronavirus vaccinations rolling out and a potential end to rolling lockdowns imminent, I think it’s time to start diverting some thinking away from mitigating the challenges of the pandemic towards planning for what comes after. And the […]
Here’s the questions you might ask as you work through learning a new craft. How do I do this?How do I do this well?How do I do this in a way that expresses my own viewpoint?How do I do this in a way that impacts others?How do I impact the […]