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There is an inevitability to the busiest concert days that you’ll forget something. Whether it’s my friend who had to buy new concert attire this afternoon because he left his at home, too far to get back, or the simple failure to acknowledge an important person from the stage during […]

We wrap up courses with examinations, to determine what students have learned. What I want to know, though, is what they think they learned. What would it look like to take your exam time, or a class period at the end the year, or a final rehearsal, or voice lesson, […]

Congratulations to Rob Stow and the Elk Rapids HS Choirs for their premiere of “Raise Your Voice” tonight at their final concert. This piece was collaboratively composed by me and my wife, Mandy, with texts from Mandy, our daughter, and Rumi. (We also included a favorite spoken text from Howard […]

On one end of the spectrum, the diligent Choral Ensemble A looking devotedly, and consistently at their conductor. Whatever emotional expression the singers make, it is directed at their leader. On the other end, the expressive Choral Ensemble Z, emoting directly at the audience as if they actors, with little […]

When grades are your only motivation, what will you do after graduation? Performance review? That hardly seems to be the motivation for virtually anyone to do good work. Money? That’s a vicious circle of motivation – and there’s not a lot of evidence that you’ll find yourself very happy down […]

So often as leaders/educators/parents, we are expected – expect ourselves – to have the right answer, right now. A fair percentage of the time, we might. But then again, a fair percentage of the time, we might not. I think one of the truest signs of a good leader (and […]

I love how the combination of effort, passion, and time can forge new strength. And like every musician I know, I have always focused on my weaknesses, not my strengths – because that’s what I need to spend time on. But it’s worth reflecting, when the time is right, on […]

Watch or read about leading chess players, and you’ll soon come to understand that they don’t need the board. The real game of chess is happening in their head – where they can move pieces about, recall similar layouts from past games, and generally manipulate the game in ways you […]

“The score is just a starting point,” I heard myself say in a guest clinic this afternoon. And I believe that’s really true. It’s certainly true in the vocal jazz world, where all sorts of articulations, stylistic elements, and changes can and should be made by the ensemble. It’s true […]

There are things that can (or must!) be done far in advance. Programming. Booking venues. Selecting dates. There are things that can (or must!) be done near to the last minute. Choosing soloists. Concert promotion. Fine tuning of pieces and program order. There are things that can be done at […]