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If you insist that you can’t do something, I’m going to insist that we don’t say “can’t.” [*] Then I’m going to insist that you call me in a month. Call me in a month, after you’ve tried every day to do that something. Call me in a month after […]

When your child was small, you tied her shoes. But there came a day when it was time for the child to tie her own shoes. This was not easy. It was not easy for the child, and it was not easy for you. You could do it faster, and more effectively. The child […]

Choir is in many ways the perfect setting for the introverted student. A strong community encourages the introvert to feel safe and confident. Strength in numbers enables the introvert to be expressive without feeling singled out. A choir is a place where the introvert can feel solitude within a group (in the best possible way!). […]

I read widely and collect knowledge on as vast a number of topics as I can, because I want to make unexpected connections. Standardized school teaches us to make the expected connections: make the right deductive leap to answer an SAT question correctly. Answer an essay prompt in the expected format. Make the […]

Once in a while, you have to cancel your weekly rehearsal to accommodate the needs of your students or yourself. It can be unplanned (illness) or planned (show week for the school musical). In the end, a canceled weekly rehearsal is a chance to take a moment to reflect. Even if it’s […]

“There is no such thing as song without human beings to sing it.” Alice Parker, in conversation with Krista Tippett Paintings are still there when the museum is closed. The building stands when there is no one inside. A play exists on the page, even when the production has closed. But there […]

Not every word you say will be insightful. Not every word will mean what you intend. Not every word will be clear, not every word will be necessary. Not every phrase will be parsimonious, not every idea will be fully elucidated. But the alternative is silence. Say what you think, every […]

“You can use any source of fuel to power your craft, right? Rage is a fuel source. Joy is a fuel source. Anger is a fuel source. Love is a fuel source. I find that love burns slower and longer. I need it to write musicals – they take a […]

Liking to talk isn’t the same as having something to say. One of the challenges of education is encouraging the introverts with something to say, instead of encouraging the students who are “good in front of a crowd” but don’t add anything to the conversation. Not everyone who is silent has something […]

I like to program difficult music for my ensembles. Here’s why. When an ensemble sight reads something difficult, you will often see a look of doubt on their faces. They don’t think it’s hard: they think it’s impossible. Too hard for them at their current level of skill. I program hard music […]