Deep Breaths

You’ve got to plan ahead for long trips. We’re working on a very slow ballad in Shades of Blue, requiring breath support for phrases that always feel like they’re going one beat longer than you expect. The thing that makes the difference is planning like you’re going on a long […]

Good Enough

I remind myself frequently that most things we use are simply good enough. Not perfect. Good enough. That goes for our technological devices – good enough to do what we need them to do. (Unless, maybe, you’re using a school-issued device…) It goes for our musical notation system, which has […]

Practice With Assessment

How do you practice well? There are so many keys to effective practice; one often overlooked is assessment. If you aren’t assessing yourself as you practice, you are much more likely to be undermining your growth with inefficient practice. HOW do you assess yourself in practice? Most importantly, prioritize self-assessment […]