arrange • compose • conduct
We all have the capability to do virtual meetings. Does that mean they’re always the best choice? Of course not. There are many values to meeting in person, particularly when new groups are working to build capacity and develop their relationships. But with a world fluent on Zoom meetings, the […]
Wait, scores doesn’t always mean the same thing? No, the traditions around interpreting scores can be radically different depending on context, and we don’t do a great job of making that clear to students. We tend to treat the score as an encyclopedia of interpretation – all information for interpretation […]
I decided to write daily on my website in the early fall of 2014. The last day I missed publishing was November 3, 2014, making today my eighth anniversary of an unbroken streak of writing. At this point, I’m closing in on a 3,000 day streak and have written over […]
I’m watching a trio of men with commercial leaf blowers working to make sure a neighbor’s lawn is utterly devoid of fall leaves. From 100 yards away, the sound drowns out all other background noises. Now, I don’t hold with those who say leave the leaves, because I don’t want […]
I’ve found an unanticipated gift in my increased commitment to preparing sung part recordings for my students. I’ve written before how they have positively impacted my students, and why I came around to a tool I was initially opposed to. It’s certainly not the time and effort – I wasn’t […]
How do you convince a community to show up? Like many high schools, my own school has full parking lots and a packed stadium all fall for all its home football games. I love the way the community comes together to support the school’s pursuits, and to respect the hard […]
I said in rehearsal, “I want to sight read just the first four bars today.” We ended up getting through the first 16 bars, and everyone left pleased with their effectiveness. I can’t say that was my plan, but I will say that setting goals that you can beat can […]
When you’re the deep water of too much work, too many responsibilities, too little time to breathe, it’s easy to feel like it’ll be that way forever. I have been trying to remind myself daily – hourly! – that it’s too much, but only temporarily. In my conversations with Alice […]
Don’t only program wow pieces. Some pieces don’t wow you right away. But sometimes, they’re essential parts of your repertoire selection. It’s easy to program wow pieces, because they immediately engage the ensemble. When the ensemble is excited, they work harder, grow faster, and are committed to preparing performances that […]
Like you, I have the unfortunate tendency to get into my own head. I’m thinking about the things on my seemingly endless to-do list; I’m thinking about goals, dreams, plans, frustrations, disappointments, fears. I’m thinking. For me, at least, the cure is to be making something. When I’m making something, […]