arrange • compose • conduct
A lot of people are taking up new music practices this spring. Learning new instruments, learning to sing, writing songs, or learning new repertoire. It’s a good reason to remember this truth: Perfect is a trap. Perfect is unattainable, and if you wait for your art to be perfect, you’ll […]
In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones. Touchstones […]
Feedback loops are an incredibly vital part of teaching. Great teachers are right now discovering just how much they rely on tight feedback loops to inform their teaching and connect with students. It’s the ten questions you can answer in five minutes – and see in their eyes when they […]
In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones. My […]
It’s time for my eighth Flash Mob Friday! Gigging musicians and artists have been and will continue to be disproportionately hit by the COVID-19 closings, so each Friday I’m going to point you towards a musician, artist, or organization I think is worth your support. It’s my hope that together […]
“I don’t know how to do this, but I’m willing to try and learn.” That is the exact attitude that we should desire from our students – the sign of curiosity, engagement, and a desire to grow and improve. It seems to me to be the message that all teachers […]
In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones. Mel […]
Choir directors were served up some bleak, bleak news via a webinar sponsored by NATS, Chorus America, ACDA, the Barbershop Harmony Society, and the Performing Arts Medical Association. It was hard to hear the information the scientists, physicians, and vocal music experts shared and not feel pessimistic about the near-term […]
In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones. No […]
When you are making projects – recordings, arrangements, compositions, performances – there is a time when the work is complete but no one else has it yet. It’s an exquisite moment to be in sole possessions of your new work of art, particularly if you are feeling confident in its […]