arrange • compose • conduct
My son mentioned recently that any possible arrangement (there are 43 quintillion) of a Rubik’s Cube can be solved in 20 moves or less. (This is confirmed mathematically.) But it’s not the solution most of us are going to take. We’re more likely to look at a scrambled cube and […]
“What choices would the me that I want to become make?” That’s as good a motivating question as I can think of. Of course, it leads to other questions: Who do I want to become? What choices do I make unconsciously every day? How do I change entrenched choices? And […]
Ira Glass, in an interview I read a long time ago, talked about an important early step in his growth. (I’m sorry I can’t currently find the link.) He described the three weeks of full-time mixing of his own voice that it took for him to stop feeling uncomfortable listening […]
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. Julia […]
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 […]