Jed Scott Music

Starting a new piece when you’re new always feels weighty. Serious. Important. I often say that the best thing about your first piece is your second piece, but even more than that, there are two great things about finishing 100 pieces: You know what you’re doing. You have far less […]

The classic David Mamet script Glengarry Glen Ross features a memorable speech (delivered by Alec Baldwin in the movie) about selling that includes the line “Always be closing.” Choirs, who don’t need to worry about closing a sale, should instead be sure to always be memorizing. Memorization always comes too late in […]

“You know what your choir should do to fundraise? Do more performances in the community! It’s a lot easier to do a 15-30 minute performance to raise a couple hundred bucks than to sell cookie dough or wrapping paper!” – Many People Here’s a breakdown of the reality of these […]

Great education is playful. I don’t mean that it’s just “playing games.” Playing games can be beneficial, but it can’t be the sole source of education. I don’t mean that it’s just “having fun.” As Bobby sings, “for those who have been trained by it, no discipline seems pleasant at […]

One of the best things the choir program I’m a (small) part of does is hold an annual Freshman Retreat. Attendees come from multiple choirs, which is what makes it special. Freshmen choir students attend, but so do the junior-senior Chamber Singers, as counselors, guides, and participants all in one. […]

Personal Bibliography: Education (Music & Otherwise) Click here for my complete Personal Bibliography. Godin, Seth. Stop Stealing Dreams (or here as a printable PDF). Seth Godin delivers a manifesto about education. It’s powerful, and it makes you want to stand up and help make a change. Goldsworthy, Anna. Piano Lessons. This beautiful memoir […]

“A painting is never finished – it simply stops in interesting places.” – Paul Gardner Go listen to the most artful recording you know and listen with Paul Gardner’s ears. That is, listen with the understanding that it is an unfinished work of art: it stopped in an interesting place, […]

Overheard in choirs across the world as they begin to show signs of learning notes: the unisons are harder. Mark my words: no matter how challenging the harmonic materials you sing; no matter the language; no matter the breath control required…the unisons are harder. Believe me now or wait and […]

There are two ways to pull into traffic: Many people (Type 1) wait patiently until the traffic clears long enough for them to turn, join a lane, and get up to speed without interruption. The rest (Type 2) wait just until there’s a long enough gap for them to pull […]