Jed Scott Music

patina (noun): a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use – the beautiful patina of this antique table (Merriam-Webster) I got to go “home” to my undergraduate music building last night for an amazing concert. On the way home, we reflected on the beautiful patina a space can acquire […]

Mindfulness has been a fruitful area of scientific study in recent years, and of formal religious study for thousands. Recently, an article gained popularity in choral circles with the headline, “Choral Singing Boosts Mindfulness,” and the sub-headline, “New research points to one reason joining a choir boosts mental health.” Well, of course […]

I often use the metaphor of reins to describe parenting; I believe that it is the job of parents to consistently, and intentionally, let out reins for our children – allowing them ever-larger chances to learn, to succeed, to grow, and, indeed, to fail. Holding too tight to the reins […]

Robert Shaw was famous for his letters. His first biography was named after his familiar opening – Dear People – and Robert Blocker has edited an entire volume, The Robert Shaw Reader, to Shaw’s written words. Why did Shaw feel it was so important to communicate textually with his singers? It maintained […]

My oldest son is teaching himself how to pop wheelies on his bike right now. He’s frustrated, because, in his words, “The front wheel is too heavy.” I think this is likely the feeling of most novice-wheeliers…and it has nothing to do with the weight of the bike. If you keep […]

Many vocal groups, particularly vocal jazz groups, place a high value on the ability of each singer to sing her part as a solo. Why? The reason is that vocal jazz is incredibly challenging both vertically (understanding how your note fits with the rest of the chord) and horizontally (making sense of […]

“Education can no longer be done to people. It has to be done with them. A kid is now capable of sitting through almost any class and not getting it – because if they don’t want to get it, they’re not going to get it. But if you’re into baseball cards or into Magic: […]

A few weeks in from the start of school, and a few weeks out from the first concert. Congratulations, you’re in the weeds! You’re past learning notes for your music. Your sections are starting to know and trust each other. But you’re not exactly making music yet. The weeds is the part […]

We all get caught in ruts. Ruts of programming, ruts of yearly events, ruts in the games we play or the meals we cook. There are multiple benefits to trying something different. Of course, there’s the obvious chance to have a new experience. Humans crave variety, it is said. But more important is the flexibility […]

How do you get better if you can’t tell what mistakes you’re making? If they’re pitch mistakes, you’d better be practicing with a piano, and have enough skills to at least check pitches. If not, get help – a recording you can practice with. If they’re rhythmic mistakes, you might not […]