Jed Scott Music

There is a place for conductor control of musical decisions. But it is not the only viable option. Next time a singer asks how they should interpret something, don’t demonstrate, don’t decide, don’t decree. Ask, “What do you think?” Let the ensemble debate, think, decide for themselves. Your knowledge of performance […]

Note: this is the first of a series of posts investigating the leadership style of John Wooden and its applicability to choral music education. John Wooden made INDUSTRIOUSNESS the first cornerstone of his Pyramid of Success. Call it hard work if you want, but “work” in Wooden’s mind had lost its meaning by the time […]

When you’re in the groove, you feel like you’ll be there forever. Remind yourself you won’t. Enjoy it while you’ve got it.   When you’re out of the groove, you feel like you’ll be there forever. Remind yourself you won’t. Just keep moving forward.

Composer/Conductor Andrea Ramsey was kind enough to grant me an interview for ACDA-Michigan, on the subject of her new piece, But a Flint Holds Fire. Set to the poetry of Christina Rossetti and words from Flint and Flint Township students, it addresses the Flint Water crisis head on with candor and beauty. Read it […]

The subject is less important than the teacher. As Adam Grant recently said, “The mark of education isn’t the knowledge you collect in your head. It’s the skills you gain about how to learn.” The mark of education isn't the knowledge you collect in your head. It's the skills you gain […]

I’ve been thinking a lot about On Being recently – it’s almost certainly my favorite podcast/radio show, and one I’ve been enjoying since it was called Speaking of Faith. Krista Tippett repeatedly manages to catch lightning in a bottle with her brilliant questions and generous conversations. Mandy and I recently made […]

We all sometimes get to the point where we feel like we can’t achieve a goal. We are too far behind, too tired, too isolated, too unappreciated, too poor. We feel like our chance to begin has passed, and is too far in the past to attain. We all do. What is different […]

It’s the start of the new school year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things left to wrap up from last year. I’ve written before about “May”–the beautiful, haunting piece Michael McGlynn wrote for my choir on commission. Now I’m pleased to share that it is in print, awaiting TTBB choirs across […]

I’ve been digging into the writings and history of John Wooden, a legendary basketball coach at UCLA. His athletic successes are mirrored by remarkable success off the court, in teaching humanity and integrity through his coaching. I think a lot of what he has to say can apply to the work we do […]

Aaron Sorkin has said of screenwriting, “The worst crime you can commit is telling the audience something they already know.” I agree, as regards storytelling – in film, in music, in art. For teachers, though, it’s just the opposite. The worst crime a teacher can commit is leaving a topic before […]