Arts for Amateurs

I tweeted last night, while listening to the third evening in a row of fireworks being set off at dozens of homes in our neighborhood: “We seem to have decided as a society that the arts should only be handled by professionals, but pyrotechnics are fine for amateurs.” There are so many […]

We Are All Artists

I am writing early, listen to the songbirds sing on a beautiful July 4. The birds mean a lot to me, and especially today–because they remind me of a gentleman who is a core inspiration to me as a parent, grandparent, and artist. My Pop Pop was born on the Fourth of July. […]

Relearning Boredom

I’ve written before about my own lack of boredom–that I don’t even remember what it feels like to be bored. I think, though, that I’ve learned how to be bored, and how to parlay that into creativity. It’s not the boredom that’s important, it’s the willingness to hear and follow ideas. […]

Bon Voyage, Katarina

Katarina Henryson has anchored The Real Group in the second position since their founding in 1984. Tonight marks her final a cappella concert with the group. After 32 years, she has a remarkable legacy of recordings (I personally own 20 different albums), live concerts (over 2,000), and lives affected by her beautiful personality and […]

She Loves Me

Bravo to the entire operation involved in putting She Loves Me on Broadway and then live streaming it last night at BroadwayHD. Aside from some streaming problems early in the show, the show appeared flawlessly in our family room, direct from Studio 54 on Broadway. Everything about this performance was charming, from sets and costumes, choreography […]

Graphic Design

Basic graphic design skills are an integral and overlooked part of choral training. Unless you’re in an organization that can afford a marketing person (which leaves 99.9% of us), your choral program needs quality design. If you didn’t receive it during your undergrad or grad programs (few do), take the following steps. […]

Fluid Dreams

Dreams are great. When you graduate high school–when you graduate preschool!–everyone wants to know, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Tell them something, for sure. “I want to get a Ph.D in political science and run for congress.” “I want to perform on Broadway.” “I want to […]

Love As A Verb

  The best way to express your love isn’t in words, it’s in actions. Making jam is a small token of love; so is a note in a lunch or a favorite meal. Teaching is an act of love. Tiny gestures are a magical way to say “I love you.” So […]