“If you want to be creative, get out there and do it.” –Michael Giacchino, composer (March 2010 Oscar acceptance speech) Almost all of the ambitious music students I meet share two common concerns. They wonder: 1.”Do I have what it takes?” 2.”Will I...
“For you to perform with native inflection, you have to listen and listen until you break through to the soul of a style.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 98 We all enjoy listening to music. But there’s a level of musical perception that transcends ordinary hearing. Deep...
“Of all my skills, none is more important than the ability to organize my time.” –Twyla Tharp, choreographer The Creative Habit, p. 178 Whether you’re a mature musician or a rising one, your creative output will hinge on your knack for allocating practice time and...
“Confident performance isn’t an elusive feat but involves knowledge and skills that any musician can learn.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 133 When I talk to musicians who wrestle with stage nerves, I find that many hold a common belief. They think that they lack a trait...
“I can’t understand why people are frightened by new ideas. I’m frightened by the old ones.” –John Cage, composer When I go to classical music concerts here in the U.S., I mostly find older listeners in attendance, even when the performers are college age. But the...
