“It is music’s lofty mission to shed light on the depths of the heart.” –Robert Schumann, composer and pianist June 8, 2010 marked the 200 anniversary of the birth of Robert Schumann (1810-1856). The quintessential Romantic composer, Schumann wrote more than 150 works...
“People think I am disciplined. It is not discipline, it is devotion. There is a great difference.” –Luciano Pavarotti, singer The Musician’s Way, p. 106 What empowers some musicians to keep growing while others fizzle? I’m convinced that, above all, it’s...
“I’m very mistrustful of tactile memory. I think it’s the first thing that goes.” –André Watts, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 82 Have you ever been blindsided by a memory lapse? Maybe you felt secure in practice, but, during a performance, you blanked on a...
“The single most important goal for performing artists is to see how they are doing.” –Itzhak Perlman The Musician’s Way, p. 202 Suppose that you’re practicing a new piece. How do you know that one portion is learned securely enough for you to tackle another? Later...
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” –Ella Fitzgerald, singer When we marvel at the feats of musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, it’s easy for us to overlook the hurdles they...
