“Everything you know is important. But you shouldn’t assume that the poem or music you create will come from what you know; it comes from what you don’t know.”* –W.S. Merwin, poet Suppose that you’re about to practice, compose, or improvise: Do you aim to restate past...
“When, through repetition, you practice being inventive and playful, your concerts will resound with those same spontaneous traits.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 53 We musicians do a lot of repeating. In practice, we necessarily repeat material to refine our skills, learn...
“Your imagination with programming can make the difference between your becoming either a busy performer with an eager audience or one who performs little.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 216 Why do people attend concerts by rising musicians? Primarily because they feel...
“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” –John Steinbeck* If you’re a musician who brims with ideas, you’ve probably learned piles of repertoire that you’d like to maintain. Still,...
“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.” –Andrew Carnegie The Musician’s Way, p. 105 Persistent practice coupled with ongoing professional development is the recipe for musical...
“With big events, the artistic and logistical details can reach nerve-racking proportions.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 216 We all know that excellent performances result from thorough preparation. But preparing for concerts, auditions, and recording sessions entails...
“Positive emotions open our hearts and minds, making us more receptive and more creative.” –Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D. Positivity, p. 21 We musicians intuitively understand the power of positive emotions. Whether we’re practicing or performing, we know that feelings...
“Our object is to minimize the contrast between studio practice and public performance.” –Philip Farkas, hornist The Art of Musicianship, p. 48 When you start practicing an unfamiliar piece, does your learning process go smoothly and then culminate in secure,...
“Your most fertile source of creative energy is a compelling artistic vision.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 310 Among the many factors that lead to artistic achievement, the most decisive one may be the least visible. Yet it’s the reason we veteran musicians practice,...
