“The most difficult thing about being a musician these days is not talent. It’s sustainability.”* –Robert Sirota, former President Manhattan School of Music As Robert Sirota implies, hordes of music graduates struggle to sustain themselves in today’s scene....
“We first make our habits and then our habits make us.” –John Dryden, poet The Musician’s Way, p. 20 When you practice, are you consistently focused and productive? If not, the reason may be due to chronic habits that undermine your attention and creativity. Here are...
“One must approach music with a serious vigor and, at the same time, with great, affectionate joy.” –Nadia Boulanger, pianist & composer The Musician’s Way, p. 292 When listeners, journalists, and concert presenters visit musicians’ websites, they absorb the...
“Practice holds a place of honor in the life of a musician.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 4 All of us veteran musicians share the same twin aims when we practice: to polish our skills and prepare music for performances. We also know how to accomplish our goals efficiently....
“One should hunger after the whole concept, the whole mood, what the music stands for.” –William Pleeth, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 71 When we approach an unfamiliar composition, I recommend that we map out a preliminary interpretation before we deal with...
“The beauty in playing the instrument is not to be better than the next person but to stay true to oneself, to set one’s own standards and keep to them.” –Andrés Cárdenes, violinist The Musician’s Way, p. 305 In many ways, we succeed or flounder as...
“It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?” –Henry David Thoreau In a classic episode of the animated comedy South Park, the main characters track down a clan of gnomes who have been stealing the townspeople’s...
“Make the most seemingly insignificant part feel good for the rest of the ensemble.” -Wynton Marsalis The Musician’s Way, p. 123 We musicians spend vast amounts of time practicing alone. But to make music collectively, we need skills beyond those we rely...
“Whenever you practice or perform a composition, celebrate its unique message. Feel the excitement of listening to the music for the first time.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 74 All of us musicians learn and then set aside countless pieces. Sometimes, we...
