“Lifelong creativity isn’t given to you. You must earn it and attend to it every day.” —Eric Maisel Creativity for Life, p. 319 To build creative, satisfying careers, we musicians need to cultivate both artistic and professional abilities. Nonetheless, few music...
“Let your community feed your creativity.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 313 When we put on concerts, we work hard to ensure that everything goes well. All too often, though, we only give one performance in a community, when, with a bit more effort, we could touch countless...
“Elevate both your music making and your confidence to the highest possible levels.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 201 Rising performers who put on their own public concerts reap numerous benefits. They advance their careers, polish their artistic identities, refine their...
“When you step on stage, your awareness of your material will anchor your control and set your creativity free.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 37 Having coached countless aspiring musicians, I’ve found that many commit an avoidable misstep that profoundly limits their...
“Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” –Jonathan Swift The Musician’s Way, p. 310 We all know that musical excellence results from smart, steady practice over a span of years. Still, it isn’t always easy for us to practice deliberately day after day....
“A performer’s reputation is enhanced by or diminished with each musical interaction.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 306 I suspect that almost every skilled musician has been asked to perform free of charge, often by people and organizations that can...
“What is best in music is not to be found in the notes.” –Gustav Mahler (Gunther Schuller, The Compleat Conductor, Oxford, 1998, p. 106) If you’re a classical musician who aspires to a concert career, you’re in danger. In danger of becoming a commodity. That’s because...
“When college-bound music students report their educational plans to family and friends, they often hear this question: ‘So, what are you going to do for a living?'” –The Musician’s Way, p. 300 Non-artists generally have scant knowledge of the...
“Music making is a never-ceasing process of change and progress.” –Jacqueline du Pré, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 205 We musicians seldom achieve expertise on our own but seek out teachers to inform our growth. Although teachers can influence us in countless...
