“The habits that enable you to perform expressively in public can only be instilled through practice.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 149 When you’re onstage, do you feel secure and creative? If not, the reasons probably stem from the habits you reinforce in practice....
“Playing is never difficult; it is either easy, or it is impossible.” -Kato Havas, violinist The Musician’s Way, p. 21 We all love how it feels to play or sing with ease. That sense of freedom we enjoy when physical tension melts away and mental...
“I may play the same program from one recital to the next, but I will play it differently. And because it is always different, it is always new.” —Vladimir Horowitz, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 75 Most of us musicians develop a core repertoire that we perform for...
“Only after I have become familiar with the style and character of the work can I start shaping an interpretation.” —Yo-Yo Ma, cellist The Musician’s Way, p. 24 Suppose that you’re an actor who has been hired to perform in a play. When you receive the script, what...
“The studio, a room to which the artist consigns himself for life, is naturally important, not only as workplace, but as a source of inspiration.” -Grace Glueck, journalist The Musician’s Way, p. 5 We musicians spend so much time practicing that it’s wise for us...
“Nothing motivates better than success.” The Musician’s Way, p. 107 Do you typically finish practice sessions feeling that you’ve achieved meaningful goals? If not, these tips can help you invigorate your practice with clarity and accomplishment. See...