“Articulates both an artistic approach to attaining mastery of an instrument/voice and a practical approach to achieving professional goals. . . Uniquely holistic.” Excerpt from a review of The Musician’s Way, Philosophy of Music Education Review, Vol. 19, No. 1...
“Collaborative music making is one of life’s true joys.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 114 It’s difficult to describe the magical feeling of synchronized music making. Suffice it to say that when we make music together, we ascend to loftier planes. But to reach...
“Music has to be recognized as an agent of social development, in the highest sense because it transmits the highest values – solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion.”* -Jose Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema American orchestras are contracting as...
“You can’t tell by looking at a piece of paper what some of the strengths and weaknesses really are.” –Kevin Kelly, hiring guru, quoted on Forbes.com In almost every field, job seekers who rise to the top of their applicant pools will be interviewed....
“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...
“You don’t always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too.” –Anne Lamott The Musician’s Way, p. 299 Although criticism is essential to all sorts of collaboration, poorly handled critiques can undermine our ability to work...
“Few occasions in life are more hopeful than when musicians team up to form ensembles.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 115 If you’ve performed with a band or other group, then you know how magical collective music making can be. You’ve probably also learned that...
“Combine your mistakes and your triumphs, stir them into the pot of artistic progress, and then savor what bubbles up.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 112 Let’s say that you’ve pinpointed some creative goals, equipped your workspace, and scheduled daily times to...
“A musician’s reputation is shaped as much by consistent professionalism (or the lack thereof) as it is by artistry.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 115 Although we musicians spend vast amounts of time practicing alone, professional music-making is largely a collaborative...
