“The path you take is your path and no one else’s, so welcome it.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 314 Many aspiring musicians worry about their futures, wondering whether they have enough talent to succeed as pros. Thing is, musical talent is but a facet of what enables us...
“Whatever music you play or sing, your objective is to express musical ideas, not spew out notes.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 24 Accomplished musicians bring vibrancy to every sound they make – there’s an emotional power to their music that...
“With a commitment on your calendar, your practice becomes targeted toward an exhilarating purpose.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 108 Some musicians relish daily practice; others struggle to work consistently. Whatever our relationship with practice might be,...
“Being a musician isn’t about pursuing some nirvana of artistic enlightenment; it’s about endless refinement and discovery.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 110 This blog and The Musician’s Way book explore diverse strategies to practice deeply and...
“There are over 7 million borrowers in default on a federal or private student loan.” -Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (August 2013) Student loan debt has reached crisis proportions in the US. Not only are millions of borrowers unable to make their loan payments,...
“Establish an honest dialogue with your teacher.” -Wynton Marsalis The Musician’s Way, p. 293 Vast numbers of students take music lessons, but I’ve observed that few speak authentically with their teachers. The following guidelines, adapted from...
“For music and service to become your way of life, you must confront economic realities.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 299 Aspiring classical musicians commonly study in a context resembling the ancient “master-apprentice” model. That is, they take...
“Meaning is what matters most in your day-to-day practice.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 312 Might there exist people who devote themselves to music solely for material gain? I doubt it. Rather, it’s the psychic income that we derive from our work that we most...
Arts entrepreneurship isn’t a slice of the educational pie – it’s the pan. I adapted that opening sentence from a statement attributed to Andrew Rasiej (“Innovation is not a slice of the pie – it’s the pan”). The concept of pan...
