It’s not just how good you are. It’s how intriguing. All of us musicians work hard to maintain and improve our skills. Too often, though, young musicians devote years to “getting better” without concurrently growing their distinctiveness, and...
“In any collaborative enterprise, one of your duties is to help your colleagues feel successful.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 117 It’s not easy to succeed in the music world, and we musicians can sometimes compete with rather than support each other....
“Divergent thinking is more about asking questions than finding answers.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 55 The Winter 2015 edition of The Musician’s Way Newsletter offers a sweeping collection of articles and resources for musicians. From inspiring stories...
“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...
“If you’re dedicated to becoming a professional, you have to prepare to compete in the marketplace.” The Musician’s Way, p. 300 If you aim for a career in music, your educational choices will profoundly affect your future. Here are 10 guidelines to help...
“We’re smart enough and clever enough to give each other room to live in, to have respect for each other’s personalities.” -John Lewis, pianist, Modern Jazz Quartet The Musician’s Way, p.120 Unlike when we play or sing in conductor-led ensembles,...
“No matter how musically advanced you become, you’ll encounter passages that defy easy mastery” -The Musician’s Way, p. 54 The November 2014 issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter brings together more than 20 articles and resources of interest...
“Concerts need contrast – and lots of it.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 210 In previous articles, I’ve explored avenues to design concert programs that can attract diverse audiences. In this post, I offer tips to construct attractive programs primarily using...
“Memorable concerts don’t merely deliver what’s expected; they also take audiences beyond what they can envision.” -The Musician’s Way, p. 211 We musicians have it in our power to attract hordes of enthusiastic fans. And one of the most effective ways we can do so is...
