“As a member of a quartet, you come to realize that you’re responsible for other people’s reputations and livelihoods as well as your own.” –Michael Tree, violist The Musician’s Way, p. 115 Few things in life bring as much joy as collaborative music making. When we...
“Fortune favors the prepared mind.” –Louis Pasteur, scientist I often hear creative people attribute their breakthroughs to luck: “My ideas come to me out of nowhere,” they’ll claim. I don’t think so. Although breakthroughs may seem fortuitous, they actually...
“The most important practice session of the week isn’t the one right before your lesson; it’s the one right after.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 296 As lessons or performances approach, many music students ramp up their practice time; then, afterward, they ease off. I...
“You are the one who will shape yourself into the artist that you aspire to be.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 296 Multitudes of music students take regular lessons. Are young musicians prepared to make the most of their lessons? Some are, but many are not, because, through...
“The details are not the details. They make the design.” –Charles Eames, designer For musicians and designers alike, our approach to detail largely determines whether our work soars or flops. Compare, for instance, these two performers: Musician 1 performs with...
