“Ultimately, your musical progress will depend more on your skillfulness with the creative process than on any talent.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 313 We dedicated musicians invest heavily in growing our abilities because we know that the personal and professional...
“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.” –Andrew Carnegie The Musician’s Way, p. 105 Persistent practice coupled with ongoing professional development is the recipe for musical...
“With big events, the artistic and logistical details can reach nerve-racking proportions.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 216 We all know that excellent performances result from thorough preparation. But preparing for concerts, auditions, and recording sessions entails...
“Positive emotions open our hearts and minds, making us more receptive and more creative.” –Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D. Positivity, p. 21 We musicians intuitively understand the power of positive emotions. Whether we’re practicing or performing, we know that feelings...
“Your most fertile source of creative energy is a compelling artistic vision.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 310 Among the many factors that lead to artistic achievement, the most decisive one may be the least visible. Yet it’s the reason we veteran musicians practice,...
“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 job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” –Francis Bacon, painter* We musicians have much to master along the road to acquiring expertise. And the demands of practice can sometimes be daunting. But as we build up our skills, we need to remember that, in...
“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...
“We have something that is unique. We have our craft. We have our art. We have our desire.”* –Branford Marsalis, saxophonist Craft, art, desire. Add persistent hard work, and what do you get? Artistic and professional success. Why is it, then, that some students who...
