I heard a colleague complaining about having practiced music which was later cut from the concert. What a waste of time, she griped! Something about that attitude rubbed me theContinue readingThe Work is Never Wasted
What Do You Do in a Bad Gig?
What can you do when you’re stuck in the crappy groups? I was on a call with a client the other day. She was discouraged because she was finally ableContinue readingWhat Do You Do in a Bad Gig?
How Do You WISH You Could Describe Your Reeds?
In Reed Club last Monday, we took a moment before we started scraping to set some intentions. We each said one word – an adjective to describe what we WANTED ourContinue readingHow Do You WISH You Could Describe Your Reeds?
Coffee? COMMUNICATE.
Thesis: Communication is important. Letting the other person know your CONTEXT is a part of that. Scene: We’re walking the doggo, so I can’t step into the co-op with Steve. Continue readingCoffee? COMMUNICATE.
COMMUNICATING Through the Mask
I was just trying to pick up my kid’s prescription at the pharmacy. No, it’s INGLE. EYE ENN GEE ELLL EEEE. Between the mask covering half my face andContinue readingCOMMUNICATING Through the Mask
The Magic of Words
After my concerto performance last June, I was chatting with a lovely woman from the audience. “It’s not like you’re blowing through the oboe,” she said. People are always interestedContinue readingThe Magic of Words
Self-Talk
When we started the opera cycle (An American Dream, showing at the Harris Theater tonight and Sunday afternoon), the four woodwinds were sitting stacked in a rehearsal room. In other words,Continue readingSelf-Talk
Generosity in Programming
I had the most interesting conversations with a few of my students after my first recital performance last weekend. One thanked me for exposing her to so many interesting newContinue readingGenerosity in Programming
Resonance
When my students get too MOUTHY with the oboe, I put them in a corner. Really. They tend to play the oboe only from the TOP of their body, northContinue readingResonance
Never Trust an Oboe, Part 2
(Part One HERE) (Similar story HERE) Mercifully, THIS one didn’t happen to me. But my poor student was playing an audition for his orchestra, and reached up with his rightContinue readingNever Trust an Oboe, Part 2