This topic comes out of a conversation we’ve been having in Reed Club lately. Last week was my THIRD orchestra concert since the South Bend Symphony started back up post-pandemic,Continue readingReed Drift
Zooming Back to Work
Zoom has been a necessary evil this year – but emoting through it has been an obstacle that turned into an opportunity. It’s liberated my playing, and I invite you to let it liberate yours! … Continue readingZooming Back to Work
The Element of Surprise
I’m working with an adult oboist who can play beautifully but tends to melt down as soon as anything at all doesn’t go her way. And because it’s the OBOE,Continue readingThe Element of Surprise
The Magic of a PLAN
My student’s issue is that she loses her focus during long pieces and stops being able to play well. She starts out great and then her mind wanders and thenContinue readingThe Magic of a PLAN
Why Do We Practice?
Why do we practice? While I am actually practicing, I don’t always enjoy it that much. Like running, I prefer HAVING practiced to practicing. Many days, in my practice, nothingContinue readingWhy Do We Practice?
Use Your Things
I like my things to look lived in. There’s a certain joy in cracking open a brand new book that no one has read before – but what a pleasureContinue readingUse Your Things
On FLOW
Have you seen Soul? That new Pixar movie? We watched it a couple of weeks ago – and then again last week, because it’s just that great! I’ve never seen theContinue readingOn FLOW
Look for the Lulls
I discovered something about myself during this lockdown. I discovered that I can practice after 4pm. I’m a morning person. I’m fresh in the morning, I feel smart in theContinue readingLook for the Lulls
Maybe Believe the Science
I had a session recently with a very intelligent, very self-aware guy, an oboist who largely has his act together. He challenges me and my teaching in a way IContinue readingMaybe Believe the Science
On the generosity of Instagram practice accounts
Classical musicians are trained to make it perfect. To make all the notes correct, to make it sound like the CD, to do it the way everyone else has doneContinue readingOn the generosity of Instagram practice accounts