One year ago this week is the last time I was on stage in the “old normal.” I played a Wednesday night rehearsal for a Saturday concert, and on ThursdayContinue readingThe Dirty Truth
Micro Rests
For oboists, endurance is a huge problem. We can play an endlessly long phrase, because of the way the instrument is constructed, but we can really only do that aContinue readingMicro Rests
Deciding
Here’s a memory with some relevance. I was chatting with a friend and she was lamenting being too busy to write. It was exactly the way I’d been feeling,Continue readingDeciding
Bringing Joy to the Work
This gig did not start out promising. We had a LOONNNNGGGG three hour rehearsal the first night with no soloists, on a fairly dull and repetitive score, filled with heavyContinue readingBringing Joy to the Work
Balance, Rebalance, Counterbalance
I do a lot in my life and career, as I have discussed before. And every bit of it is something I have taken on intentionally, at some point, andContinue readingBalance, Rebalance, Counterbalance
What Does a Musician DO?
I get asked all the time what I do for a living. I’m a musician, I say, proudly. Oh. But what do you DO? I was asked to speak onContinue readingWhat Does a Musician DO?
Joy of Music
I played a concert tonight in Fort Wayne and we had a piano soloist for Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Jodie DeSalvo was absolutely marvelous. The thing that impressed me theContinue readingJoy of Music
Sight Reading
I had a blast today sightreading the Joffrey Ballet’s Sylvia performance. I’ve sightread performances before, in emergency situations, and compared to that this was a non-stressful gig, since I had hadContinue readingSight Reading
Travel for Work: Peoria Edition
I am in Illinois this week for the Peoria Bach Festival, with concerts tonight and tomorrow night. As always, I love this festival. Love the challenges of jumping between threeContinue readingTravel for Work: Peoria Edition
Summer options for High School Students
Are there any high school oboists reading this blog? I wanted to let you know that IN ADDITION to Oboe Reed Boot Camp which will be in South Bend and at ValparaisoContinue readingSummer options for High School Students