Last night as my student performed a terrific degree recital, she gave a speech in which she thanked her friends, her parents, her teachers, her mentors. It was beautiful. SheContinue readingTransitions
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
Doing Less
This was supposed to be a terrible week. I was going to have five late nights and 6 early mornings all in a row, and I had 17 students onContinue readingDoing Less
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
Some Gigs are Special
I work all the time. In addition to teaching and making reeds, I play in a different orchestra almost every week. Most nights find me out in a rehearsal orContinue readingSome Gigs are Special
Moving Gracefully
I wrote a post last year on the difference a power pose made to one of my high school students. Standing in an authoritative position made her immediately less apologetic,Continue readingMoving Gracefully
Party Planning
Zoe just turned seven and she requested a big party and we threw her one. Parties are fun. And there’s always more people you can invite – between her friendsContinue readingParty Planning
Logistics
I’m playing with the Chicago Philharmonic for the Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Lucio Silla, an early Mozart opera that I had truly never heard of before. It’s charming, inContinue readingLogistics
Seeing Intonation
When you play notes that are close together, playing in tune is not that hard. You don’t have to change a lot – a finger or two, a minuscule differenceContinue readingSeeing Intonation
The First Whiff of Responsibility
Zoe is five, and irresponsible in the way that young kids are. If I send her to clean her room or get dressed to go outside, there’s no way thatContinue readingThe First Whiff of Responsibility