Aaron Williamon: On Becoming a Better, Happier, and Healthier Musician
I don’t know if this is normal or not, but I’ve always really enjoyed reading consumer reviews. Whether I’m searching for the right bathmat, garbage bags, or sugar free gummy bears (and if this is the...
View ArticleGeorge Waddell: On the Hidden Consequences of Music Competitions
Tournaments and competition are a natural part of sports, and can be a lot of fun to watch, whether it’s your kid’s high school volleyball tournament or the NCAA basketball playoffs. Similarly, music...
View ArticleBrian Alegant: On Putting Music Back Into MUSIC Theory
Whether it was reading non-treble clefs, the circle of fifths, chord inversions, or the day my mom tried to explain time signatures to me with fractional apple slices, music theory is something I...
View ArticleMemory Reconsolidation: A Way to Dump Your Negative Audition and Performance...
Once upon a time, when my daughter was a toddler, we brought home a container of super cute mini zucchini’s that we found a local farmer’s market. She took a nibble, made a face and spit it out, and...
View ArticleDavid Juncos & Elvire de Paiva e Pona: On ACT and a New Approach to...
Whether it’s an audition, recital, or blind date, I think we all know that nerves are normal and to be expected. But that doesn’t stop us from looking for ways to try to get rid of anxious feelings,...
View ArticleKim Laskowski: On Practicing With a Structure, Developing an Expressive...
Today I’ll be chatting with bassoonist Kim Laskowski, who is currently on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard school, and has been associate principal bassoon in the NY...
View ArticleJennifer Montone: On the Unspoken Mental and Emotional Aspects of Being a...
When I was going through the music world as a kid in the 80’s and 90’s, nobody really talked about performance anxiety. I mean, I’m pretty sure it was something we all felt, but it was so rare to hear...
View ArticleThe Best Type of Goal for More Success in the Year Ahead
With the new year now upon us, you’ve probably begun to see a lot of articles about resolutions, goals, and habits pop into your inbox and news feed. We could spend months exploring the various aspects...
View ArticleOn the Perils of “Perfect Practice”: Christine Carter & Ellen Hendriksen
Whether you’re trying to play the clarinet, hit a backhand slice, pull off an omaplata sweep, or flip a pan-sized pancake without a spatula, you’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase “practice makes...
View ArticleBenjamin Kamins: On Self-Judgment, Slow Practice, and Reed-Making
I once heard somewhere, years ago, that if you want your kid to eat a new vegetable or unusual food, you have to put it in front of them an average of 16 times before they’ll touch it. Source
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