You know the saying, "you are what we read"? Well, here are some of my favorite books I read this year that helped me expand my imagination and see the world differently. I'd LOVE to know what helped you—what you've been reading—write your recommendations in our...
Get inspired by UK-based poet and creative coach Mark McGuinness—here’s an excerpt from his terrific book and a link to get your free copy—Happy Labor Day!
This seems like the right week to think about what we—as musicians and as citizens—can do to make the world a better place. In times of trouble, story can work as cure. We've got mind-boggling national and international events swirling around us. And the internet is...
MONDAY BYTES — December 12, 2016 Ever feel like you’ve got a starved imagination? Like your creative flow is running dry? It's as though all you've been having is junk food and now you're craving healthier fare. I spent what feels like half the weekend in the holiday...
MONDAT BYTES — August 1, 2016 OMG: it's August already and the long summer days will be ending all too soon. Hope you're getting quality vacation time in and that you've been able to unplug, unwind, and recharge. One of my top summer pleasures is getting lost in a...
It's summer festival time and like seasonal allergies, there are a set of common symptoms you may experience. I spoke last week at the fantastic Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival and worked with a terrific set of musicians (YAY!). Afterward, I found myself thinking...
MONDAY BYTES — February 15, 2016 President's Day has me ruminating on leadership. We don't often think about musicians as leaders or associate musicianship and leadership. Perhaps it's because unless someone is starting her or his own ensemble, series, or festival, we...
MONDAY BYTES — April 20, 2015 Consider your constellation of creative influencers: people and organization that are sources of inspiration and ideas. Whom do you read, listen to, and pay attention to? Which organizations and groups play key roles in providing you with...
MONDAY BYTES — March 2, 2015 It’s so great when someone turns you on to a new source of inspiration! MSM alum pianist Eunbi Kim, (thank you, Eunbi!) pointed me to the current show, Maira Kalman Selects at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and sent me a link...
Monday Bytes — October 27, 2014 Here's a resource I recently discovered: Noted Endeavors, a video blog on Musical America hosted by Eugenia Zukerman and Emily Ondracek-Peterson, whose doctoral dissertation focused on musicians' careers. Noted Endeavors is a series of...
