The Musician's Way Blog

“It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?”
–Henry David Thoreau, author

In a classic episode of the animated comedy South Park, the main characters track down a clan of gnomes who have been stealing the townspeople’s underpants.

The gnomes explain that their actions are part of a 3-phase plan – shown here – that’s guaranteed to bring in handsome profits.

Unfortunately, I’ve found that musicians often pursue comparable half-baked scenarios. Continue Reading

“You can’t tell by looking at a piece of paper
what some of the strengths and weaknesses really are.”
–Kevin Kelly, hiring guru, quoted on Forbes.com

In almost every field, job seekers who rise to the top of their applicant pools will be interviewed.

Still, nearly all of the job seekers that I’ve coached – performers, educators, and others – have initially made the same mistake during the pre-interview period: Continue Reading

“Meaning is what matters most in your day-to-day practice.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 312

Might there exist people who devote themselves to music solely for material gain?

I doubt it.

Rather, it’s the psychic income that we derive from our work that we most prize.

Continue Reading

“Successful musicians will do things that faltering musicians won’t”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 306

The April/May issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter features a unique collection of news, tips, inspiration, and resources. Continue Reading

“If things get rocky, stay positive and engaged,
and give your audience the best possible experience.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 189

Recall the last time that you were distracted during a performance: How did you cope? Continue Reading

“Make the most seemingly insignificant part feel good for the rest of the ensemble.”
-Wynton Marsalis, trumpeter (The Musician’s Way, p. 123)

We musicians spend vast amounts of time practicing alone.

But to make music collectively, we need skills beyond those we rely on in solitary practice.

So, to help aspiring performers become ace collaborators, here are 6 tips that ignite synergy in groups. Continue Reading

“Diverse careers are available to musicians because people worldwide consume huge amounts of music-related products and services every day.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 300

Are there too many musicians and music presenters for the marketplace to support?
I think not.

For entrepreneurial musicians, opportunities abound, provided that we’re willing to do the work necessary to gain competitive advantages. Continue Reading

“Whenever you practice or perform a composition, celebrate its unique message.
Feel the excitement of listening to the music for the first time.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 74

All of us musicians learn and then set aside countless pieces over the years.

Sometimes, we excitedly return to old favorites but then feel glum when we realize that music we once performed with ease is now surprisingly difficult. Continue Reading

Benny Goodman & Ella Fitzgerald

“People have often said to me, ‘You’re so relaxed when you play.’
Relaxed my elbow. It’s practice.”
–Benny Goodman, clarinetist (The Musician’s Way, p. 199)

It may seem that elite musicians like Benny Goodman excel on stage because of inborn traits.

But despite any genetic factors that might affect our musical potential, the mastery that experts display under pressure actually results from their having amassed specific performance skills. Continue Reading

Pablo Casals

“Don’t give notes. Give the meaning of the notes.”
–Pablo Casals, cellist (The Musician’s Way, p. 34)

What does it take to give meaningful performances?

To begin with, we have to awaken our imaginations so that every pitch we play or sing vibrates with life.

Then, we have to respond deeply to the emotional fabric of a composition, which is the subject of this post. Continue Reading