The Musician's Way Blog

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words
and that which cannot remain silent.”
-Victor Hugo, The Musician’s Way, p. 5

All of us musicians feel something within us that cannot remain silent.

But to forge lasting, full-time music careers, we have to make wise choices about the kinds of work we do and the ways we live our lives. Continue Reading

“How can music schools better prepare graduates for the innovation economy?”

The April 2013 issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter brings together more than 20 articles and resources pertinent to student and professional musicians.

You’ll discover creativity and songwriting tips, new websites that list performance opportunities, music education features, and a story of classical musicians who are adding fizz to their music scene by performing in a pub. Continue Reading

“It’s your internal motivation that opens the creative spigot.”
-The Musician’s Way, p. 105

Those of us who create day after day know that things don’t always go smoothly. Sometimes our work flows; other times difficulties slow us down.

But whether we’re dealing with good days or not, one simple practice helps keep our creativity rolling. Continue Reading

“Take the action and the insight will follow.”
–Anne Lamott, author (The Musician’s Way, p. 107)

Suppose that you want to start a creative project – compose a solo, write a song, design a logo, or whatever.

You’ve done your research and set aside time to work.

Do you typically dive into such projects, or do you tend to procrastinate?

Continue Reading

“Rich artistic futures await the musicians who are unafraid to cut loose from predictable moorings.”
-The Musician’s Way, p. 109

The December/January edition of The Musician’s Way Newsletter looks into creativity-boosting strategies, low-cost CD/DVD production services, and exciting innovations in the music world.

Music teachers will find valuable resources, too, including tips for improving students’ practice habits and attitudes toward practice. Plus, singers and voice teachers will find important ideas for sustaining vocal health and advancing artistry. Continue Reading

“I’m always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning. …Every day I find something creative to do with my life.”
-Miles Davis, trumpeter and composer (The Musician’s Way, p. 309)

Thanks to the code-happy primates at MailChimp.com, the August 2012 issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter has now arrived in subscribers’ inboxes.

The issue features links to diverse resources of interest to both aspiring and veteran musicians. You’ll find insights from music industry insiders, practice tips, inspiring stories, news, and much more. Continue Reading

Claudio Arrau

“I don’t say that I never feel fear before a performance,
but I have learned to channel it.”
–Claudio Arrau, pianist (The Musician’s Way, p. 162)

Imagine that you’re arriving at a venue 90 minutes before you’ll perform.

You have to set up the stage, check the lighting and sound, confer with technical staff, warm up, and change clothing.

How do you carry out all of those tasks and still prepare to give an inspired show? Continue Reading

“The beauty in playing the instrument is not to be better than the next person
but to stay true to oneself, to set one’s own standards and keep to them.”
–Andrés Cárdenes, violinist (The Musician’s Way, p. 305)

In many ways, we succeed or flounder as artists based on the standards we uphold.

Here are three reasons why.

Continue Reading

The June/July edition of The Musician’s Way Newsletter brings together 18 articles and online resources of value to musicians and all creative people.

For instance, resilience is essential to creative work because it enables us to learn from setbacks and keep progressing. An article by Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code, outlines ways to build resilience.

Another piece by musician and psychologist Robert Woody shows why having a warrior-like attitude toward practice ignites our motivation. Continue Reading

“Display confident body language, come what may.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 194

Are you confident in your ability to deal with on-stage mistakes?

I’ve found that rising musicians seldom practice handling errors, so they typically don’t manage them as gracefully as they could. Continue Reading