The Musician's Way Blog

“One should hunger after the whole concept, the whole mood,
what the music stands for.”
–William Pleeth, cellist (The Musician’s Way, p. 71)

When we approach an unfamiliar composition, I recommend that we map out a preliminary interpretation before we deal with technical issues.

But once we have basic musical and technical issues in hand, how do we elevate our interpretation to concert level? Here are 6 ways.

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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

“Many musicians perform freely in front of people
but become self-conscious when recording.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 222

For countless aspiring musicians, recording sessions are trying affairs.

All too often, when the recording gear switches on, artistic and technical fine points that they thought were under their control slip from their grasp.

The following eight practice tips, adapted from Chapter 11 of The Musician’s Way, will help you excel in the studio. Continue Reading

“To get to authenticity, you really keep going down to the bone,
to the honesty and the inevitability of something.”
–Meredith Monk, singer and composer (The Musician’s Way, p. 19)

A music student performs a new piece, but numerous things go awry – technical glitches, rhythmic hiccups, memory slips.

He’s puzzled because he believed that he had practiced the music thoroughly. What’s the student missing?

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“Routine drill is a poor substitute for the fun of utilizing
ears and rhythm for making music.”
–Abby Whiteside, pianist (Abby Whiteside on Piano Playing, p. 5)

“Tick, tick, tick,” drones the metronome. “Plunk, plunk, plunk,” goes the music student.

What’s wrong with this picture? Pretty much everything. Continue Reading

“The most important practice session of the week isn’t the one right before your lesson; it’s the one right after.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 296

As lessons or performances approach, many music students ramp up their practice time; then, afterward, they ease off.

I think that’s backwards. Continue Reading

“Deep practice entails achieving mastery, integration, and transcendence with everything that you play or sing.”
-The Musician’s Way, p. 20

The December-January issue of The Musician’s Way Newsletter has now arrived in subscribers’ inboxes.

With more content than ever, this issue looks at job prospects for musicians, fresh online resources, new publications, tips for writing program notes, and more.

To subscribe and view the newsletter archive, visit the sign-up page on MusiciansWay.com.

“You are the one who will shape yourself
into the artist that you aspire to be.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 296

Multitudes of music students take regular lessons. Are young musicians prepared to make the most of their lessons?

Some are. But many are not, because, through no fault of their own, they’re unclear about their roles as students and lack confidence in their communication skills. Continue Reading

“The details are not the details. They make the design.”
–Charles Eames, designer

For musicians and designers alike, our approach to detail largely determines whether our work soars or flops. Continue Reading

“For you to perform with native inflection, you have to listen and listen
until you break through to the soul of a style.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 98

We all enjoy listening to music. But there’s a level of musical perception that transcends ordinary hearing.

Deep listening, as I call it, pierces the essence of a composition and the way in which it’s performed. Continue Reading