Month: March 2015

Every lesson I teach is an adventure. I never know exactly what to expect when a student walks through the door. Flexibility and creativity are my best friends on lesson

A Flute in My Refrigerator: Celebrating a Life in Music by Helen Spielman; book review Frustrated with teachers who complain about “students who don’t inspire them,” Helen Spielman dares to suggest that

Finding artistic renewal on spring break. It might seem odd to describe a trip to New York City as being restful and relaxing, but I love visiting big cities. The

I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Anthony Mazzocchi’s book The Music Parents’ Guide: A Survival Kit for the New Music Parent. It’s available on Kindle on

5 Ways You Can Help Your Child Practice and 4 Tricks To Try At Home Neither of my parents were musicians. The only thing my dad ever said when I was

There is a big difference between hearing something and actually listening to it. In A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman observes “Sounds thicken the sensory stew of our lives,

I’ve been playing music since I was 5 years old so I’ve had a lot of time logged in the practice room. Today I’ll share some personal stories about practicing

Far more time is spent in the practice room than the performance hall. I have been teaching private music lessons since 1995. One of my primary goals as a teacher

I love to read about the intersection of science, music, and psychology. I encourage all musicians to read this article reviewing research on effective practice skills by Robert Duke at the

Our brains crave novelty. Literally turning things upside down can give us the new perspective we need. Feel stuck in your practice? Are your kids complaining the music is “too