What's at the heart of being a teacher? I could write for hours and not even begin to scratch the surface. But one of my favorite quotes certainly captures one aspect of it...

As you start your next ensemble rehearsal, simply write the following words on the board without saying a word: "It marks a big step in your development when you come to realize...

In the 1970s, then UCLA Professor Albert Mehrabian postulated a theory he called "The 7-38-55 Rule." According to Professor Mehrabian, just 7% of a message is communicated...

Those of you who know me know that for all of my efforts to be an optimist, I am a card-carrying pessimist at heart. I hate it, but it's true. However, I've gotten much better as...

Many years ago, the legendary W. Francis McBeth wrote an article entitled, "It's A Hard Life" that sticks (pun intended, as you'll see!) with me every time I rehearse an...

This past summer, I had the wonderful privilege of serving as a clinician for a wind conducting symposium with my dear friend, Dr. Robert Halseth. Bob's extraordinary abilities...

As I reflect on so many facets of being a music teacher, I am often reminded of the marvelous words of A. A. Milne, who had Winnie-the-Pooh state so profoundly, "How lucky I am...

When one is bombarded with too much information all at once, it causes what is known as "Information Fatigue." The result of this condition is a sense of apathy, indifference,...

In my previous blog, I mentioned how our intense concentration, or worrying about a problem, in rehearsals often causes us to forget about using what can be our most powerful...