Milt’s Mindful Moment #6

by | Sep 4, 2025 | Milt's Mindful Moment | 0 comments

Welcome back, Maestri! Yee-haw, we get to make music again (and get paid for it)! Now, looky-here, I could wax philosophical on ya’s. Talk wistfully about your summer break and all, but I’ve decided to look forward as we get things wound up. So, considering what’s before us, I thought I would offer something a little different to help our mind-space. It’s simple, portable and can be referred to over and over again: quotes! Yeppers, little gems of wisdom for you to copy, tape to your desk, mirror, door, rehearsal room, smartboard, dumbboard, student folder, pet, etc. I tend to look at quotes more as reminders than as inspiration at times. Course, there’s always those that haunt me. I’m in the middle of a 7- week residency at a wonderful high school and every time I pass this huge, partial “quote” painted on the wall, I feel it’s pointed at me and oozing sarcasm:

“Intellectually Competent”

Oh well. My cross to bear. So, here you go. Hoping these will get you going for this great, new year of MUSIC!

A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor – Franklin Roosevelt

Working hard for something we don’t care about is called STRESS. Working hard for something we love is called PASSION – Simon Sinek

Stop trying to calm the storm. Calm yourself. The storm will pass – Timber Hawkeye

Givers have to set limits, because takers rarely do – Henry Ford

Modern luxury is the ability to think clearly, sleep deeply, move slowly & live quietly in a world designed to prevent all four – Buddhist philosophy

Only the mediocre are always at their best – Jean Giraudoux

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens – Jimi Hendrix

Failure is an event, never a person – William D. Brown

And things I’ve learned:

Control is an illusion

Draw a line

Standards don’t adjust; expectations do

And remember: PROTECT YOUR PEACE AT ALL COSTS

Let’s have the best year of music-making/teaching YET!

About the Author

Dr. Milt Allen has worked with hundreds of schools, community groups and organizations, reaching thousands of students, directors and community members during his career. He is often described as being one of the most creative, innovative, inspiring and non-traditional music educators today. Conductor, clinician, speaker, author and tireless advocate on behalf of music education, his passion for reaching more musicians at a grass-roots level includes extensive experiences in both public schools and universities in addition to founding a non-profit: The Music Guerrilla, which works with underfunded/under-serviced programs in Rwanda, Zambia, Haiti and Compton, CA as well as other schools across the United States. Milt brings a rare perspective to his role. His cross-genre music interests effectively combine with previous teaching positions in rural/suburban, large/small and public/parochial environments to create a truly unique ability to connect to those he serves. His experiences range from teaching beginning instrumentalists in a boiler room to premiering new works at the university level, to working with young African musicians learning to play an instrument. Yet always, from Glasgow, Scotland, to Zambia, Africa, and at regional, state, national, and international conferences, Milt’s humor, passion, and experience combine to illuminate the possibilities of both music and the live art of performance. Dr. Allen is sponsored by Meredith Music, a division of GIA and Jupiter Music.

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