Tales From The Lane
Living Your Best Life as Creative Artist
Category: Performing
Welcome to Your Experimental Year
Well, here we are! Another Labor Day. Whether your school year started in August, or will in the coming days, Labor Day Weekend always signifies the official end of summer and the beginning of fall. Last year, though….it all kind of blurred… Continue Reading “Welcome to Your Experimental Year”
5 Ways to Gain More Career Clarity
Searching for my ideal work/life situation has been a long process for me. From orchestral player to freelancer to recitalist, to teacher, to coach, etc. I have basically made a career out of experimenting with shifting balances and jobs until I found just… Continue Reading “5 Ways to Gain More Career Clarity”
How to Turn a Rejection Into a Win
As a high school musician growing up outside of Chicago, one of the coveted “wins” was to be a finalist in the Chicago Symphony Young Artists competition. After the prelims, you’d stay at home, waiting for the phone to ring with the news… Continue Reading “How to Turn a Rejection Into a Win”
The 5 People You Need Around You to Find Success (Part 1)
(This is the first in a 5-part series) Last week, inside the Tales From The Lane Facebook Group, I hosted a 3-day training on how musicians can take advantage of the opportunities presented by our current circumstances to re-write not only their careers… Continue Reading “The 5 People You Need Around You to Find Success (Part 1)”
What Makes You A Musician?
There is a question commonly asked amongst people in the Armenian diaspora: What makes someone Armenian? You see, just over 100 years ago, and throughout history (and into this week, sadly) Armenians have been displaced from their homeland and have spread out all over… Continue Reading “What Makes You A Musician?”
This Was the Moment That Changed Everything For Me.
April 2020 was a strange month for me. (I know, I know, but hear me out) In January, I had started working with my business coach, Jennifer Rosenfeld, in her group program. It had a hefty price tag–hefty enough to give one pause–but… Continue Reading “This Was the Moment That Changed Everything For Me.”
The One Question I Always Get Asked
And Why the Answer Makes Me Uncomfortable. It’s usually the 3rd or 4th question in a post-concert Q&A session. The first ones are always about how I chose my program, which of the pieces was my favorite, if I worked closely with the… Continue Reading “The One Question I Always Get Asked”
The September Reset
It’s Labor Day! Hard to believe we have been through 6 months of COVID-19. Take a deep breath, and pat yourself on the back. You have been a total rockstar. Adjusting and adapting to a new work-life, new home-life, dealing with lockdowns, canceled vacations,… Continue Reading “The September Reset”
The Great Reframing: or, why I am suddenly grateful that all of my concerts this year have been canceled due to COVID-19.
One of the teaching jobs I had, while I was a freelancing cellist, was at a private school. I conducted the orchestra and string ensembles, ran the chamber music program, and taught cello lessons. After a few years of my poking my nose… Continue Reading “The Great Reframing: or, why I am suddenly grateful that all of my concerts this year have been canceled due to COVID-19.”
Permission Granted
Not that you need it, but you seem to be asking for it anyway. I see you, my friend. You’re an incredible musician. Thoughtful, dedicated. You went to the right schools and survived the years of practicing 6-8 hours a day in order to… Continue Reading “Permission Granted”