Tales From The Lane
Living Your Best Life as a classical musician
Category: Practicing
5 Steps to Turning a Funk into Your Next Breakthrough
We’ve all been there. You SHOULD be motivated to work, to practice, to paint, to do whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing. But you just can’t get yourself to do it. Your body aches as if you have the flu, but you… Continue Reading “5 Steps to Turning a Funk into Your Next Breakthrough”
How to Learn a Piece of Music Once You’re Out of School
(and, honestly, even when you’re still in it!) When I was in Chicago last week I had lunch with a young cellist that I know from my Boston days. I used to work for her mom, and I’ve known this girl since she was… Continue Reading “How to Learn a Piece of Music Once You’re Out of School”
Ten Things to Know About Making a Supplemental Recording
Happy October! Having lived most of my life in the Midwest and in New England, fall to me means changing leaves, cider doughnuts, apple picking, and of course, a few decorative gourds. But for a lot of us, Fall also means School Application Time. … Continue Reading “Ten Things to Know About Making a Supplemental Recording”
My Dirty Little Secret for Effective Practicing
I know how it goes. You leave a lesson and, because you had had a busy week, felt completely unprepared and played much worse than you know you are capable of, and now you are determined to change things around. Oozing commitment from every… Continue Reading “My Dirty Little Secret for Effective Practicing”
Teaching According to The Four Tendencies
By now we all understand that people have different learning styles. I’m definitely a visual learner-if I can see it or imagine it, it sticks. Others find that they learn best if they hear it, or if something is put into a list, etc. … Continue Reading “Teaching According to The Four Tendencies”
April Focus: Teaching and Being Taught
I’ve never met a (classical) musician who didn’t also teach. Sure, there are times when teaching is put on the back-burner for a time, or maybe even stopped completely. But It is virtually unheard of for a musician to go their entire career… Continue Reading “April Focus: Teaching and Being Taught”
My February Reading List
Was one of your new year’s resolutions to read more? Because I can help. I have a thing that I do–a method, if you will–for reading more, and not getting stuck in a rut. I do realize that there is probably something seriously wrong… Continue Reading “My February Reading List”
The Secret to Having Discipline (also known as fake it ’till ya make it)
Growing up in the world of classical music, my life revolved around that word: Discipline. The fact that I needed it, whether or not I had it, my peers who obviously did have it, those sad, talented kids who just didn’t have it (“what… Continue Reading “The Secret to Having Discipline (also known as fake it ’till ya make it)”
The $100 Bill
What would you do if I handed you a $100 bill? I once had a student who started cello lessons with me when he was 5 years old, and he LOVED the cello. He loved playing the cello, he loved practicing the cello… Continue Reading “The $100 Bill”