Tales From The Lane
Living Your Best Life as a classical musician
Category: Practicing
My Top 10 Favorite Books for Musicians
The ends of the concert season and school year are approaching and (thankfully!) bringing along the slower pace of the summer. Even if we have a full schedule of festivals and concerts, there is a bit more free time between June and September. It’s… Continue Reading “My Top 10 Favorite Books for Musicians”
Etudes: A Love Story
Anyone who has asked me how/what I practice each day knows that I play an etude every day. Usually I just go through my books of Popper or Piatti, but sometimes I mix it up. Every so often I go through a student level… Continue Reading “Etudes: A Love Story”
The “Non-Professional” Music Life
I bet you started playing when you were knee-high to a grasshopper. In fact, you can’t really even remember much about your pre-music childhood. Now you’re 17, and you’re choosing whether to major in music, or another one of your passions. Or you’re 27… Continue Reading “The “Non-Professional” Music Life”
The Musician’s Life: How I transition between my various professional roles (without losing my mind!)
I’ve been seeing a lot of talk in various chat groups, podcasts and musician’s facebook groups about the stress of balancing it all, and figuring out how to do it all without getting completely overwhelmed. I wanted to share a few tips that I have learned along the way on how best to transition between my various professional roles without getting stressed out
Ten Things I Wish I Had Known About Auditions When I Was a Kid
The following is a post from last May that seemed to help a lot of folks who were gearing up for auditions. As we enter a new season of festival and youth orchestra auditions, I thought I would post it again. I’d love to… Continue Reading “Ten Things I Wish I Had Known About Auditions When I Was a Kid”
5 Ways a Summer Music Festival Will Change Your Life
It’s cold and gray in Boston this third week in January, but I’ve got July and August on my mind. That’s right–it’s time to get serious about summer music camps and festivals. From 2-week long day camps to 8-week long orchestral institutes, the options can be overwhelming, and what kind of festival to attend is going to be between you and your teacher (and your budget). But what they all have in common, is the tremendous amount of growth you will achieve by attending one. Here are the 5 ways attending a summer music festival will change your life:
How to Balance Practicing & Homework
Advice for the High School Musician on Getting it All Done When You’re Being Pulled in Two Directions. I see you. Every morning, between your 7:10am chamber orchestra rehearsal and your 8:00 advisory, you sit in front of your locker and map out your… Continue Reading “How to Balance Practicing & Homework”
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wishing all of you the Happiest Thanksgiving Weekend. May your cranberries be canned (yes!) and your turkey not be burnt to a crisp. Here are a few of our more popular recent posts, in case you need a break from the game, an escape… Continue Reading “Happy Thanksgiving!”
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”