It’s finally time to take my own medicine. I have been waiting to release this material for a long time, always telling myself it’s not ready. But my best advice to all of my creative colleagues is that the most important thing to do is to finish a project. Waiting for “perfect” means you […]
There is a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation out there about how we, as wind players, use our diaphragm to perform. Let’s break it down…
I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore gamer, but like so many from my generation I grew up with videogames and continue to play them to this day. One of the games I have really loved playing in recent years is called Portal. If you are not familiar with it, let me give you the premise: […]
Several weeks ago I had the privilege of presenting a masterclass at Arizona State University for Deanna Swaboda and the Tuba-Euphonium Students. I had a great time and hope to get to see many of those students in the future (I know I’ll get to see a handful at ITEC this summer). The most striking […]
“The pessimist sees the glass as half empty, while the optimist sees the glass as half full.” Or something like that, at least. This simple phrase is how most people define his/her outlook on life: You are either a pessimist that sees the glass half empty, that things are constantly in a state of getting […]
As I was saying, that beautiful wallpaper … does it evoke a heart response? By looking at our three tenets of creating art (link here), it should become obvious why wallpaper is not art. Wallpaper does not engage with any of these— it is not specific in its emotional conveyance, it is purposefully unclear in […]
In my previous article, we addressed the notion of what art is—it is a fundamental piece of the human condition that connects two or more people in a shared emotional state. An artist is the person who creates the thing (painting, dance, musical performance, creative writing, etc.) that transports the audience member into a similar […]
I have a hard time calling myself an artist. And I have a hard time calling what I create art. I write music. I perform music. (Sometimes, on occasion, I may paint a picture.) To me, it is not in the craftsman’s scope to decide what is or is not art. But that also leaves […]
I wanted to share a brand new album I am releasing today as part of the electro-acoustic duo Hands Up Eyes Shut. Our debut album is titled “Music for a Fictional Soundtrack.” It was really a great experience to complete and I learned so much. We hope that as you listen each track carries you […]
Love what you do, and do what you love, so the saying goes. The two phrases are inextricably tied together, but don’t confuse one for the other. Loving what you do… …is a choice. …will make you successful. …will inspire others to do the same. …is a daily commitment to not let jealousy, greed, or […]
Long Tones: The Pursuit of a Life in Music 