Category Performance
Album Release: One
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 […]
Breathing from the Diaphragm
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…
Extra-Musical Affairs
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 […]
Art and Wallpaper, Part 3: Why Wallpaper Is Not Art
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 […]
Art and Wallpaper, Part 2: The Three Tenets of Creating Art
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 […]
Art and Wallpaper, Part 1: The Art Question
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 […]
The Difference Between Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do
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 […]
What We Learn from Our Instruments
As musicians we should be more like the instruments we play. I recently watched Note by Note, the documentary about the Steinway Piano Company. It’s available on Netflix and I urge you to seek it out. The film takes you step by step through the whole process of creating these amazing pianos, works of art […]
Five Things I’ve Learned from Gordon Ramsay
I know I’m a little late to this party, but I’ve become a bit addicted to Kitchen Nightmares, the show in which famous chef Gordon Ramsay walks into failing restaurants and rips the entire staff a new one. I’ve always found a strong connection between the culinary and musical arts and what it means to […]
What Music Looks Like / The Star Spangled Banner
In honor of our great country and this special day, I figured I would compile a set of videos showing how our National Anthem has been played at various times… Here’s a rendition of our National Anthem by one talented and brave 4-year-old girl In honor of my Grandfather, who was an Air Force man. […]
Long Tones: The Pursuit of a Life in Music 