I have a huge audition coming up for a full-time position at the Oregon Symphony. The audition will bring over 100 very capable cellists from all over the country to audition. We will all play behind a screen for the prelims
Unwrap Your Magical Moments in Music
December, with its open-hearted spirit of giving and some of the most beautiful music ever written, provides the perfect opportunity to feel for the moments of magic in our lives. Like what happened on our road trip last week to California: My daughter, stretched out on
Have you developed a palate for clarity?
Clarity is a refreshing pool of water for the mind. It is high-resolution inspiration from the stillness of just be-ing. Clarity is an expansion of heart and a calmness of mind that lifts us above our problems into the realm
Are you a player or practicer?
Do you ever ask yourself where all the fun of playing your instrument has gone? Play means to enjoy, right? I’m in the zone, jamming with my cello in the living room…getting a really good groove going…yeah…this FEELS good…trying new stuff,
Are You a Spiritually Independent Musician?
Is your spirituality tucked safely out of harms way? Have you ever yearned to bring into the secular world of the Arts the deep spiritual truths that you have experienced? Centuries ago we created a barrier separating the Arts and Sciences from the
The marketable benefits of meditation for musicians
Meditation is becoming more and more mainstream, and it is time that we as musicians realize how much we can benefit from this simple technique. Meditation optimizes practicing, adds a tangible dimension to performance, and helps us find our flow and
The 13 Top Ten reasons why musicians know the basics of meditation
We’ve had musical experiences of deep joy and expansiveness – the reason why we became musicians in the first place. Our first music lesson? Stand or sit up straight, breathe correctly. We have opened ourselves to a teacher, something beyond