The Enduring Enigma of Dale Clevenger
I have to confess something. I have mixed feelings about Dale Clevenger and his legacy.
When I say this, please realize that this opinion comes...
Windmills of the Mind
Noise pollution
A new study indicates that French horn players are in danger of developing noise-induced hearing loss. This risk for horn players is reported as the...
The Placebo Effect and Horn Playing
The mind of the horn player can be a complicated place, and one psychological principal in particular that has always held a fascination for...
On Incentive and Reward
This video raises a number of questions in terms of incentive and personal drive in music education and in the music business in general.
While...
Rethinking Creativity and Thoughts on Trying Softer
Where does it come from?
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love gives an inspirational talk about creativity in this embedded video from TED.
I particularly...
Another Meaning to Concentration
Like an apple a day.
Some of the best practices techniques involve thinking (and playing) outside of the box. The well-known teacher, pedagogue and performer...
Quote from Winston Churchill on Life and Living
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
In just about any relationship there is give and...
Musicians as Actors
A former teacher long ago used to regularly remind me that musicians are like actors. Music is full of character and a good musician worth...
Turning Points
One turning point we horn players have in common is we all decided at some point to play and keep playing the French horn....
Lost in Translation; Pro vs. Amateur
Words and meaning.
Certain words that once held some meaning -- or that may have not had any meaning at all in the past --...