Developing a Musical Palate (from “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”)

The great documentary film "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" follows the life and work of Jiro Ono, considered to be the world's greatest sushi chef, who runs a restaurant in Japan. At the beginning of the film, he talks about developing a sensitive palate and sense of taste. "In order to make delicious food, you must...

How do you get theater work?

Since I began playing a long run of Hamilton in Chicago, I’ve been getting similar questions in somewhat random inquiries from people, asking questions similar to these: How did you get this gig?  Did you audition? How does one go about “breaking in” to the theater scene as a musician? What kind of prior experience does...

Outline and Notes from SEN Panel Discussion 8/4/17

Originally posted 8/6/17 I was honored to be asked to participate in a panel discussion for the Sabian Education Network, alongside Todd Sucherman, Will Calhoun, and host (and SEN head) Joe Bergamini on August 4th, 2017.  Below is the outline and notes I created for my portion of the discussion. Please click here to join...

Do People Really Notice?

Originally posted 8/19/16 Sometimes when I get asked for my advice about music in performance and practice from students and some professional musicians, I point to musical details that at first might seem small and/or insignificant. An interesting question I hear from time to time is this: "If I pay attention to more details in...

How to Practice with a Metronome More Musically

Originally posted 11/17/13 Few musicians doubt that practicing with a metronome can help them build a stronger, more solid sense of time. Yet, I seem to encounter even fewer who really put a good deal of thought into exactly how they utilize it. All too often I hear someone say, "Use a metronome", and the...

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Thinking

Originally posted 4/2/13 There are two ways we approach listening to music, and it affects how we think about practicing.  Consider the illustration below. (Picture borrowed from this website--I don't claim ownership of it) On one side, you have a qualitative view of something.  It deals with abstract qualities of something: impressions, feelings, and descriptions. ...

Zen and the Art of Drum Throne Maintenance

Originally posted 3/6/13 The drum throne just may have the highest ratio of most-critical/most-overlooked in terms of components of the kit. That's mainly because of the simplicity of its function. Hey, it's a seat. You sit on it, and that's it. What's the big deal? Here's the big deal. If you're going to play with...

The Importance of Awareness

Originally posted 12/3/12 A couple of recent lessons have highlighted a critical component of practicing for me. I had a student work through an exercise, playing it mostly correct, except for one added note in the ride cymbal part. It was a very typical coordination error, as the snare was playing on that beat as...

Less Is More…Or Is It? The Sophistication Of Simplicity

Originally posted 4/23/12 I have recently been reading Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs. As a musician and meditator, I've always identified with Jobs's Zen side and his fondness for an artistic aesthetic that stems from that philosophy. When Jobs hooked up with designer Jonathan Ive in the late '90s, a great collaborative partnership was...