Connected
This is Lesson #4 in the pages that most spoke to me in What Matters Now. This one reminds me that while I need to embrace the benefits of new technology, I need to remember that there are parts of what has worked well in
Creativity
The Sensitive Amateur Listener
Like most composers, I am always testing my music. I test it for the following reasons: To know what works and what doesn’t. To know what is difficult for the performer and what is easy. To know if the piece
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Change
This is Lesson #3 in the pages that most spoke to me in What Matters Now. This one is great for both composing, teaching, and life in general. Lesson #1 Passion (page 51) Lesson #2 Knowing (page 78) Lesson #3 Change (Page
Knowing
This is Lesson #2 in the pages that most spoke to me in What Matters Now. This inspiration is directly relevent to music teachers! Lesson #1 Passion (page 51) Lesson #2 Knowing (page 78)
Passion
Gina Trapani is the founder and a writer for a blog that I follow called Lifehacker. At the beginning of the year, she blogged about a wonderful little ebook called What Matter Now from which I have received a number
Famous Lectures about Music
When I was in my undergrad program, I discovered a book entitled The Unanswered Question by Leonard Berstein. I found it at a book store, bought it, then discovered that it was actually the text from a lecture Bernstein gave
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What Matters Now (some motivation for the new year)
Gina Trapani from Smarterware posted about a compilation of thoughts and inspirations that Seth Godin has put together for us to consider for the new year. Since several authors I enjoy reading were listed, I read a bit of the free
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What Makes “White Christmas” the Best-selling Record of All?
I read a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal about what makes Irving Berin’s “White Christmas” the “best selling record of all time.” Of course, this kind of thing should interest any composer who is the least bit
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A Wandering Mind Heads Towards Insight
Here’s an interesting article about how our most creative, “aha” moments often come when we allow our minds to wander. Backed by some interesting scientific research, the writer makes a distinction between solving a problem with insight and solving a
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14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas
ChangeThis.com has a few great manifestos on creativity and how to generate good ideas. 14 Ways to Get Breakthrough Ideas is a particularly helpful manifesto for the composer. Some of Mitch Ditkoff’s ideas are more applicable to the musician
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