Let’s face it: playing an instrument is really, really difficult. Even the “basics” that most people cover in their first year or so are a substantial challenge. Think about it: you have to master a new set of physical skills, including precise control of muscles you might not have even known were voluntary. You have to become […]

This past weekend, I presented at the South Texas Brass Symposium. Part of the event was a clinic for high school students preparing etudes for their All-State auditions. During this masterclass, I started thinking back to my high school experience, and what I was thinking about preparing for these kinds of auditions. The etudes were […]

The motto for most scouting organizations worldwide is some variant of “Be Prepared.” Boy scouts were never my thing, but that’s not a bad lesson to keep in mind. I was offered my current position at South Texas College less than a month before I needed to be on campus for my first day. In […]

I’ve always prided myself on working smarter, not harder. Even back in grade school, I made a point of learning any concepts as quickly as possible and then declining to complete the homework that was intended to review and emphasize those concepts. In music, I’ve used my knowledge of history, theory, and physiology to eliminate […]