"Uncertainty is the only certainty there is (and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security).” This quote is from John Allen Paulos, Temple University professor of mathematics and author of A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper, I Think Therefore I Laugh, and Innumeracy, and is apt for the times we are living. But it also resonates with musicians because making music means working with a living art form. Ours is an art of the moment, and we've got to realize that things change...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
A whole year of goals can be daunting to tackle. If you answered "unexpected turbulence" in today's IG poll... ...take a breath. 2025 for many of us, and maybe you too, hasn't started out exactly stellar. As we move through the world, doing our work, caring for others, and tending to ourselves, I find I keep asking myself: what's the balance between those things? While I resolved to focus on small ways to support health, taking s-p-a-c-e and allowing little everyday joys, I'm finding that my...
2 months ago • 2 min read
My clarinet professor throws his nicorette gum across the room to the trash can, looks up and admonishes the class not to be too tempted by the beauty of the beaches. "You're in a beautiful place, but stay on track, make sure you are practicing." In his welcome to a new eager studio, the warning is short-lived as we all pile 20 minutes later into a car and head for Santa Monica. Last Tuesday night in LA it was supposed to be just a windstorm. 24 hours later, entire cities are devastated. And...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Ever considered the question - are you a glass half full or glass half empty type of person? It's a common parable pointing to your tendency toward being an optimist or pessimist in life: people with a positive outlook on life are said to look at the glass as being half full, and those with a negative outlook see the glass as being half empty. How do you see the glass? Half-full! Half-empty. The point is that it’s your perspective, not the facts of life, that determines your reaction to life...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Last night we went out for a meal with the family, which is rare these days because one, we're usually wiped by Sunday night and just all want to stay in; and two, usually someone has youth ensemble, theater, or a game. We went to an Asian street food place and gorged on okonomiyaki, spicy noodles, and curry rice. And laughed, talked about football (to which I contributed zero thoughts), recapped our days, and enjoyed talking face-to-face (instead of texting). But then on the way home, my son...
6 months ago • 4 min read
Hello! It's Citlalmina here today 👋🏼 ...The leaves are changing colors in Cincinnati, fall vibes are here (hello, pumpkin spice everything, everywhere) and now school is feeling more settled. So, I'm curious how many of you are planning a performance, project or recital, either for school or on your own? In one of my arts admin classes this semester, we're reading a book called The Art of Relevance by Nina Simon . I am especially captivated by the idea of truly capturing what's relevant for...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Something special unfolds when we take a pause, step back from the routines and habits of daily life, take space to notice who we are, where we're going and who we truly want to be. We wrapped our first 360 wellness and creative retreat yesterday 💕 a heart-warming 3-days of reflection and rejuvenation. It was everything I imagined: laughter, beauty, delicious food and getting down deep on myriad aspects of life as a human and musician. My co-creator Saeunn and I loved every minute! The best...
7 months ago • 3 min read
Hi there! Zoe here today. ⬇️ Ever feel behind on the “game” of music? ⬇️ I’m a graduate student already. I should be doing ____________ by now. Everybody here has already attended ____________ except for me. I missed out on all those musical opportunities in high school because of ____________. I feel it too. Some seasons it seems as though we’re playing a never-ending game of catch-up. So many accomplishments we missed the mark on, so many hours we didn't practice, so many titles we didn't...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Ever heard the saying 'infinite patience yields immediate results'? Yeah, I know what you're thinking - sounds very likely *shakes head*. But hear me out, I get it!! Remember when we did our January goal workshop this year, and dug into the fact that we need clarity (the why), action (the how), change(the will) and prioritization (the way) to achieve our goals? Well, we're 6 months into 2024 now, and I'd be lying if I didn't say some of those big hairy audacious goals (BHAGs!) I listed feel...
9 months ago • 4 min read