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...
3 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...
3 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...
4 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...
5 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...
6 months ago • 4 min read
It wasn't until I was in my late 20's that things changed. I made my first pitch. I'd worked up the nerve to ask a donor to help me fund a chamber music concert of music I'd always dreamt of performing. Despite the daunting ask, my belief in the vision of this project was greater than any anxiety I had - and after weeks of going back and forth asked for a meeting. I got the funding! Believe me, the delivery wasn't smooth and effortless, but the vision was clear and the donor was on board!...
8 months ago • 3 min read
This week, we're getting the message out about the 2024 edition of the Portfolio Challenge. It starts next Monday, and we're teaching a mini-series today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with lessons you can use to amp up your materials. (If you aren't into it, click the square above and you'll be removed from the series! You'll return to the normal Monday newsletters). On to the first (1/5) lesson! LESSON 1: Demystifying the website It’s hard to tell you the number of times a student has put...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Welcome! Hi again Reader, hopefully you've gotten Lesson #1 and have started exploring the techniques. If you're a "good student" like me and feel the need to get through it all today, don't worry - take a deep breath (ha!) and take your time. It's a LOT of material. The idea is to try different techniques throughout the week. If you want to make observations or take notes, we've provided a handy weekly tracker for you to do just that, and reprint if you want to continue the practice. We're...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Welcome! Dear Reader, Good morning Reader, Welcome to day 1, lesson 1! We're kicking things off with a the most vital of essential life-supporting forces, your breath. It's central to how we feel, and it's fascinating to know that it's both involuntary and voluntary! We do it when we don't think about it, and yet, we can control it when we want to. And, as musicians, our breath plays a central role in how we feel during practice and performance. And, if you're a wind player or singer, your...
9 months ago • 1 min read