Monday, April 13th, 2026
One of the skills I am most proud of in my career is my ability to teach any student to read music competently. But it didn’t happen overnight. In fact, I spent the first few years of my career glossing...
Read MoreWednesday, April 8th, 2026
I’ve really only gotten into journaling—and by extension, blogging—in the last year or so. It started from a need to find a place for my thoughts, and, truly, the experience has been incredibly therapeutic. What draws me specifically to blogging...
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Friday, March 20th, 2026
Ego and ambition have two very different centers of gravity. Ambition is about mission, growth, impact, and the “what’s next.” In contrast, the ego is about validation, credit, and personal status. While the two should be easy to distinguish, the...
Read MoreFriday, March 13th, 2026
The prevailing belief in our field is that we work hard to ensure that final performance is as perfect as possible. We meet with our ensembles regularly over months of preparation, all culminating in a single final performance. While that’s...
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Sunday, March 1st, 2026
I’ve recently made it a ritual to keep a listening journal, capturing my immediate thoughts and “aha!” moments as I dive into various recordings. I decided to start sharing select entries here for those curious about my musical process. Please...
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Friday, January 16th, 2026
For most of my career, I lived with the persistent, quiet weight of feeling not enough. In the world of music education, there is a very specific archetype of the successful band director: a figure of stoic poise, clinical organization,...
Read MoreThursday, December 11th, 2025
The band world possesses an inherent, welcoming culture. In my experience, the vibe has always been: “Can you play? Great. Rehearsals tomorrow, see you then.” It’s not about who you are; it’s about whether you can contribute positively to the...
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2025
As I’ve matured, I’ve reached a fundamental realization: my artistry and my emotions are inextricably linked. While this might sound self-evident, the culture of band directing often demands a rigid compartmentalization of the self. We are expected to be the...
Read MoreFriday, January 31st, 2025
My recent trip to Chicago for The Midwest Clinic, often called the most prestigious conference in my field, was… unexpected. While I usually look forward to Midwest, and it is my favorite conference in many ways, this year felt different....
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