A few points to remember about CPR
I recertified for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) this week with ICE Safety Solutions in Fremont and the two hour, virtual reality-and-Zoom class flew by. The night before, a box containing all sorts of props for us to practice with came to my doorstep. Pamela Isom, the president and founder, participated in the training. She told us...
You don’t have be a freak to master music! Q&A with mastery expert K. Anders Ericsson (from my new book!)
Since the release of my album I Wanna Work For You, I’ve been writing a book about practicing. More specifically, I wondered how I could finally get better at things that had eluded me despite a lifetime of effort. Were there keys to motivation, method or memory that the virtuosos knew? After much research, I...
How I shouted down that (inner) critic while performing at a prestigious venue
I was dancing, sweating, playing guiro and singing back-up, carried on a wave of sound and positive energy. The dance floor surged with happy bodies, the seated audience beamed at the stage packed with musicians. I looked down at the set list taped to the stage in front of my microphone and realized that I’d...
20 inspiring thoughts on playing music (in middle school)
This morning I helped for the first period of 6th grade band and it got me thinking about all the things I like to say to kids when I visit a classroom or teach at summer camp. They all came tumbling out, in no particular order. Well, except for the first one, because I think...
