One of my personal practices, and one which I love to share with every musician who studies with me, is this: Kiss or thank your instrument at the end of every session. Why is this important or helpful? Like magic, this gesture amplifies our appreciation and our good feelings. "Thank you" means we have [...]
The second proverb in the series, this one a meditation on our blessed inter-dependence. It unpacks its meaning and its opportunity in a couple important ways and to my mind, it has never felt truer. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. People live in each other's shadows. As one beloved Irish teacher used [...]
Students in all my classes will attest: I love proverbs and rely on them constantly to help me think, understand, and explain not just Irish culture and language, but also life itself which the proverbs illuminate brilliantly. This morning I conceived the idea of sharing some of my favorite Irish proverbs with you in hopes [...]
Yesterday, a student asked me to write a letter of recommendation for her application to Harvard. At the end of her note, she asked for "constructive feedback" on how she could grow. This is my reply to her request, and I'm sharing it in hopes that it might reach the eyes of other high school [...]
If you've ever heard yourself say, "Why bother?" when it comes to making your art, you're not alone. Here are some thoughts on Futility, the fifth and final installment in my "Creative Hurts and How to Heal Them" series (and if you're interested, the others cover: Rejection, Criticism, Mistakes, and Comparison). I truly hope this [...]
Hello, dear friends! I am so excited to tell you about a Poetry project I’m doing in April to celebrate National Poetry Month - and the best part is that YOU can be part of it, too. OK, the other best part is that there is a delicious giveaway involved: for two lucky participants, a [...]
If you’ve ever found yourself in the clutch of comparison (and who hasn’t? I sure have), you know how life- and pleasure-squelching it can be. In this, the fourth video in my “Creative Hurts and How to Heal Them” series, I tackle this bugbear, Comparison. I’m speaking to artists and creators, but really, that’s all [...]
It's so much fun to set things up for yourself in the way that feels the best. Not in the way others advise, even if their advice is well-intentioned. Not in the way that "it's always been done." Not in the "smart way to do it." Instead: in the way that feels like pleasure/relief/homecoming/yes, please: [...]
Let's say that you are a Unicorn. People have various reactions to you - to what you are. Some say, "That's ridiculous. You can't be a Unicorn. There's no such thing. Don't be foolish." Others say, "Well, aren't you adorable? So quaint. So otherworldly. A little out of touch and funny. Cute!" Also, "I [...]
Hello, friends! Here is the second video in my new series, "Creative Hurts and How to Heal Them." This one is all about that scary bugbear, CRITICISM. How do we handle it? Is there such a thing as "good" criticism? How do we put it in perspective? I also share my own story of receiving [...]
