I got so sick of waiting for the perfect time, ideal level of preparedness or whatever. Now you get to meet Henri. No cellos were harmed during the making of this video. More soon! Donate here, si’l vous plaît!…

  So there are 30 days left of the IndieGogo fundraiser. as uncomfortable as it may make me, I’m going to turn up the volume on my efforts a little bit. I’ve gotten emails from people I thought were well…

  I’m not the only musician fostering a love/hate relationship with social media. The other day, I lamented that there was this constant pressure to provide evidence of work- and worth. There’s a lot to be curated: a web site,…

    So after an explosive start, the weekend fundraising was…nominal. I suppose I’m trying to see how things develop organically without cluttering up the internet with frequent posts that will only annoy the people whose support I am trying…

  Day 1 was epic and incredibly emotional. I am overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity that has been shown to me. Within 4 hours of launch, nearly $3500 had been raised! I was particularly moved by a donation from…

  Go here if you’d like to contribute to the cello fund. I’ll try to keep it as low-key and unobtrusive as possible. Thank you for all of your support over the past few years. even if you can’t contribute…

      Goals    1. Fundraise, without shame, the remaining $16,000 balance on the cello that is currently lying on its side next to me. It’s taking a long time to edit the video the fundraising site requires, and…

    I was talking with someone about the upheaval that’s been a characteristic flavor of the past few years, and he said, “Well, I know you: it’s about time for your next reinvention.” At the moment, I didn’t think…

One of the most frustrating things about teaching is seeing a student work like crazy and still not make music. It’s part of the Note Salad effect: all of the ingredients are there, but with little or no relation to…

  New video post should be up tomorrow. For now, a picture of the cathedral in the sopping-wet snow of yesterday’s anticlimactic storm.

Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Arlington, VA.

  I’ve started to internalize some of the wisdom that has been around for, well, eternity: Do things that make you happy. Screw the economy and the burden of expectations. Things are not the same now, and they will continue…

    5 things I wish more adult students would do:  1. Stay focused on whatever we’re working on in lessons.  You would not believe how tough this is! I understand the inclination to want to patch every hole in…

    I tell my students that much like gasoline is a byproduct of the oil refining process, frustration is a symptom of learning. It means that changes are happening, that you’re bumping up against things that hold you back.…

In late October, I watched the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Broke”. It details the oft-repeated parable of young professional athletes coming into giant sums of money in the early part of their careers and the subsequent inability to cope…

      I have spent much of my life being critiqued. As musicians, we never stop being on the receiving end of strong opinions from our instructors, conductors, snarky colleagues and music critics. Mostly, we vacillate between periods of…

    Through the magic of Twitter, I was contacted by the fabulous English composer Alison Wrenn, who wanted some stick-figure illustrations for her book of beginning cello trios. Of course, I couldn’t resist. They just went on sale here,…

I just realized that my primary aim as an instructor is not to convey information but rather to do whatever it takes to foster the bravery required to continue learning. In this respect, I guess I’m more of a coach than…

      I keep thinking about some Yeats I read a while back.   Labour is blossoming or dancing where The body is not bruised to pleasure soul. Nor beauty born out of its own despair, Nor blear-eyed wisdom…