Category archive
recovery diary, week 1
Pre-op post, illustrated with help from LOTR
I just got off the phone with the preop nurse at Hopkins. On Monday morning around 4am, I will drink the permitted 8oz. of Gatorade and then we shall set off into the predawn, arriving in Baltimore no later than…
breathing, part 1: the foundation of basically everything
If you’re one of my students, you’ll be familiar with me barking “breathe!” from time to time, or more subtly encouraging respiration with an exaggerated sigh of my own, hoping you follow suit. Although it may seem silly to…
tell me something good
Hey all: it’s been a ghost town around here of late. Sure, I’m working on a giant post about breathing, and also have a good chunk of the next book in the hopper, but the reality is that I’ve been…
The search continues!
Last year, I nearly had a retreat set up when the venue ended up falling through. I’d like to do a few small 3 or 4 day workshops around the country (or any country, really), and I turn to you…
Happy New Year lesson giveaway bonanza-stravaganza
If you (or someone you know) if having a rough go of the cello, dealing with financial difficulties and can’t afford lessons, or maybe feeling a little detached from the instrument or lost on the path, I’d love to start…
meditative practice
Creating a meditative state for your practice may sound like some kind of hippie crap or a fantasy, perhaps an urban legend. Too often, I find students fostering a mindset about practice that is akin to battle. You have to…
resolutions
As 2017 draws to a close, my mind turns to making resolutions. I’m a big fan of them, no matter how short lived or unattainable they may seem to be. There’s a certain optimism in the idea of a fresh…
revelations
The best thing about my new PT guy (not so new, I suppose…it’s been a few months) is that he encourages my curiosity, and listens to me when I posit new ideas. “You’re in charge of your treatment: it’s all…