vintage SRCB, part 2: practice makes perfect, if you survive
Post originally published 12 June, 2007 I wish I could send my adult students to music school, if only just for a week. Not to be inspired by the hours and hours of practice or the tide of talent that floods the halls every hour. No, I want them to witness the bizarre behavior of […]
vintage SRCB, part 1: knowing the signs
Post originally published 28 April, 2009. Does this sound like you or anyone you know? Calloused hands, a closet full of full skirts and/or ‘comfy’ black pants, referring to people in strange code languages (“I was just thinking about GGP” “I can’t believe how long it’s been since I saw something new on CelloDonna’s […]
small change, big results 3: improving your practice as illustrated by Dr. Who
In the third installment of this series, I’m going to encourage you to do something fairly radical: pay much MUCH more attention to your bow during your practice. Favor it. Examine it. Look to it as the cause of 80% of your difficulties, even those of intonation. I am compelled to ask this of you […]
small change, big results 2: improving your practice, as illustrated by English period drama
If we think about the relationship between you and your instrument as a romance, practice can be seen as courtship. You’re getting to know about the cello, finding out about yourself, and making your intentions known. You want this…most ardently. This part of the “small change, big results” series will use period drama pieces to […]
small change, big results: improving your practice, as illustrated by MXC
The goal of this series is to provide you with several small changes in approach, presented one at a time, that will streamline and improve your practice process, while also reminding you that MXC* was perhaps the only worthwhile programming ever to air on SpikeTV. View post on imgur.com Practicing can seem like an […]
holiday transition standoff, part 7: the verdict
Olivier and Sebastian: 2.5 hours of delicious community service. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
holiday transition standoff, part 6: deliberation
In the basement, a rare inter-seasonal meeting of S.N.O.W (Society of Neat Ornaments, Washington DC) convenes to determine the fate of Olivier and Sebastian. Put forth as evidence are the weapons used in the attempted assault on Piney, as well as eyewitness accounts from the cats, who saw the whole thing from the window […]
holiday transition standoff, part 4: the escalation
Wearing disguises, Sebastian and Olivier make their move.
holiday transition standoff, part 3
The pumpkins seek the advice of the wise old wreath, who is rumored to have been on the stoop for a long time.
Lucy finds a computer

Bless her furry grey heart: Lucy’s been trying to email you guys. While I’m gigging like crazy and finishing up at Hopkins, she was hoping for some pen-pals to keep her company. Don’t tell her I know about her little scheme!