Welcome to The B-List.
Part story, part toolbox: ideas on finding success and personal fulfillment in music.
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Thoughtful Refresh: Check In 1
Thoughtful Refresh Series: Check In 1. How it’s going, what I’m noticing, where I started…
If you follow along with me on Instagram or The B-List newsletter, you know that my big personal project for the summer is working on my routines.
Under the Surface
But there is an even bigger part of our lives as performers that the iceberg can represent, and that includes our approach to daily life outside of making music. Routines of all types, planning ahead, reflecting on what’s behind us…tending.
The Clarity of Routine
Routine may be an external resource, but it has everything to do with how we build skills, whether we’re trying to establish a practice routine for our instrument, a habit of mindfulness, or a physical practice of exercise or stretching.
The Clarity of Movement
Developing movement practices that genuinely help overhaul our mental clarity doesn’t require an elaborate routine, and often is more sustainable in small doses easily applied throughout each day. Through the implementation of small, helpful habits and observation we can connect the body and mind and create the calm and clarity we desire in our lives both on stage and off.
Energy Efficient Practicing
The way being busy makes us feel and what we need to do to cope with high-demand periods of work will change as we get older and more experienced. Intentional planning can create success and prevent burnout.
Four Books For Creatives With Work To Do
Four books on process for creatives with work to do.
The Lifespan of Fear
Our lifetimes are long, and it’s absolutely worth the effort it takes to address the things that make us feel anxious. Because it’s so acceptable to discuss stress and anxiety now, there is also a comfort in relating to everyone having it rather than taking the sometimes tedious and mundane steps toward overcoming what stands in our way.
Proprioception and Nociception in Musicians
If pain blocks awareness, then maybe the reverse is true - building awareness builds proprioception, which in turn builds the effectiveness and ease of the skills we work so hard to develop and maintain.
Self Maintenance
What we are willing to lovingly layer into our every day life with consistency is what will create the greatest impact in our well being long term.
Keep the Channel Open
By becoming more acquainted with ourselves we become more efficient observers and more accurate and efficient managers of our construction.
Exploratory Mindset
Taking a step back and challenging your view, looking at things from a new angle, checking your intentions, and encouraging yourself not to cling are just as valuable as fixing the problem. They create lightness and space around whatever it is we are dealing with, and that’s helpful for all of us.
Flip The Script
The next time you feel motivated to critique your past behaviors, consider also what you did right. Could you list both things and see them as just that…a list? Objective data on the situation that might come in handy later is a lot easier to work with in the future than a late night binge of self judgement.
Productivity Anti-Hacks
The answer is the opposite of a hack. An anti-hack if you will. It lies in perspective.
Creating Depth in Education
Maybe what I knew deep down years ago and am just now able to articulate is that I didn’t want to teach music in the first place. What I wanted was to at least try to experience and teach the satisfaction of depth and exploration.
Lessons in Trust and Preparation
How to prepare musically and mentally for big performances.
Trying Something New
What are the ways you could explore your unique interests and skills to connect with others?
Constraints Create Freedom
Our culture pushes make-your-own schedules, self-employment, and autonomy as the ultimate freedoms, but we’re missing the mark thinking that everything should be unbound. Healthy structures help us achieve our goals and enjoy the time we spend in work and activities.
Self Criticism: The Easy Way Out?
Have a clear intention for your actions and keep looking close to avoid getting caught up in generalities.
Teaching Yourself is Cultivating Trust
What better way could there be to grow as a musician than to learn to mindfully teach ourself?
How Busy Is Too Busy?
“The more firmly you believe it ought to be possible to find time for everything, the less pressure you’ll feel to ask whether any given activity is the best use of a portion of your time.”