I LOVE being a percussionist. In one week I get to play glock and bass drum on Pines of Rome, tambourine on Capriccio Italien and a pretty cool vibe part on a new trombone concerto. Nothing like variety in life.

Was I weird or was I really more focused on being a musician when I was younger than some of my students are now? To many of them music is basically a hobby they want to do for a living. I want people who can't imagine NOT being in music. The ones I have that feel this way are GREAT to work with. The question is: how do I get the others there?

Many students I run into today believe that all they need to do research is an internet connection. Problem is much of what's on the internet is incorrect. And yet they will still quote it in a paper without questioning its accuracy.

One of the hardest things to get across to students now is the importance of learning theory and history. Many of them just want to learn their instrument and don't get how the other parts come in. Is this symptomatic of our schools in general? We don't want to know more than we absolutely have to?

The NY Times had a GREAT article on the New World Symphony recently. Everyone should read it. Very insightful.

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