Here's what I'm thankful for:
-A day with such a wonderful name and positive feelings. A reason to stop and reflect.
-Wonderful family and friends, near and far.
-A rewarding life of enriching work in the arts... music and teaching. Giving.
Every day, I'm reminded how fortunate I am for this career, this life. There are many highs and the occasional lows, but a day doesn't pass where I miss the chance to practice my art.
There are trade offs. In higher ed, you move to where the jobs are, and that usually means greater distance from family. Upside- you are afforded the opportunity to create a large community of friends and family, and the long holiday breaks aren't so bad, either.
As musicians, you are beholden to when and where the work is, and that often means distance and busy times during the holidays. Upside- you are given an opportunity to share your art, change someone's world for a time, and have a positive effect on a group psyche. Powerful.
On this day and every day, I am thankful for all of those in my life, past and present, who in one way or another, led me to where I am today.
Thank you.
My perspective as a percussionist and educator.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
"Get More Done"
Lately, I've been adding "tips to get more done" as my Facebook status. It's not that I'm particularly efficient or an expert in productivity. What I am is a percussionist and educator who likes to stay busy. As a result, I've collected concepts that work for me and posting these ideas helps keep accountability to myself.
As musicians, we generally carry around a feeling of unfinished business- there's always more to practice. More to learn. Coming to terms with these feelings in an ever-busy world can be the ultimate challenge and an indicator of success or failure.
For the time being, my blog will elaborate on these "Tips to Get More Done."
To follow my daily tips, friend me on Facebook.
1. Walk faster: Well, this isn't exactly fair nor applicable to all, but through casual observation, mopers tend to produce less. Move a little... it's good for you.
2. Close Facebook: Ironic being I am using it as my platform. Like any tool, it can be too much and can become an endless time suck. I challenge you to keep track of your Facebook usage for one day.
3. Enough already. Stop talking and start doing: You've heard the phrase, "death by committee." Talking is easy. Doing is the hard part.
4. Do one thing at a time: Trying to do otherwise is overwhelming. This, too, is ironic being percussionists are known for doing more than one thing at a time. However, we are never really doing things independently, but interdependently.
5. Set tangible deadlines: As in, I will get my inbox cleaned out before the continents revert back to Pangaea. Seriously... work expands to fill the time allotted. Give yourself a realistic deadline and do what you need to do.
6. If you're going to bother doing it, do it right the first time: Think about how you approach practicing. When you get in the practice room, do you learn systematically, relating what you're doing to time (a metronome), working out things correctly? Or do you mess around, hoping you magically absorb the music? Doing it right the first time prevents a pile of mental interference.
7. Stop making excuses. Woman up. Or man up. Take your pick. No one likes a whiner: What more can be said about this one?
This is a week's worth of tips. What are your best tips for getting things done?
Thanks for reading.
Visit my website at www.jameswdoyle.com
As musicians, we generally carry around a feeling of unfinished business- there's always more to practice. More to learn. Coming to terms with these feelings in an ever-busy world can be the ultimate challenge and an indicator of success or failure.
For the time being, my blog will elaborate on these "Tips to Get More Done."
To follow my daily tips, friend me on Facebook.
1. Walk faster: Well, this isn't exactly fair nor applicable to all, but through casual observation, mopers tend to produce less. Move a little... it's good for you.
2. Close Facebook: Ironic being I am using it as my platform. Like any tool, it can be too much and can become an endless time suck. I challenge you to keep track of your Facebook usage for one day.
3. Enough already. Stop talking and start doing: You've heard the phrase, "death by committee." Talking is easy. Doing is the hard part.
4. Do one thing at a time: Trying to do otherwise is overwhelming. This, too, is ironic being percussionists are known for doing more than one thing at a time. However, we are never really doing things independently, but interdependently.
5. Set tangible deadlines: As in, I will get my inbox cleaned out before the continents revert back to Pangaea. Seriously... work expands to fill the time allotted. Give yourself a realistic deadline and do what you need to do.
6. If you're going to bother doing it, do it right the first time: Think about how you approach practicing. When you get in the practice room, do you learn systematically, relating what you're doing to time (a metronome), working out things correctly? Or do you mess around, hoping you magically absorb the music? Doing it right the first time prevents a pile of mental interference.
7. Stop making excuses. Woman up. Or man up. Take your pick. No one likes a whiner: What more can be said about this one?
This is a week's worth of tips. What are your best tips for getting things done?
Thanks for reading.
Visit my website at www.jameswdoyle.com
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Changing Roles
Think about how you fit into a working group. Are you the best? Strongest? Smartest? Weakest? Somewhere in between?
Consider the changing roles one experiences as a member of an ensemble.
An inexperienced musician may have the self awareness as to where he or she is on the spectrum of ability level compared to the other members. And then again, he or she may not have the self awareness. Either way, it's my job to clarify this awareness and move the student along the spectrum while continuing to challenge those more advanced.
As the musician matures, he or she discovers a new feeling of knowledge, sometimes accompanied by impatience towards others. It's also my job to foster both patience, empathy, and student leadership. "How to" is another matter.
Group dynamic is the untold linchpin of any group, regardless of overall talent. Developing group dynamic is an art. Like all art, it constantly evolves, requires practice, and is a never-ending pursuit.
This photo displays a possible outcome...
How do you foster role changes in your groups? How do you manage role changes in your life?
Visit my website at www.jameswdoyle.com
Consider the changing roles one experiences as a member of an ensemble.
An inexperienced musician may have the self awareness as to where he or she is on the spectrum of ability level compared to the other members. And then again, he or she may not have the self awareness. Either way, it's my job to clarify this awareness and move the student along the spectrum while continuing to challenge those more advanced.
As the musician matures, he or she discovers a new feeling of knowledge, sometimes accompanied by impatience towards others. It's also my job to foster both patience, empathy, and student leadership. "How to" is another matter.
Group dynamic is the untold linchpin of any group, regardless of overall talent. Developing group dynamic is an art. Like all art, it constantly evolves, requires practice, and is a never-ending pursuit.
This photo displays a possible outcome...
How do you foster role changes in your groups? How do you manage role changes in your life?
Visit my website at www.jameswdoyle.com
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