Are you musically talented?  No? Do you enjoy music of any kind?  Yes? Well, excuuuuuse me, but I’d say you’re musically talented. Lots of people think they have no talent or that their child has no talent and they are probably dead wrong. Here are some wrong ideas about talent: If you’re talented, you can… Read More →

The recipe for success is simple: Make an effort and keep at it over time. Students improve only if they practice. As a cello teacher, I subscribe absolutely to the dictum – you can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make him drink.  During lessons, I work with students as effectively as… Read More →

I wrote this essay in March of 1996 at a time when I was writing monthly articles about playing the cello for my students and their families. The topic was suggested by the parent of a student who wanted me to discuss how to help a child who was discouraged while practicing.

Learning to play an instrument is challenging in many ways, including emotionally. Dealing with one’s emotions, both positive and negative, is part of any process of learning, so it’s worth thinking about it and cultivating emotional support systems of all kinds. … Read More →

It has long been a goal of mine to write a book about learning to play an instrument well. In the 1990’s I started on the process by writing 23 newsletters on a variety of topics I thought were relevant and interesting.  Here are the titles of the topics I covered: Discipline Stage Fright Students and… Read More →

In the 1990’s when I wrote 23 newsletters for my students and their parents about learning to play an instrument, I began each newsletter with a brief “Dear Readers” letter.  Here is a selection of some of these, many years later, which may be of general interest: February, 1995   Dear Readers: Cello lessons are… Read More →