Communication is changing  rapidly every year, and because of that, there are more platforms for self  promotion than ever before. Facebook, Instagram, and You Tube, to name a few, are becoming mandatory stops on the internet for most musicians. I am ALL for healthy self promotion, and since my dad was an independent business man throughout his career, I value great entrepreneurial ideas and spirit. However, there must be something BEHIND the promotion!   Great musicianship is built in the practice room, not at the computer screen! As we begin another school year, let's remind all of our students that those basic skills of wonderful tonal control, intonation, great finger technique, stable internal rhythm, and a fabulous sense of phrasing  develop musicianship. A spirit of collegial respect and good interpersonal skills are handy in this business. Let's teach our students to be on time, to be prepared for every situation and to be great human beings too. Musicianship first...self promotion second! Here's to a great academic year! 

I read an article in Flute Talk that addressed 'being teachable', and since the start of the new school year is just around the corner, I would like to explore this concept. 
Keeping an open mind is key to studying music: I've had to sort through lessons with different teachers in my past where interpretive ideas on the same piece of music  were exactly the opposite. I took the information away from those lessons and chose the idea that worked best for me...since it  was probably not the time to say 'so and so told me to do it THIS way'.  Sorting through ideas on your own post lesson might be a better way to approach different viewpoints! Sometimes those different viewpoints are offered to you since the current way of doing things is not working as well!  Being teachable means preparation that is thorough and consistent...after all, you will ultimately become your OWN teacher, and learning to practice and analyze your own mistakes is the goal! It goes without saying that teachable students are prompt and have all their materials ready to go for each lesson. Here's to a great new start!