I’ve been reading a book called The Art of Possibility lately, and in the book, they talk about the concept of giving someone an A. The idea is that you give someone an A by assuming the best about them
Giving People an A
Make a Class Composition that You Can Perform at Your Next Concert!
For the last few years, I’ve started to incorporate more improvisation and composition into my performing ensemble classes. Most of my efforts have been pretty clunky at best; I was learning these skills alongside my students and I didn’t really
What Does It Look Like to “Practice” Teaching?
It’s mid May and I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting over the last week or two. There are so many things that I want to do differently, do better next school year. I’ve been writing all my ideas down,
Training “Extra Classical” Musicians
This past week Drew Forde (aka ThatViolaKid) sent out a bold message: There is no money in classical music. His article is hard to argue with, and he makes a lot of really great points. I have no doubt he’s
Why Should Teachers Get Paid More?
Teachers, can we talk about this for a minute? We all want better pay, but I think we’re going about it the wrong way and we’re doing ourselves a huge disservice. Let me explain by giving you a few examples
What to Do When Your Students Aren’t Motivated
Do you feel like your students are just not very motivated, or does it seem like students are less motivated than they used to be? If so, you aren’t alone. Lack of motivation is one of the most common excuses
Why You Should Attend Your Child’s Concert
At the beginning of the school year I ask my students what they enjoy most about orchestra and what they look forward to. The two most common responses are always playing music with others and performing. Students love performing! It’s
2020 – The Dumpster Fire that Saved My Life
For the last several months, I keep hearing people talk about 2020 as if it were the worst year in human history. Already people are looking longingly towards 2021 – or even 2022 – with the idea that anything would
Music Matters: A Letter to Myself
Dear future self, Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen a huge outpouring of gratitude posts on social media. It’s been refreshing to read through posts from old friends and past students, seeing what they’re doing and what they are
Developing Patience…the Roundabout Way
“How are you so patient, Ms. Thorup?” is a question that I’ve gotten more than once. The funny thing is, I don’t think of myself as a patient person. I certainly don’t have a vast reserve of inner calm and