How to Be: Three Life-Changing Lessons from a Remarkable Woman About a month ago, I lost my mentor and dear friend, Mary Kogen. Mary was, on the surface, my college piano and pedagogy teacher. She taught me technique and chord progressions, how to break the...
3 Times to Ignore People Your undivided attention is a priceless and meaningful gift. In this age of overwhelming distraction, even a few minutes of focused attention can build rapport, trust, and connection. Because your time and attention are so valuable, be...
How to Conquer Pre-Performance Nerves As a pianist in my younger days, I experienced debilitating stage fright. Even the idea of playing in front of friends and family terrified me. I usually managed to get through the performance, but would often end up crying...
3 Self-Destructive Beliefs to Drop This Year Here we are, a few weeks into a new year—for many, this is a time of hopeful changes and new habits. Most “new year’s resolutions” come down to this: “I want to take better care of myself.” No one ever says, “My goal...
5 Tips for Healthy Communication ‘Tis the season for … food. And lots of it. I don’t even celebrate most of the fall and winter holidays, and yet I find it hard to resist the everything-pumpkin and everything-peppermint mountains at the grocery stores. I am surrounded...
