Homework

I. The Musician (The Storyteller)

• Goal: Cultivate charisma and communication skills.

• Practice Methods:

  • Treat verbal communication like a musical practice (e.g., scales and arpeggios).

  • Practice speaking in front of a mirror to build gregariousness.

  • Maintain eye contact with yourself to overcome fear and "edginess."

• Outcome: Transformation of your capacity to communicate naturally over time.

II. The Story (The Program)

• Goal: Create meaningful, authentic musical programs.

• Practice Methods:

  • Draft potential programs using structural concepts like the Rule of Three, Polarity, and the Elements.

  • Seek "historical through lines" that resonate with the current cultural moment.

  • Focus on making musical sense of existing forms.

• Outcome: A program that is "authentically centered" and true to who you are.

III. The Audience (The Connection)

• Goal: Redefine the ritual of the performance.

• Practice Methods:

  • Experiment with Dynamics: Play with the relationship between sound and silence.

  • Challenge Conventions: Move the timing of applause or invite audience participation.

  • Encourage Engagement: Allow the audience to ask questions or clap at exciting moments.

• Outcome: Empowerment to make intentional choices that lead to a "wholesale renewal" of the concert ritual.