Day By Day, Drip By Drip
"Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing." - Zeno "Just because improvements aren't visible doesn't mean they...
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Build a Musical Life - Blog
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Michelle Monette
- Jul 10
- 4 min
How to Fine-Tune Feedback
One of the most valuable tools we have for our musical and creative development is feedback—whether received from other people, or...
Michelle Monette
- Jul 3
- 3 min
Where to Find Feedback
A substantial part of building a musical life is always moving forward and growing as artists and musicians. One of the most important...
Michelle Monette
- Jun 26
- 3 min
Don't Fear Feedback
“No one likes to be found at fault. In fact, this is what many of us walk around fearing—that we’ll be exposed as imposters, we’ll be put...
Michelle Monette
- Jun 19
- 3 min
You Can Do It Too
“Not to assume it’s impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it’s humanly possible, you can do it too.” - Marcus...
Michelle Monette
- Jun 12
- 2 min
Make Time for Music
"It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently...
Michelle Monette
- Jun 5
- 2 min
Musical Support Groups
As we work hard to become the musicians and artists we aspire to be, it can be helpful to have the support of others who are on the same...
Michelle Monette
- May 29
- 3 min
Direct Learning
“The easiest way to learn directly is to simply spend a lot of time doing the thing you want to become good at.” - Scott Young One of our...
Michelle Monette
- May 22
- 3 min
Digital Minimalism for Musicians
With the ubiquity of digital tools like social media and YouTube, it’s easier than ever to share art, ideas, and ourselves with the...
Michelle Monette
- May 15
- 2 min
Musical Seasons
When designing our musical lives, there are many strategies we can deploy to help us reach our goals and make the most of our time. While...
Michelle Monette
- May 8
- 3 min
Set Yourself Up For Success
Putting in thousands of hours honing our craft is essential for becoming the musicians and artists we aspire to be. Unfortunately, there...
Michelle Monette
- May 1
- 2 min
The Best Routine
When it comes to finding a music routine, there are a variety of options for us to choose from. Whether from books, articles, videos, or...
Michelle Monette
- Apr 23
- 2 min
Focus on Fundamentals
“Fundamentals will save your [butt] every day, and twice on Sundays.” Bob Reynolds With the proliferation of videos and online courses...
Michelle Monette
- Apr 17
- 2 min
Our Musical Interconnectedness
“Keep reminding yourself of the way things are connected, of their relatedness. All things are implicated in one another and in sympathy...
Michelle Monette
- Apr 9
- 3 min
Don't Worry About What Other Musicians Are Doing
With the accessibility of the internet, it is easier than ever to know exactly what other musicians are doing, playing, and creating. We...
Michelle Monette
- Apr 2
- 2 min
A Broader Perspective on Practice
“Any significant change requires significant practice.” - Brad Stulberg All musicians know how important practicing is to our craft, but...
Michelle Monette
- Mar 27
- 3 min
The Role of Productivity in a Musical Life
A large part of being a musician is having lofty goals and ambitions. We might want to be the best player possible on our chosen...
Michelle Monette
- Mar 20
- 3 min
Always Be a Student
“It is impossible to learn that which one thinks one already knows.” - Epictetus “If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is...
Michelle Monette
- Mar 13
- 2 min
Develop Your Musical Voice
“It’s my failure to sound like my heroes that’s allowed me to sound like myself.” - John Mayer One of the most fulfilling parts of being...
Michelle Monette
- Mar 6
- 2 min
The Musical Life Isn't Only About Music
“Music can’t be everything.” - James Blake, “Meet You In The Maze” When we feel called to pursue music in any way, shape, or form, it’s...
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