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...
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The Musical Life Blog
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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...
Michelle Monette
- Feb 27
- 2 min
The Best Time to Start
“The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what is in Fortune's control...
Michelle Monette
- Feb 19
- 2 min
Work and Time
In the world of music, a variety of factors will dictate how much, and how quickly, we improve. This can include what we focus on, the...
Michelle Monette
- Feb 13
- 2 min
Focus on the Process, Not on the Prize
"It doesn't make sense to continue wanting something if you're not willing to do what it takes to get it. If you don't want to live the...
Michelle Monette
- Feb 6
- 2 min
Look for Progress, Not Perfection
“Practice makes perfect” is a ubiquitous phrase in the world of music. Whether we hear it from our teachers, our musical heroes, or our...
Michelle Monette
- Jan 29
- 2 min
Give Yourself Fewer Choices
One of the key characteristics of music is the wide variety of potential areas to focus on. There are multiple instruments to learn, many...
Michelle Monette
- Jan 23
- 2 min
The Bright Side of Confusion
A substantial part of any musical journey is the quest for understanding. We recognize how beneficial music comprehension will be for us,...
Michelle Monette
- Jan 16
- 2 min
The Value of Being a Teacher
“And when you say: ‘Give me also a share in these gifts which you have found so helpful,’ I reply that I am anxious to heap all these...
Michelle Monette
- Jan 9
- 2 min
Leading and Lagging Indicators
“Nothing comes from nowhere. Not success. Not inspiration. Not the muses. Not writer’s block. Everything is a lagging indicator. Of...
Michelle Monette
- Jan 2
- 2 min
Look For the Ingredients
When constructing our musical lives and identities, we often draw inspiration from our favourite musicians. Whether we resonate with the...
Michelle Monette
- Dec 27, 2022
- 2 min
Reflect and Redirect
Deliberate planning is essential to building our ideal musical life. We want to be clear about what we’re aiming for, and have a concrete...
Michelle Monette
- Dec 19, 2022
- 2 min
Practice Self-Compassion
"What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself." - Hecato quoted in Seneca's Letters from a Stoic...
Michelle Monette
- Dec 11, 2022
- 2 min
We Are All Built to Make Music
Music is a widely appreciated artform, and an important feature in many of our daily lives. It can connect people to themselves and...
Michelle Monette
- Dec 5, 2022
- 2 min
Play the Long Game
"Nearly everything awesome takes longer than you think. Get started and don't worry about the clock." - James Clear Getting good at music...
Michelle Monette
- Nov 27, 2022
- 2 min
Our Role as Teachers
Teachers are an essential part of anyone’s musical life. Many of us begin our musical journeys by taking lessons with various...
Michelle Monette
- Nov 21, 2022
- 2 min
Regain Your Rhythm
“When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstances, revert at once to yourself, and don’t lose the rhythm more than you can help. You’ll have a...
Michelle Monette
- Nov 13, 2022
- 2 min
Larks and Owls
Since we are all limited in how much time we have to spend on music, it becomes vital to optimize our musical lives so we are as...
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