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...
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Build a Musical Life - Blog
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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 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 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 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...
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