It is an occupational hazard of the aspiring musician to practice too much. While we require a baseline physical aptitude, music demands a lot of time inside one’s own head. The premium on memorisation attracts personalities with an ascetic disposition, who will forsake most other pastimes and pleasures without second thought. I often fit this […]
Attention Musicians: Go to the Gym! Read More »
What is ‘Mastery’? Mastery is about fulfilling your own intrinsic potential. It is not simply the commitment to or achievement of a goal but rather a constant pursuit. “It’s about the journey not the destination” is a neat platitude that is often trotted out in the aftermath of a failed exam or missed goal, but
A Passionate Pursuit Read More »
The “Wild Beasts”, or Les Fauves, were a group of early 20th century artists who revolutionized painting with their intense, non-naturalistic colour and energetic brushstrokes. Led by Henri Matisse, the group shocked the 1905 Salon d’Automne with a radical, emotional style that prioritised vibrant individual expression over academic, realistic depiction. Their shared vision – their
Where Have All The Dreamers Gone? Read More »
Comparison might be the thief of joy, but we all take inspiration from somewhere, or someone. What makes a great musician worthy of looking up to? Should we be looking up to anyone at all? Keelan explores… A decade ago, while doing the rounds auditioning for conservatoires as a hopeful undergrad-to-be, I was asked by
Like most musicians, I suspect, I’ve spent most of my performing life searching for consistency. The proverbial silver bullet that would ensure I was in the zone every time I took to the stage. Over the years, friends, fellow musicians, promoters and agents have seen me experiment with a wide variety of concert day (or
Paralysis by Analysis Read More »
