Getting Ready for New York

My career to this point has given me the opportunity to travel to three continents for performances, and if there is one thing I have learned it’s that as an aspiring musician every trip you take is a business trip.  Whether you’re going to meet your best friend, relatives to celebrate a holiday, or traveling to perform, your music and your art have to be top of mind if you really expect to succeed.

If you’re wondering why I write this, it’s because I believe you should always be working to make your dream a reality. The great pianist Vladimir Horowitz is credited with saying: "If I don't practice for a day, I know it. If I don't practice for two days, the critics know it. And if I don't practice for three days, the public knows it."

That is how I live my life.  I plan everything in such a way that I get in as much practice every day as possible.  And while this is more difficult to do when I am traveling, I still have to figure out ways to schedule it.

And it’s not just about the next performance. It’s about my entire career.  Engagements are like bricks in a foundation.  Each one of them plays a role in building a career that lasts over a lifetime, and help a musician to build a legacy with every performance.

As I prepare to go to New York for three months, I hope to be able to organize everything around a practice schedule that will allow me as much time as possible at the keyboard, especially since my luggage will be filled with not just clothing, but music scores as well.