Artistic expression
16 essays on artistic expression.
- December 13, 2023How to Create Art That Doesn’t Matter
Art matters… right? This question can bring up mixed feelings for many artists. On the one hand, every artist and art lover carries an unshakeable, if unspoken, knowledge that art does matter, that it has inestimable value, and that the creation of art carries out a life-giving purpose in our world.
- August 26, 2023Art & Money: Rotten Fruit? Plus, Invitation to Roundtable
"Art & Money: Rotten Fruit?" or "Why Do So Many Gigs Pay So Little in both Money and Fulfillment?" (Plus, an invitation to a roundtable conversation) The #1 challenge most professional musicians…
- March 22, 2023Is Mastering Your Art Only About Technique? No. Here's What's Missing.
Is virtuosic technique sufficient for true mastery of your art form? Well, it's certainly necessary, but it's not sufficient by itself. Any approach to artistic development that focuses too much on technique…
- March 16, 2023The Three Celebrations: How Art Helps Us Celebrate the Mystery of Life
One of the essential roles of musicians & other artists is to help humanity celebrate the mystery of life. This activity is central to all human cultures and is responsible for some…
- February 15, 2023We Used to Sing Together - Has Technology Made Us Less Creative & Connected?
Has technology made us less creative and less connected as a society? After all, not that long ago, our Saturday evenings would have been spent gathered around someone's piano, singing our favorite…
- December 21, 2022The Arts & Disconnection from Nature
The arts have the potential to connect humanity with the larger forces of nature. If this potential were fully realized, this could have a transformative effect on humanity's relationship with our planet.…
- November 2, 2022The Mysterious Source of Creativity Within
Hello friends! Here's another excerpt from my upcoming book, "Soulforce Arts: The Vital Role of Musicians & Other Artists in a World That's Lost Its Mind." It's from my chapter on the…
- October 26, 2022You and Your Audience Are Connected
Hello friends! Here's another excerpt of my upcoming book, "Soulforce Arts: The Vital Role of Musicians & Other Artists in a World That's Lost Its Mind." This excerpt is from my chapter…
- October 12, 2022Redefining Performance, Practice, & Teaching
Hello friends! Here's another excerpt from my upcoming book, "Soulforce Arts: The Vital Role of Musicians & Other Artists in a World That's Lost Its Mind." This is from my chapter on…
- March 9, 2022Improvisation from the Heart - 100 Days of Soulforce #24
It's a cold, rainy day in Philadelphia and I didn't really feel like talking, so I decided to play violin for you, instead! Day 24 of 100 Days of Soulforce: - Improvisation…
- March 2, 2022"The Spirit of the Gift in the Arts" - 100 Days of Soulforce #19
The Spirit of the Gift helps us understand: - How to feel more at home in the world - How to make a living while doing something meaningful - How to make…
- February 13, 2022Can artists *really* heal the world? 100 Days of Soulforce #4
As performing artists, we *know* that what we do makes a difference - we touch the lives of many people through our performances and teaching. And yet, the story we get from…
- February 12, 2022"Interbeing" - The Connection of Climate Change and the Arts - 100 Days of Soulforce #2
Interbeing is a term coined by Thich Nhat Hanh, who was one of the great Zen masters of the 20th and 21st centuries. Interbeing is both a philosophy and experience, one that…
- February 12, 2022Life Purpose for Performing Artists - 100 Days of Soulforce #3
Life purpose means going beyond merely have a "career" in a particular field, but really living out, as David Whyte says, "The story you were born with." Another important idea is that…
- February 11, 2022100 Days of Soulforce - Day 1 - "What is Soulforce Artistry"?
What's "100 Days of Soulforce"? I'm embarking on a mission to spread the word about Soulforce Performing Arts because I believe it is a needed message for artists of all kinds in…
- February 7, 2022The Six Pillars of Soulforce Performance Arts
The Six Pillars of Soulforce Performance Arts What it means to be a performing artist has clearly evolved over time - we have enacted rituals, glorified religious or political ideals, provided secular…