It all starts with the question “Why?”…

Creative Practicing is an invitation to approach music with curiosity, attention, and imagination. In this workshop, we explore how daily practice can become a space for discovery, connecting technical development with the cultivation of a personal artistic voice.

My approach begins with listening: to our sound and then choices we make when we let it guide us. Through organized and focused exploration of musical fundamentals, we create room to notice what might otherwise pass us by. Simple material can reveal unexpected depth when we give it our full attention.

I see practicing as preparation for being present—with ourselves, with other musicians, and with the music as it unfolds. Recording, reflection, and asking honest questions help us understand what we hear and what we want to express.

Quadrant Practicing

Let’s get organized. Here’s a practical way to structure your practice that’s helped me a lot. Whether you’re new to using a timer or want a fresh method of time-blocking while taking a holistic approach to becoming a deeper musician, this could be helpful for you.

Flow…

If you have ever struggled with connecting your phrases or you feel like you keep interupting yourself when you’re improvising this improv game can help. I take a simple folk tune to demonstrate this and once you get comfortable with it you can try it over your favorite standard or even a more complex bebop melody.

Template for Quadrant Practicing

I practice in 25-minute intervals. Each square represents one 25-minute session. After completing four squares, I take a 25-minute break. On a good day I repeat the full cycle twice.