Reflections and Resolutions

Trite though it may be, I’ve been indulging in the annual ritual of looking back on a year of work, as well as thinking forward to what 2019 may bring. I’m not huge on resolutions, but I do like setting some intentions for the year and putting some of my needs out to the universe. And so, in the spirit of the season, here are my reflections on 2018 and my goals for 2019!

In 2018, a lot of amazing things happened for me, professionally. I had general goals of working on big projects, like my clinic package, and building my business in new ways. Here are some highlights:

• Hired as adjunct trombone instructor at St Cloud State
• Became an Edwards Instruments Artist
• Crowdfunded, recorded, and released Brass Lassie’s first album
• Recorded with the Adam Meckler Orchestra (album out in April of this year)
• Celebrated my first anniversary of Alexander Technique practice
• Launched my clinic package “Ear on the Prize”
• Played countless gigs, offered hundreds of lessons and clinics combined, showed up to jam sessions and pushed my creative limits
• Learned how to better develop a healthy outlook on work and play that allowed me time for rest, productive periods, and fun

It was sort of a rough personal year, with the loss of fur friend Gatsby, but it was also full of fun: trips to Costa Rica and Scotland, kayaking, hiking, and camping with good friends, a warm house, regular meals. I have much to be grateful for.

2019 promises to be something entirely different than 2018. I’m feeling less motivation to come up with big ideas and projects, but more motivation to practice and perform the things that I love. I want to take the work I’ve done in the last few years and leverage it to have more name recognition, more performance opportunities, and more financial security. Here are some of the things I’ve been starting to focus on this year:

• Continuing to improvise, arrange, and compose- looking for pathways to make this a bigger component of my career
• Developing a modular recital program I can use for artist-in-residence and clinic visits
• Filling in gaps in my pedagogy (the big one here is: teaching articulation in a holistic way)
• Buying a wireless mic, for Brass Lassie, but also use to experiment with effects and looping
• Becoming proficient enough at piano to accompany students on basic repertoire and improvisation
• Making the clinic package as viable and desirable as possible to get bookings
• Determining what the future might look like from several different angles- what work do I want to be doing in 5 years? 10? 20?

And here are some of the exciting things that are already in the books for the year:

• Conducting the Hamline Wind Ensemble while regular director Dr Janet Greene is on sabbatical
• Brass Day March 30 at St Cloud State
• Adam Meckler Album Release show April 6 (more info TBA)
• Presenting at Twin Cities Trombone Day April 6
• Featured artist for BrassChix 2019
• Brass Lassie gigs at Icehouse, Scottish Fair, Vintage Band Festival, and more TBA
• purchasing a euphonium from a college friend (!! so excited)
• My photo on an Edwards Artist poster!

On a personal level, I hope for 2019 to be a year of joy, balance, and passion for what I do and experience. My word for the year is ‘fire’- I want to acknowledge the things that have burnt out for me and reignite what I still have value and love for. Fire can be destructive- but it can also be cleansing, life-saving, and necessary. I have been ‘water’ for a long time- flexible, adaptable, constant- this year I feel the need for change, for energy and warmth.

What are your 2019 goals and dreams? What happened in 2018 that motivates you still?