Studio Philosophy

Time management & Responsibility

• Be selective about your commitments - start with bare minimum requirements as your top priorities before agreeing to anything extra. There will be hard things to say no to.
• You bring your whole self to your craft. Basic human needs must come first. Put yourself high on your priority list. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
• If you don’t schedule a break, your body will do it for you and it won’t be at a convenient time.
• Practice is learning your part on your time. Rehearsal is learning how parts fit together.
• Look it up before you ask. Dictionary. Syllabus. Internet.
• Talent runs out at 18. You better werk. -Dr. Tarantelli
• Progress is neither swift nor easy -Marie Curie.

Mindset

• Have a tender heart in a hard world.
• Music gives us permission to feel
• Put your energy towards working smart, being flexible, and staying open to new ideas.
• Focus on improvement. The rest will work itself out. 1% every day adds up to 365.25% each year.
• Be rigid with your dedication yet kind to yourself in the process.
• Take your work seriously while not taking yourself too seriously.
• What comes out of your bell does not correlate with your value as a human being.
• Be eager to hear “you’re wrong” just as you’d want to hear “you’re right”.
• When you have an open mind, a challenge to your ideas isn’t an attack on you. It’s an opportunity to learn something new. You don’t have to agree with someone’s points to benefit from understanding their perspective. Spirited debate clarifies assumptions and sharpens reasoning.
• Confidence is quiet, insecurity is loud.
• Craving social approval stifles authenticity and breeds misery. The antidote is not to stop caring about other peoples’ opinions altogether. It’s to decide whose opinions you respect. Hint: it’s probably not judgmental relatives, former classmates, or strangers on the internet. -Adam Grant

Respect and Professionalism

• Everyone deserves respect and kindness regardless of age, experience, and skill level.
• Avoid hero worship - we’re all worthy and all who are excellent have been putting in work
• We do not tolerate mocking others for what they can’t do/horn they can’t afford/etc
• Asking > Judging
• Music builds community because it is collaborative by nature.
• Offer facts and answer questions: you’re not trying to convince - you’re being offered facts, not propaganda. It’s better to ask than assume. Consent is key.
• Directly (and kindly) address conflict - gossip can quickly turn into a forest fire - Dr. Tarantelli
• What you post stays on the internet and represents you, Dr. Tarantelli, this studio, and this university.
• The hallways, practice rooms, and backstage areas have ears. Use your words wisely.
• Try saying “thank you” instead of “sorry” unless it’s a true apology. “Thank you for your patience.”
• You are responsible in helping to build your audiences.
• If you see something – say something.
• Treat each other with dignity and respect. Your colleagues and teachers today are your hiring committee and colleagues tomorrow. -Gail Williams