What is your favorite music?!! or How do you participate in music?

I was again asked by a student this week, "What is your favorite music?" I am always stumped by this question. I don't think I really have one kind of music that is my favorite. My spotify lists are eclectic! But the question made me recall a wonderful conversation with Anthony and Melody Molinaro, Aaron Butler, and Gregory Ristow this past summer, where we considered the differences between the musics we love.

There is not one way that I participate in music.

(1) There are the recordings I love — these are specific moments captured in time that never change. I want to listen to some of them over and over and seem to never tire of these specific recordings. (this is not a huge playlist)

(2) There are also musics (songs, shows, repertoire, composers, major and minor works) that I love differently, as opportunities for new discovery. These are not tied to any specific recordings, rather they are examples I would be thrilled to see live, knowing that each rendition will be different from the last. The interpretations of these performances will always come from a new moment in time, often from different performers, each one unique and full of potential. Sometimes they hit and other times they miss and that is part of the thrill. (this list is slightly larger than the recordings)

(3) And lastly there are many musics that I do and do not care to listen to recordings of, and many musics that I do and do not care to go see live, but would be thrilled to be a part of the performance of. Performing, the live, in the moment, crafting of music is for me an experience so unlike listening to recordings or attending live performance. The "making of music" opens an even wider net of music that I love and am thrilled to participate in. (this list is massive)

I have forever conflated these three points and will now try to remember to keep the lanes clear. When asked "what is your favorite music" I will be better able to describe my experience.

#InterestedInSeeingYourLists #SendMeYourForeverRecordings

Teaching Leadership Through Conducting

This July I was invited by the Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business to lead a  workshop with young executives from Mahindra & Mahindra, the multinational automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

In the workshop titled, Innovative Sounds of Leadership: Orchestra Experience, I discussed leadership through the lense of the performing ensemble. I taught the 33 executives basic conducting patterns and then split them into small chamber ensembles where they attempted to conduct each other. After some practice and coaching, each group nominated a group member to come to the stage to conduct me playing the piano. As each leader came to the stage, we discussed ensemble, communication, entrainment, and empathy. Then we took turns working with the CMU Tartan Tuba Band. These musicians were absolute pros, taking the wild directions from our young executives and working them into the performances.

The day was so much fun. We laughed and laughed all while talking about the differences between leading and commanding, between being beside vs being together and noting the level of intimacy, humility, and vulnerability necessary to earn trust. We talked about 'finding' your ensemble where they are and noted how you can only direct a group that is with you. We searched for variables of experience that were malleable — leadable — and then pushed on these variables to find their breaking points. We considered the role of risk, mistakes, blame, and then revisioned those frictions relative to innovation. I am sure we could have continued the workshop throughout the rest of the week if we had more time.

Thanks to the Tepper School of Business and to the Mahindra Accelerated Leadership program for trusting me with your up-and-coming executives. Thanks to the CMU Tartan Tuba Band, you were brilliant. And thanks to my dear friend Lance LaDuke for making these inroads and modeling the leadership, humility, joy, and care that we should carry with us into every boardroom and concert stage. I miss you friend. 

Click below for all of the joyous photos from the day.