July 18, 2026 Our third and final “family reunion” of the summer, this time with our musical family in Rexburg, Idaho. We had a great time celebrating the man, the myth, the legend, Dr. Mark Watkins in his retirement. I enjoyed visiting all our old hangs, including the Snow building (our real home in Rexburg),... Continue Reading →
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to participate in chamber ensembles for the upcoming 2025-26 school year! String Chamber Ensembles will meet once a week for coaching, and students will have the opportunity to really develop their ensemble and performance skills, while honing their technique and playing ability on their instruments. Chamber music is an essential... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Angela Duckworth discusses the values of talent versus hard work as it applies to various aspects of our lives, such as music, academics, sports, and so much more. Her book is a compilation of years of psychological research on her part to discover the reasons behind success in individuals. The book is divided into three... Continue Reading →
Book Review: The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle
The Little Book of Talent is a follow-up book to Daniel Coyle’s previous publication, The Talent Code. In this book, Coyle organizes the thoughts of his first book into 52 simplified and succinct tips to help individuals in the process of motivation, progress and talent-building. Coyle’s advice is built on the premise that talent is not in-born. Anyone... Continue Reading →
Practicing: A Three-Step Approach
Everyone knows (or at least they should know) that daily practice is essential for developing any skill. During lessons, you are given valuable knowledge to help you achieve your goals, but if you don't put those things into practice when you go home, I can promise you, you won't go very far. I can also... Continue Reading →
Jocelyn Francis, Cellist 