The start of something new 🍁

I felt it this week when I pulled on my teal Columbia fleece jacket for our morning walk. I noticed it in the cluster of red leaves at the top of the Maple tree on the corner and the baskets of Zestar apples (my favorite) at the farmer's market. 🍎

And then Wegmans had a sample of cornbread with hot honey on Saturday morning and all I could think about was a big bowl of Taco Soup and weekend football games (Go Dawgs! Go Bills! 🏈).

Fall is here and with it, a return to work and school rhythms, academic calendars, Gilmore Girls (IYKYK), and pumpkin-spiced-everything.

Also, new school supplies because you're never too old for a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils. ✏️

Regardless of the stage of life you're in, there’s something invigorating about the return of this season—one marked by new beginnings, new chapters.

You're stepping into this season with a fresh perspective & a little more wisdom than you had in the spring. You've learned more about yourself and what it means to live in this world, connect with others, and do your best work.

You’ve heard me say it before, but as musicians and teachers, we’re never done learning (and that’s a good thing!).

It's something we all have in common—

Because whether you're starting something brand new or you've been doing this for 40 years, each year feels like beginning again in some way.

✨ Curiosity: A desire to experiment and test ideas, embrace opportunities to try new things, and just play.
📚 Scholarship: Bringing a new depth of research, context, and knowledge to the repertoire I teach and the music learning process.
💛 Connection: Asking more thoughtful questions, creating meaningful experiences, and connecting to the heart of music-making.

What about you?

This month on the blog, I shared about beginning (or beginning again). You'll find:

7 ways to build a musical vocabulary with tonal pattern cards
Foundational practice steps for beginning piano students
Strategies to help you develop your adult choir’s sight-reading skills
A book review on the secret to productivity
What every musician & teacher should know about copyright

Whether this fall is a new chapter for you or you’re returning somewhere familiar and comfortable, I hope you take this opportunity to try something new—

A new teaching approach or curriculum resource, a new rehearsal format or genre of music, or a new daily ritual.

And if you need support or you have questions, I'd love to invite you to join me in one of two Fall Virtual Work Retreats—get a 20-minute strategy session with me on a topic of your choice, an opportunity to learn from other musicians and teachers in a small-group setting + built-in co-working time.

💻✏️ Sign up today (only $47!) >>

Here’s to fresh starts and new beginnings (and alll the cozy sweaters). 🍁

Ashley

P.S. Want to share this letter? Here's a link.

Featured Music