Music theory doesn’t prohibit anything to composers…for better or worse. — One of the most common questions I get from the composition-curious is “I want to do [insert melody, chord progression, etc. here], does music theory allow that?” The short answer is always Yes. Music theory isn’t prescriptive. It doesn’t tell you what you can and can’t do. Music theory is…

There are a lot of books in the Book. Here’s how to pick your starting point. — “I’ve never read the Bible before. Where should I start?” Most people start at the beginning — literally. But cracking the Bible at “In the beginning….” isn’t the only way to read it. Indeed, it might not even be the best way. The Bible isn’t exactly one book. Rather, it’s…

The Lost Generation has much to teach us about navigating the current century. — Thanks to odd scheduling issues and particular professors’ pet projects, I spent more time reading Modernist authors in college than I liked. I didn’t grasp what made Modernist authors “modernist” at the time. I learned how to parrot back phrases like “rejected traditional norms” in order to past tests. But…

Punishment and reward teach people how to weigh benefits and risks — but nothing about why their behavior matters. Here’s a conversation we’re not ready to have: Punishments do not change behavior. Punishments only change the costs of behavior. For example: Say that your older child is teasing, tormenting, bullying…

We may not all be impaired. Yet every spring, we are all disabled. — It’s the week of the switch to Daylight Saving Time, and we are all disabled. That assertion may come as a surprise to folks who think of themselves as “healthy,” “fit,” “functional” or “abled.” I don’t have any medical problems. What are you talking about? I’m not talking about medical…

Sometimes weird risks need weird coverage. — Over the centuries, one insurance model came to dominate the industry. It’s the one we’re all familiar with: A customer pays an insurance company a premium in exchange for a promise that the insurer will cover certain specified types of losses when they occur. This model works well for a…

The decision to stop publishing six Dr. Seuss titles was purely business. — On March 2, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that it intended to cease publication of six Seuss titles, ranging from the career-launching And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street to titles that I, despite being a member of the Dr. …

Here are the ten steps I follow for creative work, from idea generation to final product. — My entire career is creative. I write marketing copy for a living. I write novels for amusement and the occasional spare dollar. I write colorguard and winterguard choreography and consult on marching band show design. Consequently, I’m often asked: What is your creative process? And How do you generate ideas?