I’ve Always Loved Independent Projects

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I recently came across an interior designer on Instagram who’s cooking her way through Season 1 of Barefoot Contessa (circa 2002).

Once a week, she makes the 3-4 recipes Ina Garten prepares in the show—an experiment in cooking techniques, trying new recipes (from the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks, which, coincidentally, I have on my shelf), and meal planning. A few from her list so far:

Cheddar Corn Chowder
Smoked Salmon Dip
Szechuan Noodles
Shrimp Scampi
Provençal Tomatoes
Coconut Macaroons

I'm reminded of Julie Powell’s personal challenge to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 365 days (as depicted in the 2009 film Julie and Julia—a favorite).

I love this idea, as it ties directly to my recent thinking about conducting tiny experiments (see last month’s newsletter about my Bach Year).

I’ve always loved independent projects. One summer in 3rd or 4th grade, I did a deep dive into Trakehner horses. I checked out a stack of library books, created countless drawings with tracing paper, memorized facts, and wrote a report (fun fact: I wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up).

This week on the podcast (episode 100!), I’m sharing an independent project I did a few years ago—learning and recording three pieces of music written in 1922 to celebrate my 1922 Steinway Model O piano turning 100.

At the end, I share four takeaways from a project like this. The first is: Give yourself a reason to be a learner. Sometimes we wait to be asked or invited, or for a good opportunity to present itself. But I'm learning that you have to give yourself permission to start. Make your own routine, create your own project, choose your own repertoire. Don’t wait for someone else to give you a reason. Follow your curiosity.

Whether it’s a repertoire project, a concert or studio event, a hobby you want to develop (Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is still on my list), or a cookbook you want to explore, set an intention, give yourself a time parameter, and get started.

What will your next independent project be?