Here’s our first profile on working schedules and routines, featuring our department chair, Dan Cavanagh. Mr. Cavanagh has been at UTA since 2005 and has served as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies, Director of the Music Industry Studies program, and now as Chair of the department. Mr. Cavanagh shares how he approaches his daily routine, which involves taking care of his three children, administering the department, and musicianship. [Mr. Cavanagh’s interview has been edited for concision.]
The first thing I do is make coffee for my wife and me, then spend some time reviewing my schedule for the day. I also help young people get started.
We go through many walking circles of relatives, we go through a circle of relatives, and we infrequently run around the neighborhood. We are also lucky to have a pool, [which creates] movement and activity in the summer.
Coffee for sure. I love cooking and love Italian food, so lots of Italian food in our house. I also bake bread, but we don’t eat that every day.
Right now, sometime between 8:30 and 9:30am. [Also,] I still have a jazz musician’s brain, so I often work and stay alert later in the day.
I try to block out my calendar so that I only work on one thing at a time. Throughout the day I am able to switch between different tasks, but I focus on one at a time, to get all the things done that I want to, both administrative and musically.
Using a calendar and a blocking time for everything I want to achieve. This includes meetings, hours of elegance, etc. But also the time blocks where I paint anything as a musician, such as composing or practicing.
I have learned how to play video games with my kiddos. (My 12-year old son taught me how to play Fortnite). During the workday [breaks are] not usually more than about 15 minutes or so at once. Getting outside to walk or just enjoy fresh air is important too.
In general, I am guilty of paintings in the backyard of the regime outside, maintaining cars or organizing such things, paying expenses and finance, and bringing children to the doctor, etc.
I think about the future, whether it’s for myself and my family, but also for my department, my school, and my university. I write down my thoughts. I’ve gotten to the point where I like to paint things that take a long time to do. So, I break those things down into smaller goals and milestones and review them as I get there.
All the time, probably every day.
There’s rarely a day when I don’t at least check my emails and write a reply or two, or talk to a colleague, or don’t paint on the piano or compose. Music is just one component of my setup. But I spent a lot through spending time on the weekends with my circle of relatives and my hobbies outside the music doors (yes, it’s possible!).
The only other thing I’d like to share is that all of these answers are a snapshot in time for everyone who you interview. There was a long time in my career when I was nearly 100% laser-focused on composing and teaching. That has changed for me, and I suspect it will change again in my life further down the road.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more behaviors and routines!