Wherever you are on your life journey after 50, you’re in good hands as Jill gently guides you through the realities and challenges while opening the door to new creative possibilities. This book is for anyone who wants to awaken their creativity and ride that Third Wave with passion, presence, and meaning.
“Variations on Life After 50 is a siren’s call to those of us who are entering our ‘Third Wave’ and wondering, what now? This profound book, brimming with inspirational real-life stories, powerful metaphors, and practical advice, offers a field guide for how we can reach our full creative potential. In this truly transcendent work, Timmons offers a magical and timely gift to creatives everywhere who are seeking meaning, purpose, and an enduring legacy!”—Laura Dean, author of Music in the Westward Expansion
See my latest YouTube episode below: Gavotte and Variations by Rameau, inspired by The Hierophant.
Keith Urban’s new album, Flow State, leans into the yacht-rock vibe with smooth melodies, excellent production, and feel-good energy. I’ve been loving the album— particularly, the songs: “Summer Breeze,” “We Go Back,” featuring Michael McDonald, and “Guitar Man,” featuring John Mayer.
Go ahead—put on the album, throw open the windows, arrange some fresh-cut flowers, and dance around your living room. You’ll feel lighter. You’ll feel fine!
I’ve always loved “Summer Breeze,” the iconic 1970s classic created and recorded by Seals and Crofts. The song premiered in 1972 and reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard chart.
For this piano cover of “Summer Breeze,” I cut some jasmine from the garden and donned my latest thrift store find- a beautiful summer blouse—fully embracing that summer flow state.
See the curtains hangin’ in the window
In the evening on a Friday night
A little light a-shinin’ through the window
Lets me know everything’s all right
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind
I’m posting two weekly videos on YouTube, if you’re interested, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel– click the watch on Youtube on the videos below to find me. Thanks!
If you missed it, here’s my latest installment of the Piano and Tarot project: The Empress in an Old Garden.
You know the scene in Cinderella when the Fairy Godmother waves her wand and transforms a pumpkin into an elegant coach, mice into high-stepping horses, a horse into a coachman, and Cinderella’s tattered dress into a magnificent ball gown? If only bringing our wildest dreams to life were as easy as waving a magic wand.
In reality, manifesting our dreams involves a vision, a plan, and some heavy lifting. We may have magnificent ideas, and many of us have no problem coming up with a step-by-step plan for how we might approach something. But… where we may fall short is in doing the arduous daily work, believing in ourselves, investing the time and effort, and remaining disciplined enough to carry the dream out of our imaginations and into the real world. There’s no way around it. While the journey can be every bit as thrilling as the finished product, the path sometimes feels like a never-ending grind.
Take Serena Williams, for example. The tennis GOAT said, “Everything requires discipline, hard work and dedication, and, most importantly, self-belief.” Diana Nyad attempted to swim from Cuba to Florida five times over a 35-year span before finally succeeding at the age of 64. Talk about dedication—and the courage to keep believing when the dream still seems impossibly far away!
Through the years, people have often commented that I’m lucky to have a life in music. Indeed, I’m grateful every day for this 30-plus-year career, but luck has had very little to do with sustaining it. There’s daily practice, teaching, playing gigs, traveling, crafting programs, the never-ending hustle, administrative tasks, professional development, and, more often than not, seven-day workweeks. In other words, this vision of mine—to live a life in music—and the dreams I’ve brought into reality didn’t simply take flight on their own. There has been plenty of blood, sweat, and tears involved, along with faith, resilience, and a little creative magic.
Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY.
For another take on the magic of bringing our dreams into the real world, I invite you to follow along with my current project, Piano for the Journey. Each week, I pair a piece of music with one Major Arcana card from the tarot as a way of exploring the universal archetypes, challenges, and possibilities that shape our lives.
You can watch The Magician video here and explore more videos in the series by clicking on the YouTube video below. And if the project speaks to you, please help me sprinkle a little more magic by liking the video and subscribing to the channel.
“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist.
I’ve been in a period of quiet creativity: reading, practicing, writing, teaching, performing locally, swimming in Lake Washington, urban hiking, and tackling small house projects. This quiet, reflective season of looking inward while inviting the muse has led to the creation of an exciting solo concert project – Music, Memories, and Motion: A Personal Musical Memoir in Piano, Story, and Audience Choice. The premiere is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church in Seattle. More information will follow over the next few months.
I hope you’ll join me on the musical journey. Happy summer!
Lake Washington, Magnuson Park early in the morning.
Finding Joy in Difficult Times “We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.” — Maya Angelou
Many things in our world are out of our control, and sometimes the daily news cycle is enough to make us want to stay in bed with the covers pulled up over our heads. Rather than dwelling on what we can’t change, let’s turn our attention to the loved ones, activities, and rituals that add peace and light to our days.
How Did It End by Taylor Swift, played by Laura Dean
In a recent episode of And Just Like That (Season 3, Episode 9), Carrie Bradshaw—wearing a knockout “I just threw this on” kind of outfit—sat at a café table facing her longtime paramour, Aidan. And just like that….. their romance came to an end—in a swift heartbreaking scene.
After a short conversation about their insurmountable obstacles, Carrie and Aidan come to the conclusion: it’s over! After a goodbye embrace, Carrie turns on her heel and struts down the sidewalk (in her sky-high pumps, of course), away from Aidan, and into the next chapter of her life. Cue the Taylor Swift deep-cut slow burn, “How Did It End,” from her album, The Tortured Poets Department.
I’m a huge fan of And Just Like That, the sequel to Sex and the City. Decades removed from the original debut, the SATC characters—now in middle age, still in their fantasy footwear and otherworldly wardrobes—navigate real-life situations many of us “of a certain age” can relate to: aging bodies, adult children, career challenges, complicated relationships, and above all, the enduring power of friendship.
Haunted with the scene and the song, the next day, I watched the scene again and located the sheet music to “How Did It End” on Musicnotes.com. One of my favorite things about being a musician is the ability to get my hands on the sheet music and play something that resonates on a personal level. In this case, the inspiration was the perfect storm: a relatable story, a beautifully crafted scene, and an emotional song.
Taylor Swift’s lyrics for the first verse and chorus of “How Did It End”:
Come one, come all It’s happenin’ again The empathetic hunger descends We’ll tell no one Except all of our friends We must know How did it end?
We hereby conduct this post-mortem He was a hothouse flower to my outdoorsman Our maladies were such we could not cure them And so a touch that was my birthright became foreign
If you’d like to explore the possibility of playing music that moves you—just like I did with “How Did It End”—consider signing up for my beginning piano course here.
Last Saturday, I attended the Barry Manilow concert at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. My memories of Barry go way back to the ’70s, when my mom would play his records while cleaning the house on Saturday mornings. I love playing his ballads on the piano, and I still remember the words to his greatest hits. I gleefully sang along with my fellow Fanilows to all the songs, which just kept coming all night—Mandy, Weekend in New England, Looks Like We Made It, American Bandstand, and many more, ending, of course, with the grand finale: Copacabana.
Throughout the evening, Barry—who is 82 years old, by the way—sang, played the piano, danced, changed costumes, and told stories about growing up as the child of a single mother in Brooklyn. In particular, he highlighted his special relationship with his grandfather, who encouraged Barry’s musical talent.
What a delight and inspiration to see this American treasure—a consummate professional—deliver such a joyful and entertaining concert packed with pizzazz, authenticity, musicality, warmth, gratitude, grace, energy, and compassion. For the hour and a half that he performed, we all forgot about what was going on outside the performance hall and enjoyed the “True Blue Spectacle” that is Barry Manilow.
In addition to his stellar performances, Barry’s legacy project is The Manilow Music Project, which, according to the website, “empowers underfunded school music programs to provide quality music education. By donating instruments and equipment and providing scholarships nationwide, the project gives disadvantaged young people the opportunity to experience community, passion, and creativity through the gift of music.” To date, the Manilow Music Project has given away approximately ten million dollars in instruments and scholarships.
At our Seattle concert, Barry honored Ethan Thomas, a music teacher at West Seattle High School. Barry had Ethan stand up and announced that he would be receiving $10,000 for the school’s music program! Bravo! In his tribute to Ethan, Barry commented, “Music will change a young person’s life.” Indeed!
Evan, my thirteen year old nephew, flew from Bozeman, Montana out to Seattle (on his own) to visit me during spring break. This was his first time on an airplane and his first time in Seattle. What a delight to show him around this beautiful city and to see it all through his eyes.
We used the light rail and our feet as our main sources of transportation for our iconic adventures. Our first full day together included a trip to Pike Place Market where we explored the flower stalls, fish counters, a gelato shop, and the corridor of shops that are nestled below the main market where we rummaged through vintage photographs and records.
From the market we made our way down to the Seattle waterfront where we hopped on the Bainbridge Ferry. During the crossing, we enjoyed our picnic lunch while taking in the sparkling views of Puget Sound and the Seattle skyline.
On our second day, we headed to the Seattle Center where we spent a good chunk of time at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop). Highlights at MoPop for Evan included the video game room, the Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix exhibits, and most of all, the hands on musical experience of playing guitars, drums, and keyboards in small practice rooms. Evan is very musical and he tried all of the instruments and he even let me jam with him. What a thrill to play music with my nephew!
MoPopPike Place MarketBainbridge FerryJam RoomJamming at homeAunt Laura’s Homemade Pizza
In the late afternoons and evenings, exhausted from our big adventures, we relaxed at home with games, tasty meals, and we played even more music together in the Yellow House Experience Music Venue.
On the final day, I drove Evan to the airport and accompanied him to the gate. I was sorry to see him go, but I know he’ll be back. It’s a reminder that connecting with family and spending quality time with those we love is truly priceless.
Here’s a piano version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana – played by Aunt Laura for Evan, who loves Nirvana.
Bird of Paradise outside the administration building at Rancho La Puerta
Cardio funk classes with Milo Levell, nutritional talks with Sohailla Digsby RD, wellness talks by medical adventurerDr. Brandee Waite, a mountain hike with friend and life coach, Emily Boorstein, time with my daughter, Ruby, swimming, visiting with old friends, and forging new friendships were some of the many highlights of my recent 2025 Rancho La Puerta trip. Rancho la Puerta, on the outskirts of Tecate, Mexico, is an expansive wellness resort that includes 4000 acres of hiking trails, gardens, gyms, yoga and dance studios, spas, swimming pools, a cooking school, an organic garden, and more. I first visited the Ranch in 2009 as a musical guest presenting a piano concert and singing classes, and have returned in the same capacity over a dozen times through the years. In fact, it is where I met my better half, Joe, who was a fitness instructor at the Ranch for some 30 years (that’s another story for another time).
Siempre Mejor, which translates to Always Better, is the motto of the Ranch. Indeed! Each visit provides opportunities for personal renewal and growth. At the end of the week, I ALWAYS leave with a feeling of gratitude and resolve that I am on the right path. My path includes the magic bullet of diet and exercise, self care, friendships, continuing education, travel, and meaningful work: teaching, studying, and performing music. As always, it’s good to return home, and as I look forward to a busy month ahead, which I refer to as “March Musical Madness.” In the next few weeks, I’ll work my own students in my studio as well as take to the road for work with a variety of students and teachers in the Western Washington region. As I step into March, I’m filled with energy, and a sense of calmness, ready to tackle what lies ahead. Siempre Mejor!
The Piano Concert in the Oak TreeLaura and Rubyveggie entreThe activity pool for lap swimmingOn the edge of the RanchHiking with Pal, Emily
I just submitted this article to the Clarion, the bi-monthly publication of the Washington State Music Teacher’s Association, and I thought my readers may find it interesting. By the way, this is the first article I have written with the help of openAI.
Have any of you dipped your toe into the world of Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI? I have. I have used AI to generate a set list for a Gen Z couple who hired me to play for their wedding ceremony and the cocktail hour. I’ve used it to create a short narrative about the major musical time periods for a concert that I’ve given featuring composers from the Baroque to the 21st Century. I’ve use it to find weekly music riddles for my students that I write on a white board at the entrance of my studio. I have embraced ChatGPT as a personal administrative and research assistant who is available to answer my requests 24/7. AI has saved me hours of time and energy, and I think we can all agree that time and energy are among our greatest resources.
AI is rapidly becoming a valuable tool for independent music teachers. While some educators may feel hesitant to embrace technology, AI can simplify many aspects of studio management and instruction. Here are a few practical ways AI can enhance your work life while saving hours of labor.
1. Music Theory Assistance
AI-powered chat tools like ChatGPT can generate explanations, exercises, and quizzes tailored to your students’ needs. If a student is struggling with key signatures, AI can instantly create customized drills or explain concepts in new ways.
2. Music History Insights
Need a quick historical background on a composer or musical style? AI can summarize key information, suggest repertoire based on a student’s interests, or even help craft engaging storytelling for lessons.
3. Organizing Your Busy Schedule
AI can help structure your week by generating lesson plans, reminders, and task lists. Tools like Google Calendar’s AI scheduling suggestions or Notion AI can assist in balancing teaching, practice time, and administrative tasks. AI-generated to-do lists can prioritize important tasks, for example, aiding in recital planning, student follow-ups, and lesson prep.
4. Project & Recital Planning
AI can assist in creating structured project plans, timelines, and even recital programs. Tools like Notion AI or ChatGPT can generate theme ideas, student progress checklists, and repertoire suggestions based on difficulty level and performance goals.
5. Marketing & Social Media
For teachers looking to grow their studios, AI can help generate website content, write engaging social media posts, or draft newsletters. Canva’s Magic Write and ChatGPT can quickly create compelling descriptions for lessons, events, or studio promotions.
Getting Started with AI
OpenAI’s ChatGPT is available for free at https://chat.openai.com, with enhanced features available through a paid subscription. Other AI tools, such as Google’s Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, offer similar capabilities.
Embracing AI doesn’t mean replacing the human touch in teaching—it simply enhances our ability to be more efficient, creative, and responsive to students’ needs. By incorporating AI thoughtfully, independent music teachers can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time focusing on what truly matters: making music.
Now excuse me, what with all the time that I saved co-writing this article with ChatGPT, I’m stepping out for a long leisurely walk.
By the way, is 2025 the year that you’ve promised yourself that you are going to learn how to play the piano? You may be interested in checking out my online beginning piano course:
More news…I have a newish Youtube channel, and here you can find weekly videos including piano performances and piano tutorials. Be sure to subscribe on the Youtube site! I release a new video each week! https://www.youtube.com/@lauramusicstudio
