We just completed our Spring Recital 2024. This year’s theme was “Rock, Pop, and More!” Most students played piano arrangements of popular songs while some played and sang their pieces! We had songs by Freddie Mercury, The Beatles, Laufey, Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Cold Play, Brandi Carlile, Randy Newman, Claude Debussy, and of course, Taylor Swift! In all we had 27 performers and about 75 people in the audience. It was a fabulous event! Thanks to Weili Ge who captured this group photo at the end of the recital.
This year marks my 30th anniversary as a private music teacher in Seattle. The time has flown by in a flurry of practice, recitals, concerts, events, laughter, tears, hellos and goodbyes, ups and downs. Mostly, I’m feeling inspired, grateful and humbled by the many students, present and past, who have chosen to play music with me. My hope and dream is another 30 years of music teaching and making my little corner of the world a more joyful place through the magic of music.
I opened the show with a cover of Carole King’s, “So Far Away.” With the excitement of the recital, I didn’t video the performance, instead, I recorded the song today in my studio. Click on the link below to view on YouTube. Thanks for 30 years of music making to my colleagues, family, friends and students!
Official Cast C 1987-1988 photo, taken in Tucson, Arizona before the start of our tour. I’m second row- 5th from the right with spiky hair and a hot pink shirt. Got to love the 80s!
Today’s blog post contains a bit of nostalgia, thus the Up with People Cast C photo from 1987. If you’ve known me for a while, you may know that upon graduating from high school in Choteau, Montana, and prior to attending the University of Montana, I spent one year traveling as a student with the international educational program, Up With People. Created in the 60s, Up With People is still around today. By the way, contrary to some preconceived notions, UWP is NOT a religious group.
This is the letter of reference that we each received upon completion of our year in 1988. (this gives an overview of the year.)
During the year, our cast of 100 students along with about 20 staff members gathered in Tucson for five weeks to learn the show and the ins and outs of life on the road. (Back in the day, there were five casts touring to different parts of the world all at the same time.) After our staging and orientation, we took to the road in two tour buses, a couple of small vans, and a semi truck (filled with our set, lights, instruments and costumes.) Our first leg of travel took us through middle America before making our way to the east coast of the U.S. and then into Canada. In Canada, our tour stopped in large cities and small towns throughout Quebec and Ontario where we played in a LOT of hockey stadiums. During the second half of the year, we headed to Europe where we toured in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland. At each of our tour stops, we set up the stage, performed our musical show, and engaged in community service such as performing in hospitals, prisons, and retirement homes. Wherever we went, we stayed with host families. In all, I stayed with over 50 host families.
To say the least, this was a life changing experience for this once 18 year old naive girl from rural Montana. Sure, I remember the amazing places we traveled to, the host families, and the show. I remember what a thrill it was performing in front of audiences in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. But, nothing compares to the lasting friendships we forged during that year of touring, performing, laughing, crying, singing, dancing, and making our way through a year on the road including the challenges, the highs, and the lows. Those friendships endure to this day.
This brings me to Sarasota, Florida, where I recently traveled to during Spring Break for a mini cast reunion with Frank, Cary, Manon, Holly, Kate, Bruce, Geert, and his husband, Ray. Ray didn’t travel with Up With People, but with his dancing skills, he should have! Whenever I reunite with cast members from the road, it feels as if I just saw them yesterday. This last trip was no exception. During the three days we were together, we danced, sang, walked, biked, experienced the solar eclipse, went boating, prepared meals and ate together, went to a drumming event on the beach, went to a musical fund raiser for an arts building in need of repair, visited the Selby Gardens, toured the art museum at The Ringling Estate, and much more. I hadn’t seen many of my friends for some 20 years, as I have been busy raising my now 22 year old daughter, Ruby. However, when I saw them on this trip, our friendships picked right back up where we had left off.
Thank you to Geert and Ray who hosted us and who made our reunion and time in Sarasota so special.
On the beach for an evening drumming and dancing party in Siesta Key (Geert, Laura, Cary, Ray, Frank, Manon- and one photo bomber behind Geert)
Boat ride around Siesta Key with our gang!
Ringling Mansion with Laura and Geert Selby Gardens
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It’s Music Artistry season in Washington State. What is that, you ask? Throughout the month of March, Washington State Music Teacher Chapters invite visiting artists to their neck of the woods to listen to students, write comments, and work with each student for a few minutes on two pieces that the teachers and students have painstakingly prepared for performance. (Phew!) A visiting artist may be at a location from one day to one week. Sometimes these locations are private studios, but most often times, they are in churches, as some churches have wonderful grand pianos – perfect for such an event.
I have been on both sides of the Music Artistry Program (MAP), my students annually play in the Seattle Music Teacher Chapter’s MAP, and I have been a visiting artist myself for the past four years. In that time, I’ve worked with students in the Snohomish, Olympia, Edmonds, and most recently, The Kitsap Peninsula. At the end of the month, I’ll be flying to Wenatchee, renting a car, and then driving north to visit the Okanogan Chapter in the north eastern part of Washington state.
As a visiting artists, some things that we watch for in performances are stage presence, posture at the piano, hand position, and ease of movement while playing. We listen for beautiful phrasing, smooth legato passages, crisp staccatos, and expressive playing that uses a wide variety of dynamics. We check that the performer accurately interprets the score including rhythm, tempo, notes, fingerings, clean passages, and articulations. We listen for beautiful tone production and balance between the hands. Is the melody coming through over the accompaniment? Do the phrases end gracefully? Does the music breathe? Does the student understand and express the mood of the pieces?
Here’s a video of an early intermediate piece demonstrating attention to details as indicted in the score. This piece, “Fantasie,” by George Philipp Telemann, is an early intermediate piece from the Baroque Era, it is found in The Festival Collection, Book 3, edited by Helen Marlais.
If you are interested in learning the piano in a traditional style, that is learning: how to play musically with ease, how to read a musical score, how to practice a piece, and how to add all of the details that will make your music sing, consider taking my online, on-demand piano course. Visit my teachable page for sample lessons and for a complete outline of the course.
Commuting from Seattle to the Kitsap Peninsula by ferry. I boarded the Seattle/Bainbridge ferry with my beloved electric Nissan Leaf. I spent an afternoon teaching near Poulsbo and drove south on the Kitsap Peninsula to Bremerton where I spent the night, recharged the Leaf, taught the next day, and then took the Bremerton/Seattle ferry home. It was a musical adventure in my own back yard. In all, I worked with about 25 students and 5 teachers.A typical set up at a Music Artistry event. This was at a Methodist Church in Bremerton. The piano was a beautiful, older model Steinway.
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The grand finale of the new bio pic, Bob Marley One Love, showcases his historic 1978 ‘One Love Concert’ in Kingston, Jamaica. During the concert, Marley stood on stage and locked hands with two opposing political leaders in a gesture of peace. This scene is a powerful illustration of the power of music to unite people, offer hope, and lift people up – even in a divisive political climate – even if it is just for a moment. For more about this concert event and the complicated history of Jamaica, I encourage you to visit this article on history.com.
I enjoyed every minute of the movie, including the Jamaican accents, the flashy and funky 70’s clothing, the scenes of Jamaica and London – London is where Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded the historic album, Exodus, which Time Magazine called “The Best Album of the 20th Century.” Most of all, I enjoyed the music: “Three Little Birds,” “One Love,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “No Woman No Cry,” and so many more songs.
An intimate scene depicts Bob, and his wife Rita – Bob is sitting in a simple room on a sofa, strumming and singing, “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” while the soulful, smart, and beautiful Rita lovingly listens and comments that she has always enjoyed his love songs. What a beautiful scene, and what a gorgeous song! When I got home, I immediately purchased the sheet music from Musicnotes.com.
A reminder, if you’re interested in piano lessons, try my online piano course. With my course, in your own time, on your own schedule, you can learn beginning piano and music reading skills. You too, could be playing music that touches your heart and lifts your spirit!
Faithfully, the classic Journey song was written by Jonathan Cain, played here by Laura Dean.
Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ve been nostalgic for the 80’s ever since I watched The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix a couple of weeks ago. The documentary, narrated by the never-aging and engaging, Lionel Richie, recounts the making of the 1985 mega hit, “We are the World.” If you are of a certain age, you remember the song and the video which featured iconic 80’s superstars including Quincy Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Steve Perry, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Huey Lewis, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Daryl Hall, and the list goes on and on. I highly recommend this movie for a feel good trip down memory lane!
If you’re interested in learning to play the piano so that you can play some of your favorite songs of the past,Play Piano Today: A Beginning Piano Course, created by yours truly, is a great place to start. This is an online, on-demand course which includes a PDF book, and 20 instructional videos. Now through the end of February, use the code: Love at checkout to save 25% off the course. Purchase the course yourself, or gift it to a loved one.
May your day be filled with love, joy, and sweet moments.
Did you watch the Grammys last Sunday? I did, and was blown away by the variety of magnetic performances inducing Dua Lipa’s exuberant opening song and dance, “Training Season.” Tracy Chapman lit up the night with her smile, guitar playing and performance of “Fast Car” with Luke Combs. Joni Mitchell, sang a tear jerking rendition of her classic, “Both Sides Now,” Miley Cyrus, with plenty of attitude, in a Tina Turner hairstyle and outfit, rocked the house with “Flowers.” Mic drop, loved it! Olivia Rodrigo, dressed in a killer red gown nailed a dramatic torch–song–style performance of “Vampire,” Billie Eilish, with her silky voice, dressed in a 50’s style outfit, crooned her award-winning song, “What Was I Made For,” and list goes on and on! More than ever, the evening was a reminder of how music lifts our spirits, connects us, stirs up memories from the past, and deeply touches our hearts and souls.
One thing I appreciate about being a musician is the ability to readily read music. I love finding piano arrangements of current and old popular songs on the website musicnotes.com. The site has thousands and thousands of songs arranged for every level for beginning to advanced players. You simply purchase the sheet music and then download a PDF to print- no waiting. You can also set up your iPad and have your sheet music collection in one convenient place. I’ve been collecting sheets for over a decade and have purchased more than 300 songs. Of course, it’s always best to purchase the sheet music rather than finding a sketchy, pirated version online. When you purchase the music, the artists, songwriters, and arrangers receive compensation for their work.
Have you wanted to read music? Do you wish you had the skills to play some of your favorite pop hits? Look no further than my beginning piano course: Play Piano Today, and you’ll soon have the playing and note reading skills to take on beginning piano arrangements of your favorite pieces. For example, several arrangements of Olivia Rodrigo’s, “Vampire.” are available at musicnotes.com. I choose a beginner’s arrangement to demonstrate how good an easy arrangement can sound. Here’s my recording of “Vampire,” along with a small sample of the sheet music below.
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It’s winter! It’s dark and cold. Are you ready for a cozy indoor project that brings you joy while engaging your brain? How about a beginning piano course? You won’t even have to leave your cozy home. After months of frenzied content creation, I’m elated to announce that my new online piano course, Play Piano Today: An Introductory Piano Course is up and running on Teachable (a web platform dedicated to online learning). The course is available on-demand, meaning once you purchase the course, you work on it at your own pace. The curriculum includes a 42-page pdf book filled with lessons and sheet music along with 20 instructional videos. Hope to see you there! Below is a little sneak peak! Visit me on Teachable for more information and sample lessons.
It’s late in the year, and I’m reflecting back on the last several months which have been full of rich musical experiences — attending musical events (such as the Seattle Symphony, WSMTA Convention, Taylor Swift Eras concert), and presenting a load of musical programs (studio recitals, musical author presentations, and playing piano for special events). I also took some lessons over the summer with my dear mentor Dr. Jill Timmons in Oregon who coached me on some “new to me repertoire.” It’s been a very full year of music, once again!
And what about you? Have you been experiencing some rich musical activities that bring you joy, or help you find some peace? I hope so! Below are some ideas for adding some extra musical events into your lives over the next few months!
Whether you are a professional musician, a hobbyist, or a music enthusiast, the following ideas are jumping off points for enriching your life with musical activities!
Hands-on Music Making Experiences in the Home and Community: • Attend sing-alongs or hire a musician (a guitarist, or a pianist) for a casual sing-along with friends, neighbors, and family. Pass out song sheets to attendees. • Dance! Dance in the home, take lessons, attend community dances. Dancing is usually accompanied by either live or recorded music. • Give the gift of music: tickets to musical events, music lessons, sheet music, a gift card to your favorite music store, or a musical instrument (a harmonica, ukulele, recorder, or small percussion instruments are inexpensive choices). • Hire a musician or an ensemble to provide background music for family gatherings, outdoor events, or special celebrations. If cost is an issue, considering hiring local high school or college students who are in the early stages of their performance careers. • Host a house concert––invite a local musician or ensemble into your home to give a concert for family and friends. The audience usually pitches in to cover the musician’s fee. For more information, check out the following organizations that organize house concerts such as: Concerts in Your Homes Undiscovered Music Listening Room Network • Keep a collection of percussion instruments handy for impromptu drumming sessions with family and friends. Percussion instruments and kits are readily available at your local music store, or online. You can also make your own with buckets, empty containers filled with rice, or other repurposed items. • Listen to music on LP records, CDs, or online platforms such as You Tube, Apple Music or Spotify. • Listen to NPR music broadcasts which feature a variety of musical styles such as: Tiny Desk Concerts, American Routes, Alt.Latino, Mountain Stage, All Songs Considered, World Cafe, Thistle and Shamrock, and Jazz Night in America. Check your local NPR station for programming details. • Join a community band, orchestra, ukulele ensemble, guitar group, or other instrumental groups. • Join a choir. Many community and church choirs don’t require an audition. • Learn to play an instrument It’s never too late! If you want to learn an instrument, take private or group music lessons. Teachers are out there, to find one, inquire at local music store, or music school. You may also contact your local branch of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association). Many community colleges and community centers offer private and group instruction. If you are a “do-it-yourself” kind of learner, utilize online prerecorded lessons that you work through at your own pace. (Stay tuned! I am launching an on-demand piano course for adult beginners on January 1st of 2024. More information to follow in the following weeks!)
Attend Musical events in Your Community. Once you start looking, you will that find live music opportunities are abundant in your community, many of them with free access. • colleges and universities • art fairs • breweries • churches • community centers • coffee shops • farmers markets • high schools • house concerts • libraries • local choirs, bands, orchestras concerts • museums • musicals • music and cultural festivals • open mic nights • opera • recitals • street fairs • summer outdoor musical events • symphony • wineries
Rancho La Puerta is a wellness resort in Tecate, Mexico, dating back to the 1940s. My first visit to Rancho La Puerta was in 2009. Since then, I’ve returned to the Ranch as a musical guest some ten times! This year, I took my daughter Ruby along as my side kick, and we had a wonderful time. Personal highlights of the week included hiking, swimming, fitness classes, wandering through the meandering gardens, reading by the pool, eating award winning vegan meals, and best of all: connecting with old friends and staff members from years past, as well as meeting new friends. In short, a trip to the ranch felt like coming home.
A week at Rancho La Puerta encourages slowing down, breathing deeply, and living in the moment. Indeed these are gifts available to us every day of the year wherever we are! Try it now…… take a big breath in and a long, audible exhale…..Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Now, don’t you feel better?
Sunrise on the Coyote Hike – photo by hike leader Luis! Thanks Luis View from the Coyote Hike- photo by Luis Every day- a new quote on the quote board! rehearing in the Oaktree PavillionSing-along palsOne of the many winding brick paths on the 4,000-acre propertyCactus25-yard lap pool – heaven on earth! Ruby and Laura on the last eveningFrank and Ruby with a carrot pulled from the Ranch gardenDelicious breakfast after the garden walk Our casita for the weekSpring has sprung at Rancho La Puerta
Joe and I recently returned from a quick trip to Iceland, the icy wonderland in the North Atlantic which is home to around 350,000 people. On our first day we explored the capitol city of Reykjavik on foot. On our walk, we watched gorgeous swans, ducks and geese swimming and posing in a large city pond, we ambled down cobbled city streets and marveled at the mix of historic and modern buildings, and we lunched in a fabulous vegan cafe called Mama Reykjavik.
One evening we took a boat ride to view the Northern Lights (great adventure, but alas, no lights.) We soaked in the famous blue lagoon where we rubbed mud all over our faces and let the mineral rich water soak into our skin. On our penultimate day, we took a 7- hour bus tour of the Golden Circle which drove us along miles and miles of highway with spectacular views of the snow covered landscape, Stops along the way included Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Geothermal Area, Þingvellir National Park, and the Kerid Crater (where we hiked around the icy edge).
Rose, our guide on the Golden Circle explained the gastronomical delights of Iceland including fish soup, lamb stew, and on the wilder side, sheep’s head, and fermented shark. As Joe and I stick to a vegan diet, we were happy to find plenty of options in Reykveck.
Thanks to it’s abundant geothermic activity, hot water heats homes throughout the country, as well as provides hot water for hundreds of public pools, and natural soaking spots which Icelanders enjoy throughout the country-in every village and town. Add Along with abundant soaking and swimming pools, Iceland boasts sleek modern buildings, free health care and educational systems, and a nearly crime-free oasis where the policeman don’t even carry guns because it is so safe. Indeed, Iceland is a chilly oasis of civility in the north Atlantic.
To get a sense of the vastness and open space, watch the 2016 movie Rams, available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, about two estranged, sheep-farmer brothers who live next door to each other and haven’t spoken in 40 years who come together for the good of the family sheep stock. Gives a good look at the desolate, icy landscape of rural Iceland.
Víkingur Ólafsson, word-renowned Icelandic pianist, records music as serene, stunning, and clean as the Icelandic landscape. His newest recording, From Afar, features 22 works including Icelandic folk songs, along with romantic and contemporary pieces. Listen to his Ave Maria by Sigvaldi Kaldalóns here.
Joe and Laura on the Golden Circle TourKerid CraterReykjavik side streetLaura soaking in a local hot pool overlooking the AtlanticLate afternoon sunReykjav
