The following essay recently appeared in the Clarion which is the WSMTA (Washington State Music Teachers) newsletter. I currently serve as the chair of the Independent Music Teachers Forum. One of my duties is writing an article for the Clarion every couple of months. I thought this one might give my readers an insight into the daily life of an independent music teacher.
Back in the early 90’s when I graduated from college, I entertained the thought of becoming a flight attendant. The job appealed to me because it seemed glamorous, interesting, and provided an abundance of travel opportunities. I never became a flight attendant, but I did end up working on cruise ships, which is a story for another time. Along the lines of the flight attendant memory, I’ve been recently thinking about our careers as independent music teachers, and how we might compare a long teaching afternoon to an international or cross-country flight. After all, it takes 6 hours and 15 minutes to fly from New York to London. It takes just over 5 hours to fly from Seattle to Florida. Some of us may spend that amount of time teaching in our studios daily. Let’s consider the parallels of an afternoon of teaching to a long flight.
As teachers, we serve in many roles. We are the ground crew making sure all is well with our instruments and our studio environments. We are also the gate agents , the information desk, the pilot, and the cabin crew all rolled into one. The best that we can hope for is a smooth flight. This would be a teaching day where our students are prepared, they have all their materials with them, they have practiced, they are in good spirits and cooperative, and the schedule runs smoothly from take¬-off (the first lesson of the day) to landing (the last lesson of the day). On some of our musical flights, there is no turbulence, no emergencies, and we thoroughly enjoy a productive and pleasant teaching day – smoothly moving from one student to the next. There is no lost luggage, no one forgets their books at home, no one leaves a coat at the lesson, no one is dissatisfied, and thus, our flight concludes without a hitch.
However, some days the flight is bumpy. The first student may cancel at the last minute with a sore throat, another might forget a critical book, another had no time for practice because of a three-day soccer tournament over the past weekend. Another student may be argumentative and uninterested in anything that we have planned for that day. There might even be an emergency! Just a few weeks ago, a student of mine fainted in my studio because she had absentmindedly not eaten enough that day.
As we go about our days, it’s best to remember that one thing is certain, just as in flying, as in our teaching, there may be bumps in the road, schedule changes, difficult situations, and disappointments. However, there may also be days and days of smooth flights, uplifting interactions, inspired students, agreeable parents, and above all, fabulous music making. The best that we can do is be professional, put on a smile, open that door, welcome our student in, and remember that, in the words of the late Thubten Yeshe, a Tibetan Lama, “If you expect your life to be full of ups and downs, then your mind will be much more peaceful.”
The Fisk Jubilee singers were a group of talented and courageous students from Fisk University of Tennessee, who first toured their musical show across the United States in 1871 while raising money for Fisk University which, at the time, was severely underfunded. I recently saw the world premier of Jubilee presented by the Seattle Opera at the beautiful McCaw Hall. Jubilee was created and directed by Tazewell Thompson with vocal arrangements by Dianne Adams McDowell, and orchestration by Michael Ellis Ingram.
In some 40 spirituals (and one classic aria), the opera tells the story of the often difficult journey of the original Jubilee singers and also highlights their personal victories and struggles. The Seattle Opera program reminds us, “These traditional songs, created, refined, and shared anonymously by enslaved Americans, are the foundation on which all American music has been built.”
The Fisk Jubilee Singers from 1882 photo wiki-media
In particular, I enjoyed the humorous scene and performance of “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel,” the uplifting “There’s a Meetin’ Here Tonight,” and the emotional “Wade in the Water.” If you aren’t able to make it to the Seattle Opera for the production, you can listen to 10 selected pieces on Soundcloud. For a modern recording of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Celebrating Fisk (The 150th Anniversary Album) is available on Spotify.
Patsy Cline’s Walkin’ After Midnight, coming out on Sept 17, 2024, a bookby Judith A. Proffer with Julie Dick Fudge, and Illustrated by Yoko Matsuoka, celebrates the magical childhood dreams of the legendary country musical artist Patsy Cline. Patsy’s dream world includes daydreams, sleep dreams, and dream walking. This delightful book, beautifully illustrated, includes a white piano, a vintage red radio, a retro soda shop, a charming dog named Pepe, and sweet treats. Throughout the book, Patsy dreams of making it big in country music. The poetic prose and whimsical illustrations made me want to leap into the pages of the book and wander with Patsy through her musical dreamscape.
When I saw the cover of this book, I thought it was going to be a biography of Patsy Cline. However, it is more about dreaming big and following your heart, imagination, and aspirations – wherever it may take you. This tender book, written by Patsy Cline’s daughter, is a delight for Patsy Cline fans as well as all dreamers – both children and adults.
Patsy Cline died in a plane accident in 1963. She remains an indelible influence in country music. Her biggest hit, “Walking After Midnight,” climbed to #2 on Billboard’s country charts in 1957. Her resonant voice and heart felt songs remain relevant in the 21st Century.
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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