Music Is Radar for the Soul

April 7, 20221 Comment

*“It’s like a song or an album is made and it’s almost like it has a radar to find the person when they need it the most.” -Jon Batiste acceptance speech at the 2022 Grammy Awards Ceremony*

Jon Batiste, singer, composer, dancer, musician, and humanitarian extraordinaire recently received 11 Grammy nominations and 5 Grammy awards at the 2022 Grammy Awards Ceremony. His positive outlook on life and his music lifts us up as in the song “Freedom.” “It’s All Right” soothes the soul. “Cry” provides an honest commentary on life’s struggles.

In his acceptance speech for the album of the year, We Are, he spoke of the healing quality of music and how the perfect song has a way of finding us – like radar- just when we need it most. Do you have a song that found you just when you needed it most? I know I have- many times over!

Listen to Jon Batiste’s acceptance speech for album of the year here:

Watch the video of “Freedom” here:

Watch his touching and surprising interview on CBS Sunday Morning here:

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/jon-batiste-and-suleika-jaouad-sharing-life-beyond-cancer/

Listen to his insightful interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air, complete with musical explanations of his astounding piano arrangements.

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/01/1012189203/bandleader-jon-batiste

Musical March Madness

March 25, 20222 Comments

Fountain near the abbey at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.

March is a frenzied month for Washington music teachers! Many teachers and students across the state participate in the WSMTA (Washington State Music Teachers Association) Music Artistry Program, or MAP for short. This event takes place at multiple venues across the state and entails teachers registering their students to play for visiting artists who travel to chapters all over the state to hear performances from hundreds of students. The visiting artists provide written and verbal comments and also work at the piano for a few minutes with each student. I am a WSMTA visiting artist and recently spent six days adjudicating students from the Edmonds and Olympia chapters of WSMTA. In those six days, I put some miles on my Leaf, stayed in hotels, and worked with 15 teachers and over 125 students- around eight hours each day.

The days zoomed by with outstanding performances from piano students of all ages! Students performed music by the likes of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert, Amy Beach, Scott Joplin, and Chopin. Upon reflection, I am inspired by the dedication and high level of professionalism of the organizers and teachers, the hard work and polished performances of the students, and of course, the never ending parental support. It truly takes a village- a musically minded village. These types of events are not easy to pull off as there are many moving parts.

I barely caught my breath after the whirlwind of MAP events and headed back into my studio for my own practice and to resume lessons with my 23 private students. I also jumped right back in at the Academy for Precision Learning in the University District where I teach several weekly general music classes to grades K-12.

I eagerly await the page proofs of my forthcoming book (Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier), but am told that McFarland (the publisher) is working steadily behind the scenes and the book should be ready in the next few months. (Sigh….patience has never been one of my virtues). In the meantime, there are classes to teach, lessons to plan, and music to practice.

Please subscribe to my blog for the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Harvest Time

November 25, 2021November 25, 2021Leave a comment

This post is part of an ongoing series featuring recorded music, stories, and narrative from my forthcoming book: Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier.

*Harvest*. ca. 1869., artist unknown. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

William Van Orsdel, “Brother Van,” known as the best loved man in Montana. (ca. late 1800s)

Brother Van with friends and bear cub in Great Falls, Montana. Photo courtesy of the Brother Van Museum Archives. (ca. late 1800s)

“Harvest Time,” known as “Brother Van’s Song.” played by Laura Dean

Harvest Time 
The seed I have scattered in spring-time with weeping 
and watered with tears and with dews from on high;
Another may shout when the harvesters reaping 
shall gather my grain in the sweet by and by.

Over and over, yes-deeper and deeper 
my heart is pierced through with life's sorrowing cry,
but the tears of the sower and the songs of the reaper 
shall angle together in joy by and by. 

By and by, by and by 
by and by, by and by
But the tears of the sower and the songs fo the reaper shall
mingle together in joy by and by.

Then palms of victory, crowns of glory, 
palms of victory I shall wear.

William Van Orsdel (1848-1919), known as Brother Van, was often referred to as “the best loved man in Montana.” Brother Van, an enthusiastic singer, often broke into song during his sermons. He was a 19th century Methodist minister and circuit rider – a preacher who rode from town to town conducting church services. He tirelessly preached the gospel to congregations both large and small – on a steamboat, in saloons, in churches, and on rustic homesteads throughout the state of Montana. As a young man, a riverboat captain asked why he was going to Montana, Brother Van replied, “To sing, to preach and to encourage people to be good.”

For more about Brother Van and how he once saved his life with music, you’ll have to read my forthcoming book! I just learned that my manuscript has moved into the paging or pagination phase-which means another step closer to the publication date-early 2022.

Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier at McFarland Publishers, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or ask about the book at your favorite book seller.

Honoring Chief Earl Old Person (1929-2021)

November 8, 20213 Comments

“Legend of the Plains” by Charles Wakefield Cadman, an early 20th century composer whose compositions were often inspired by Native American melodies. Played by Laura Dean.

Get up. Jump up. Try hard and don’t give up. – Chief Earl Old Person

Chief Earl Old Person died of cancer at the age of 92 on October 13th. Old Person was a national treasure who served as the chief of the Blackfeet Nation for more than 60 years. He was an expert of Blackfeet language and culture, an advocate for tribal land and water rights, an inspired political leader, and an international ambassador. In his lifetime he met every president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. He also met Queen Elizabeth, the prime minister of Canada-Pierre Trudeau, and the shaw of Iran. In his later years, he created home recordings of traditional stories and songs for the benefit of future generations.

I grew up in Choteau, Montana, on the Eastern Rocky Mountain front, about 70 miles south of Browning, Montana-the headquarters of the Blackfeet Reservation-the last stop before Glacier Park. The Choteau Bulldogs and Browning Indians were in the same athletic conference. Throughout my elementary to high school years, I regularly traveled to Browning for swim meets and to watch basketball and football games.

Earl Old Person rarely missed a high school basketball game-Browning is legendary for champion basketball teams and enduring fans. For his last visit to the Browning high school gymnasium, his casket was placed in the middle of the basketball court where thousands of mourners came to honor his memory and to say their final goodbyes. The mourning period lasted for four days and included processions, dancing, songs, and stories celebrating the life of the beloved chief.

Earl Old Person singing the Badger Two Medicine Song

New York Times: “Earl Old Person, Chief of the Blackfeet Nation, Dies at 92”

For an unforgettable story of high school basketball on Montana’s southeastern reservations, read: Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the Little Big Horn by Larry Colton

Another Bride, Another June

June 14, 2018June 15, 2018Leave a comment

It’s June, the garden looks fabulous, and exciting music projects are in the works. Just a quick note to let you know I’ve revamped my wedding and special event offerings page. I’m available, that is, musically speaking! Check out my new page here!

Laura playing Sunday Kind of Love by Louis Prima:

I want a Sunday kind of love
A love to last past Saturday night
I’d like to know it’s more than love at first sight
I want a Sunday kind of love

For the Love of Music- A February Wrap Up

March 1, 2017March 1, 20171 Comment

Ready to go out!

Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley at Wintergrass

Great hand position from one of my students.

That it’s an honor and a privilege to exchange smiles, soul, and heart directly with the people in front of you. ……. and apply your trade humbly (or not so!) as a piece of a long spirited chain you’re thankful to be a small link in. From Bruce Springsteen’s Autobiography, Born to Run

I just caught my breath today and reflected on the past month. For the love of music! Music, a celebration of humanity, links us to the past and gives hope for the future. I’m grateful to my students, teachers, and family for a life in music. In reviewing music events of February, I’m reminded that from Brahms to bluegrass, from opera to classical sonatas, music explores the spectrum of human emotions including love, loss, joy, yearning, hope, despair, frustration, and excitement. It’s all there, no matter what the genre.

This is what February looked like:

taught 120 private lessons in my studio
taught 6 preschool music classes
taught a group class in my studio for students playing for Washington State Music Teacher’s Adjudications
spent a day in Shorecrest High School as a guest artist teaching students to dance the Salsa and sing Cuban songs
participated in a voice adjudication with one of my students
saw my daughter, Ruby, make her Benaroya Hall debut with the Roosevelt Orchestra
attended Angelo Rondello’s inspiring concert of contemporary piano music at the Benaroya Recital Hall as part of the Seattle Music Exchange Project
traveled to Mount Vernon to attend a concert of Leider of Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and Johannes Brahms
attended Seattle Opera’s production of Katya Kabanova By Leoš Janáček
attended Wintergrass in Bellevue- a premier Bluegrass Festival where I saw Flatt Lonesome, The Turtle Island String Quartet and so much more! (They played an arrangement of Bob Dylan’s Along the Watchtower, it floored me)
read Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, Born to Run

The highlight of the month, of course, was seeing the Bynum, Montana School featured in a CBS news story. I grew up in Choteau which is down the road a few miles . In 2010, I spent a day at this school as a visiting musician.

Indeed, we all should start the day with a little singing and a little dancing. If you need some inspiration, here’s Bruce!

Swimming

September 3, 2016September 3, 2016Leave a comment

Yesterday, my fellow early morning lap swimmers and I had our end of the summer breakfast which marks the end of another summer season of outdoor swimming. We’ll head indoors for the fall and the winter. I swim three days a week at 6:00 am, it’s a great energetic start to the day.

Swimming, like music, has been a constant companion ever since I can remember. I spent many happy summers swimming on the Choteau Swim Team. (I’m first row on the right in the picture above, I think I’m about 8 or 9.) In college, I was a lifeguard and swim instructor and after college, I became a certified diver when I was working on cruise ships in the Caribbean. That seems a lifetime ago! Now, I’m an early morning lap swimmer and swim mom.

My daughter, entering high school, just made the Roosevelt High School varsity swim team. Way to go, Ruby! She’s much faster than I ever was! She’s also a water polo player, because these swimmers just can’t get enough time in the water.

We should all find something we love and keep doing it, like swimming, like music! Today’s post, an arrangement of REM’s Night Swimming.

Here’s the original, a gorgeous song by REM from Automatic for the people:

More swimming love! Here’s the ever inspirational, awesome Michael Phelps in an Under Armour Commercial.

You Won’t Be The Same After Watching Michael Phelps’ New Under Armour Ad

The Swan, inspired by Florence Foster Jenkins

August 26, 2016August 26, 20162 Comments

I recently saw the beautiful movie, Florence Foster Jenkins starring Meryl Streep as Florence, Hugh Grant as her husband, and Simon Helberg as the brilliant pianist and gentle soul, Cosmé McMoon. This stylish movie, based on the real life FFJ, celebrates music, complex relationships, and the human spirit. Despite a sold out performance at Carnegie Hall, Florence is lacking in the musical ability. However, her spirit,enthusiasm, courage, and love for music are contagious. I laughed and cried my way through the film.

There are many touching scenes with the pianist Cosmé and Florence including Cosmé performing an audition for Florence with The Swan from Saint Saens. The Swan, originally for cello and two pianos, is from Carnival of the Animals. Here is an arrangement for piano I recorded this morning.

The Swan, Saint Saen played by Laura Dean Wav

The Swan, Saint Saen, played by Laura Dean MP4

Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944)

Cosmé McMoon (1901-1980)

Mount st. Helens

July 13, 2016July 13, 2016Leave a comment

Boom! Summer is here and the living is busy! My recording blog is on a temporary hiatus as I’ve been very busy with the Seattle Opera in Schools (teaching in summer school), my private students, and preparing for my Cuba concert in the fall. I participated in an amazing piano master class in Portland over the weekend with the inspiring Dr. Jill Timmons, my mentor. What a thrill and humbling experience to play a concert hall sized Bosendorfer, valued at $300,000.00 (that’s a whole other story). Joe and I made a weekend of it and spent the next day at Mount st. Helens.

After an overnight at a Super 8 along I5, we headed toward Mount St. Helens. In all, we spent about 4 hours at Johnston’s Ridge, the highest visitor’s center. We took in the exhibits, lectures, and movies and also took a short hike on a very pleasant trail with great views. There were two really interesting films about the eruption and the geology of the mountain which is still, by the way, active! The rangers also do a great job with their talks. It wasn’t an entirely clear day, but it was still spectacular. What a bonus, that the area was alive with wild flowers at their peak bloom! You can see by the pictures, the side of the mountain blown out with the landslide still looks quite barren.

The eruption was in May of 1980, 57 people died, you can see the memorial below. The explosion could be heard as far away as Missoula, Montana. I still remember waking up to an ash covered Choteau, Montana when I was about 10 years old, everything was covered with the grey dust including cars, steps, sidewalks, etc.

On our way down from the mountain, we stopped at an adorable road side cafe overlooking the Toutle River- picture of Joe drinking coffee.

Here’s an article looking back at the eruption from the Helena’s KRTV: http://www.krtv.com/story/29095907/helena-remembers-mount-st-helens-eruption-35-years-later

Romances Sans Paroles, Yellow House Salon #16

May 8, 2016Leave a comment

Silly Laura and her mom, Gail Dean at Rancho la Puerta

Romances Sans Paroles translates to Songs Without Words. Below I play #3 by Gabriel Fauré (played on my digital keyboard and mixed on my Macbook as a harp/guitar duo). What a perfect piece for Mother’s Day. No words can describe how grateful I am for my mother, Gail Dean. She’s a woman of steel who raised two kids on her own with courage and grace after losing my dad in a highway accident when we were all very young.

Thanks, Mom, for all of the hours of music lessons, for driving across the state of Montana for camps and concerts, for sewing all of those costumes and dresses, for giving me a great education, and for giving me the courage, independence, and grit to pursue a life in music. I owe it all to you!

To all of the Mamas our there! You know who you are and I know how hard you work to make it all look easy! Here’s to our Moms and here’s to us, the Mamas!

Laura Dean: Musical Artist, Teacher, Author

Tag: seattle pianist