Variations on Life after 50 by Jill Timmons

August 11, 20262 Comments

Variations on Life After 50: A Field Guide to Harnessing the Power of Creativity, Purpose, and Legacy in Midlife

Jill Timmons’s new book, Variations on Life After 50, inspired my latest project: creating a Y ouTube channel and concert that weave together the major archetypes of Tarot with classical piano music and storytelling.

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.

Bring Them Home / Aiskótáhkapiyaaya

May 26, 2024May 26, 2024Leave a comment

Trailer for Bring Them Home. (if you aren’t able to play- please click here.)

I recently attended the Seattle International Film Festival where I saw Bring Them Home/ Aiskótáhkapiyaaya, a conservation documentary film about the reestablishment of the American bison, also known as buffalo, on ancestral territory of the Blackfeet nation near Browning, Montana. The film highlights the history of the buffalo, and how the species was nearly wiped out in the 19th century. The film also points to the many ways the history of the buffalo mirrors the epic history of the Blackfeet people, and how the success of the wild herd has, in turn, uplifted the Blackfeet community.

The film, narrated by Academy Award-nominated Blackfeet/Nez Perce actor Lily Gladstone, was co-directed by Blackfeet siblings Ivan and Ivy MacDonald along with Daniel Glick. The musical soundtrack includes traditional singing, rapping, and contemporary arrangements mixing indigenous singing with modern orchestral accompaniment. I especially enjoyed the inspiring stories of the Blackfeet people who worked on the project, along with the magnificent cinematography of the buffalo roaming, and sometimes, galloping along the Rocky Mountain front. What a thrill! The area showcased in the film is about 70 miles northwest of Choteau, Montana, where I am from.

If you get a chance to see this movie, I wonder if you’ll shed a tear, as I did, when you watch the buffalo thunder toward the wide open space when they are released into the wilds of Montana under the big Montana sky at the end of the film. For more information bout the film here click here.

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Rancho La Puerta 2023

April 18, 2023April 18, 20231 Comment

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.

During the week, I presented an evening solo piano concert based on my book which rolled off the presses about a year ago: Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier. I also led a class called “Sing-along with Laura,” an hour filled with standards, show tunes, and pop favorites.

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

Burt Bacharach (1928-2023)

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023Leave a comment

“This Guy’s in Love With You” by Burt Bacharach, arranged by Phillip Keveren, played by Laura Dean

Do you remember those huge stereo consoles circa mid 1970 where you had to lift a lid on the top to get to the turntable hiding inside? Listening to music was an intentional experience that took some planning – purchasing a record at at a brick and mortar record store. Not to mention, it also took a combination of strength and dexterity to lift the console lid and to gently place the record onto the turntable before dropping the needle.

My first introduction to Burt Bacharach’s music was “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” sung by BJ Thomas, and played by my Grandma Dean on her gigantic stereo console. I loved the ceremony of watching her load the record, singing along with the song, and sharing the experience together. The song, from the charming bicycle scene in the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, remains a classic in the Bacharach canon.

In elementary school, in Choteau, Montana, where I grew up, our music classes took place in the cafeteria. Our beloved teacher, Dorothy Allen, would often pass out song sheets for sing alongs. While she accompanied on the spinet piano, we sang our hearts out. One of our favorite songs was the Bacharach hit, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” I think it was the groovy melody more than the words that hooked us, after all, we really weren’t interested in love, but we did recognize a great tune.

The news stories in the wake of Burt Bacharach’s passing last week remind us of his huge body of work and his many contributions to the “Great American Songbook.” His lovely melodies, accompanied by thoughtful lyrics, have left an indelible mark on our hearts. Thanks Burt Bacharach, we will be teaching, playing and listening to your music for decades to come!

CBC Sunday Morning story about Burt Bacharach:

Diana Krall sings “The Look of Love.”

Dionne Warwick sings “I Say a Little Prayer for You.”

The Phillip Keveren Bacharach and David Collection of Piano Solos

A Magical Year!

December 30, 2022December 31, 20222 Comments

“Walking in the Air” by Howard Blake-played by Laura

It’s warm and cozy in my studio as the rain drums on the roof on this penultimate day of 2022. I’m reflecting on this past year, a magical year. My personal highlight was the publication of my book, Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier. Over the past few months, I have thoroughly enjoyed giving concert presentations to audiences in Tecate, Mexico (at Rancho La Puerta), Seattle, and in Eastern Washington. I am just getting warmed up, as there are several more Heart and Place concerts in the works for 2023. I will also be releasing a recorded collection of songs/pieces (on a CD and digital recording) entitled Songs of Heart and Place.

In addition, the year provided special moments all along the way- teaching my students (ages 5-adult), working as a visiting artist in Olympia and Edmonds, early morning swims with my dear swimming pals, traveling to Sedona, hiking along the south rim of the Grand Canyon, cooking dinner for friends, and the daily interactions with people in my neighborhood. There’s magic afoot everywhere.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been taking a staycation filled with music practice, organizing my studio, planning for the year ahead, taking long walks, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Holiday events have included a couple of special music concerts. The first, a Harry Connick Jr. concert at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall- which felt like a trip to new Orleans with fabulous jazz musicians, funny stories, and Harry’s voice and piano prowess- oh my! On another night, Ruby and I attended the Northwest Boy Choir’s “Lessons in Carols” proceeded by dinner at the Wild Ginger-our annual tradition. (picture of me and Ruby taken at the Wild Ginger-which is across the street from Benaroya Hall)

Music remains a plentiful source of joy, levity, comfort, and connection in our daily lives! May you have a multitude of musical and magical experiences in 2023. Wishing you a warm, cozy, prosperous, healthy, and memorable new year!

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.

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Laura Dean

Musical Artist, Teacher, Author

Tag: Songs of Heart and Place