Iceland Adventure

March 7, 2023March 8, 20232 Comments

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.

Kerid Crater — Joe and Laura on the Golden Circle Tour

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

Piano students, a wedding, and TÁR!

February 2, 2023Leave a comment

“Prelude in C Major,” J.S. Bach, played by Laura Dean

What do piano lessons, a wedding, and the 2022 movie TÁR have in common? The answer – Bach’s “Prelude in C Major,” the first piece from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier (The Well-Tempered Clavier), a two volume collection of 24 preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys dating back to 1722. The WTC is considered one of the most important works of keyboard literature. Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” is an enduring prelude played by beginning piano students as well as seasoned professionals. I’ve had the pleasure of both performing this piece for special events and teaching the piece to piano students of all ages. The prelude remains familiar, meditative and comforting.

I recently played the piano at the wedding of two dear friends, Mara and Matt, at the Novelty Hill-Januik Winery in Woodinville, Washington. The couple selected Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” as the prelude to the ceremony. The piece was a lovely choice to set the tone for such a beautiful event. Elegant, timeless, and tranquil.

In contrast, the 2022 psychological thriller, TÁR, features the same piece performed by Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett). In a particularly tense scene, Lydia Tár invites a master class participant to sit by her on the piano bench as she demonstrates the prelude. She commands that the student listen to the questions present in Bach’s composition as she intensely plays the piece with a variety of articulations and expressions, all the while making the student feel more and more uncomfortable. The particular scene was featured in this article by the New York Times.

I invite you to listen to a variety of pianists play “Bach’s Prelude in C Major,” each with their own sound, including Glenn Gould (listen carefully and you can hear him vocalizing in the background), Lang Lang, and Angela Hewitt.

Author Events beginning next week!

July 30, 2022Leave a comment

A quick note to remind everyone that I have a couple of author events coming up for my new book, Music in the Westward Expansion. I’d love to see you there! Both events will include narrative interspersed with live music played on the Northern Cheyenne Courtship flute, the piano, and the guitar!

Saturday, August 6, 2022, 7:00 -8:30 pm

Music Center of the Northwest
901 N 96th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Free Admission- no registration required

*Audience members at the Music Center are required to wear a mask.
*I will have a limited number of books on hand for sale for the Music Center event. If you’d like a book signed, I encourage you to purchase a copy ahead of time at your favorite book seller

Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 7:00 -8:00 pm

Third Place Books at Ravenna: 6504 20th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98115. Registration is required-click on the above link. Third Place Books is stocked with copies of the book for purchase.

The Girl I Left Behind Me!

Happy Summer

July 11, 2022July 22, 2022Leave a comment

Summertime! I hope you are enjoying activities, places, and people that bring you joy. The studio is buzzing with summer lessons, and preparations are underway for upcoming August author events. I’ve have launched a series of short music videos that go hand in hand with my book, Music in the Westward Expansion: Songs of Heart and Place on the American Frontier, and I’ve created dedicated page on my website just for the book. I encourage you to visit the book page for new updates-including music clips and videos! I hope to connect with you soon either online, at an author event, or around the neighborhood!

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

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

Heart and Place

September 27, 2017November 26, 2021Leave a comment

I’m delighted to announce the launch of a new program, Heart and Place: Stories of the Westward Expansion told through music and narrative. This project feels like coming home, as I grew up in rural Montana. Choteau, Montana, to be precise, population 1800.

My early music experiences in that small town and have fueled my career as a music educator/ musician. Some of those experiences include singing in choirs, playing in band, studying piano, playing for church, acting in musicals, and to driving to the next small town for voice lessons. This program brings it all home.

I’ll be launching the program in Seattle on Oct. 14 and will be taking it to Montana to perform at the CM Russell Museum Oct. 26, 7:00, as well as several Great Falls area schools.

The story of the West is epic, and while I cannot focus on everything, I’ve chosen certain aspects to highlight including the music of the Overland Trail, the early frontier settlements, and the Northern Cheyenne Courting Flute as taught to me by Jay Old Mouse of Busby, Montana. The performance includes solo piano music, singing, guitar, and demonstrations on the fiddle and the Northern Cheyenne Courting Flute.

“COURAGE IS BEING SCARED TO DEATH, BUT SADDLING UP ANYWAY.” ― JOHN WAYNE

Yves Saint Laurent The Perfection of Style

October 17, 2016Leave a comment

Yves Saint Laurent The Perfection of Style is on exhibit at Seattle Art Museum,now through January 8!

Spent the morning in awe and giddy delight as I took in this amazing exhibit at SAM. Left inspired by the colors, the designs, the textures, the history, the process, the sparkles, the variety, the creative output, the elegance, the life, the style, and the genius of Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008).