On Thanksgiving morning I was doing some work online and decided to pull up a recording of “The Nutcracker Suite” … Continue reading The Nut is Cracked

Over twenty-six years in the classroom, I’ve had a chance to chat with former students from time to time who … Continue reading Once Every Nine Years Or So

I have discovered the secret to playing piano really well. Like all truths, it’s ridiculously simple: learn the fingering, then … Continue reading Eighty-seven Sucks; Ninety-four is Great!

Though I creep closer every day to being an old-timer, and some of my so-called friends would ungraciously and squarely place … Continue reading The Big Blow of ’15

I often wonder how musicians come to find their particular instruments. What motivates a person to take up bassoon or … Continue reading Finger Crack

Over the years I have come upon a simple test to determine who is on your side and who isn’t. … Continue reading Yet Another Test to Measure Something That Doesn’t Need Measuring (But Is Still Sort Of Interesting)

Everyone has a different event they’d like to personally witness if they could use the Wayback Machine. Some would be … Continue reading …Don’t Say It! Restrain Yourself, Please!

(I don’t have anything to say in this post, so I’m not going to say it.) (And that will be … Continue reading …(I got nothing)

He was a nice guy. Really super nice, the sort you would show your rock collection to or share a … Continue reading Romance, Deconstructed

As some of you likely know, I teach ESL in a grade school. One class I work with has recently … Continue reading Just (not) Doing my Job