Yesterday was Palm Sunday! Our service began with the Proclamation of the Entrance into Jerusalem, delivered outdoors by the minister, followed by a spoken congregational response, also outdoors. The route And then everyone, including the choir, the congregation, and the pastor, processed into the sanctuary and down the aisle to the front, placing palm branches [...]
Archive for the ‘new experience’ Category
An effective processional
April 2, 2012An unusual church organ
February 6, 2012The idiosyncrasies of a late-19th century church organ.
My new Director of Music position!
January 30, 2012I have a new job! I’m so excited about it! The position is Director of Music at Christ United Methodist Church in Northampton, MA. A surprise email response It must be Karma. Just after applying for an office job online, I alerted my references by email. The minister of the church is on my list. [...]
Student makes a breakthrough!
December 1, 2011Fingering matters!
A successful New York concert
November 12, 2011All the details: week before, trip, warmup, concert, audience comments, friends, trip back.
This audience can sing!
November 3, 2011How asking the audience to participate breaks through off-putting formality in a concert.
Concert countdown on mostly unfamiliar music
October 20, 2011Purchase information available here. It’s concert countdown time! The program below will remain the same for 2 performances in MA, on October 29th (Williamsburg) and November 6th (Amherst). My November 9th concert in New York is part of a 1/2-hour lunchtime series, so the program will be shorter. This program feels particularly demanding because I [...]
Mix It Up!
August 15, 2011I’ve been watching tennis again. The Rogers Cup just finished in Canada, and the Western & Southern Open is in Cincinnati all this week. It looks like the players who ”mix it up” the most come out winning more matches. I’ve been thinking about the value of mixing it up in music, too. We maintain life balance: [...]
8 Pros and a Chorus
July 25, 2011This post is dedicated to the memory of Gil* and Mary Robbins, and in honor of their children, Adele, Gabrielle, Tim, and David. While living in New York, I was the accompanist for the Occasional Singers, a chorus conducted by Gil Robbins that performed avante-garde music. Gil’s wife, Mary, sang second alto, and daughters Adele [...]
Student clears a hurdle!
July 21, 2011One of my adult students made an extraordinary leap last week! It’s right up there with getting religion and learning to walk. The hurdle Just as she finished playing one of the exercises in A Dozen A Day, I happened to glance at her hand. She had developed a bridge! Why not sooner? I’ve asked myself that [...]
Pianist and Vocal Coach
