inner drum machine
A student asked me last week if I thought life itself was a song. I said I could get my head around that. They said it’s like a song that […]
accordion repair
I was working with some kids and playing accordion. Later, a few wanted to touch it. They were fascinated. They’d press a note, I’d move the bellows, and the thing […]
highest note
the very top of the piano often gets selected for that reason, not for it’s pitch. it hates that because it’s all about keeping its pitch. certain people pick up […]
is still on the line
Had no patience for as a kid, had no interest in the lyrics, just like most of my current students. Now the lyrics impress me as much as trying to […]
looking for a cause or a strong cat without claws
For the next 7 weeks the students present seminars on different records focusing on the songwriting contribution of each record. Yesterday was the first one, The College Dropout by Kanye […]
the ability to hear
not too many years ago, teaching an ensemble but the college had over enrolment problems, at the last minute moved classes to a rehearsal space business. It was the first […]
sign on the window
There is a sign I noticed driving into London today, a sign for a head shop – the title of the store actually. Large posters of royalty in the windows, […]
Through being cool
Standing in the fluorescent, reeking-of-bleach-cafeteria, four women (two middle aged and two seniors) occupying all the positions behind the grill and cash register. The math on minimum wage and a […]
Songwriter
Student asked me for help because they have nothing to say in a song. Guess my job is explaining that this situation also is a song and they just said […]
2,1,4
Kale chips, salt, nutritional yeast. Left hand, G, perpetual peace Replay, loop, symmetrical tricks Apples, juiced, this blood sugar fix Driver, screams, pedestrian runs Protest, cops, tasers on stun Naming, […]