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Rocktown Update

The last weeks have been incredibly busy, as evidenced by my absence. I had this grand plan to release a new essay every week, but life decided I needed to be more realistic.

Luckily, my reasons for not having as much time to write are good ones, from finishing a kitchen renovation (yeah, I'm an ADULT now), to have family come to visit, to having enough accompaniment work to keep me busy, to writing my first published article (!!!), and finally to the publishing business doing well. In this time I've also been brainstorming about a non-profit organization that I would really, really like to start. I don't feel like I can share too much about it yet, but I have already bought the domain name and am going to purchase web-building software today or tomorrow. (Those that know me can attest to how serious I must be about this project.) :)

I'm incredibly grateful for finding accompaniment work. Everyone said I wouldn't have a problem, but it's nice to see that come to fruition. I'm playing for primarily woodwind students, which I enjoy. I have a few vocalists, also.

Since it's getting to be recital season, I recently had the opportunity to play in the Recital Hall at Forbes, which is an amazing space.

source

Not only is the hall incredibly responsive, to the point that you can hear sound bouncing off the back wall from the stage, but the piano is unbelievable. As an All Steinway School, JMU is lucky to have incredible instruments in every single performance and rehearsal space. I've only played on one other piano that had the subtle response and flawless and seamless regulation, and that was a brand new Steinway at Radford University. (I think the recital I played there was one of the first on that piano, if my memory serves me correctly.)

I'm really excited to play for students in this space. You sound like a million bucks, even if you're only worth about $17.

A student whose recital is weeks away has a soft spot for performing for the elderly, so today we will perform her recital for a retirement community in a town about 30 minutes away. I used to perform in a geriatric psych ward, and part of me has missed playing for an audience that doesn't judge, and is instead just happy you are there. It is nice to see young students that care about sharing their music with others outside of the academic umbrella. This music belongs everywhere, not just in fancy recital halls and universities.


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