One of my favorite singers is...

 I'm a big fan of Michael Buble. Here's why:

Total bliss

Music.

Food. Excellent, made from scratch food.

Coffee. Excellent hazelnut with almond milk and agave syrup coffee.

Bliss.

You're not the same person.

 Stop looking for the old you.

The Gallery: Global News--December 1, 2020

Thank you note from the Editor: 

Thank you so much for everything.

Enharmonic equivalent

 

Teachers, 60s for you.

A Minute with The Piano Instructor.
 

Pianists use all of our senses.

I love cooking because I use all of my senses.

Election Day is a paid holiday.

Election Day is a paid holiday for all instructors and staff at The Piano Instructor.

24 little hours...

In 24 hours, I learned:

Masochistic or sterile.

If you've always had it together, then this post is not for you.

Start where you are with what you have.

I do not have my piano yet; it is in storage. My things are still not unpacked. Clearly my home needs renovation.  And all I have is electricity, a keyboard and a table. 

That's enough to get started. 

But HOW do you believe?

A student asked, But how do I believe in my abilities when it seems like all I do is make mistakes? 

What a fantastic opportunity.

Get your passport.

The Piano Instructors encourage all students to get their passports. Imagining where you can go, even if you can't quite get there today, works miracles in performance.

It is difficult to explain why if you haven't applied for your passport. 

You see, the application process itself primes you for travel. Are you applying because you're traveling soon, the officials ask. Do you have an expired passport? Where were you born?

The anticipation of waiting for the thing to come in the mail is delicious in its own way. 

And when it arrives...when the official document arrives...when you see your name and terrible picture...an explosion of "Where can I go right now?" thoughts take over. Two hours on Google Earth and Kayak Explore later, and your imagination is soaring.

And it is marvelous. 

Suddenly, your performances are not limited to your home country. You can perform anywhere your favorite artists perform or grew up or had lunch that one time.

This is a time of covid. So right now we can't go anywhere, not really.

All things change, though, and (these days) in strange and unexpected ways. Get ready now when it doesn't really matter and when nobody is thinking about this so that when it does change, you can move forward.

If you're already ready, you don't have to get ready.

Get your passport. 

Cancer sucks. Go get checked.

 My mom and I are at the clinic getting check ups. 

Most of what I do in terms of health revolves around joy. I love walking, I love fencing. Meditation is a must. If I don't drink enough water, I get headaches. Salads are delicious and sometimes I have competitions with myself to see how many days in a row I can create a different innovative culinary surprise with just vegetables. 

And I have a pretty good attitude in general, which I think contributes the most.

It so happens that all of those are healthy, cancer-busting activities.

And I still got cancer. Twice.

So another part of the regimen is regular check ups.

Go get your girls checked, ladies. Because I had a regular practice of self examination, when I did feel the pea sized lump, I was able to accurately tell my team that no, it wasn't there last month, helping us give a timeline, very valuable for treatment.

Early detection may have saved my life.

Cancer sucks. Get your exams.

Teacher PSA.

This is a public service announcement for teachers.

Today is October 1. 

Many of you have been teaching for almost a month. Some of you having been teaching for almost a month for the first time ever.

There are about 90 days left in the calendar year, and about an infinity left in the school year.

I want you to stop thinking about all that.

And think about what you're doing right now.

Think about your wonderful comfortable chair. Remember when you first got it? If it isn't comfy, change chairs. Just go ahead and do that right quick.

Where's your water? This might be a little TMI, but is your urine clear or close to clear? Go drink some water. Good!

Hey, since you're reading this right now, sit up a little bit (in your comfy chair). Drop your shoulders. Maybe roll them forward, then backward. That feels good. 

Drop your shoulders.

Take a deep breath. Did you cough at first?  If you coughed, just laugh and try again until you can get one good deep inhalation and then release it. Don't be alarmed if it takes a couple of tries; if you don't do it regularly it can be like that. 

Drop your shoulders.

Finally, feel your face. That sounds funny, but without touching your face, feel your face. Feel your cheeks and your forehead and your nose and lips. Move your brows up and down. And turn the corners of your lips upward.

This was your public service announcement.

You're going great!

Tina L, multiple award winning teacher, producer, and composer, is the founder of The Piano Instructor. Her curriculum, Musical Kinetics, teaches teachers how to create musicians for life. It is field tested by teachers, written by a teacher, and perfected as students respond and science provides more information. It is available here.

No Doubt.

Yesterday, I had the great fortune of meeting Serena.

Formerly a law office assistant, she became a businesswoman, picking up car sharing passengers to supplement her income. 

She immediately asked me if I taught piano, and before I could even say, "Oui" she gave me her story.

Born and raised in France, she took lessons in school, but they were group courses with many people in a room and not much individual attention. In fact, one teacher straight-up tried to discourage her from playing.

Serena's desire to learn never ebbed. If anything, it grew over the years, through raising her children, changing careers, moving to a new country, learning a new language and on and on.

After much turmoil and great challenges, she decided a few days ago that she was going to take charge of her life and live it the way she imagined. She decided to take the reins of her life.

One of the things she wanted to do was play the piano. She decided she was going to do it, and she would find the best teacher for her life.

I'm not accurately conveying the passion with which she said this, but trust me, she was quite clear on playing the piano, okurrr?

And then I appeared. (What you want wants you. Isn't it wonderful to experience that firsthand?)

The ride was exciting and interesting and we both found ourselves speaking rapidly and with enthusiasm.

I could tell throughout it all that she was searching to determine if this stranger in the back seat of her car was actually the real deal. And I admit, it is tempting in that moment to try to figure out what to say to convince someone of that. 

Instead, I surrendered to the moment and told her the truth.

I told her that I was shocked that a teacher would not support her in that endeavor. The ability to create vibrations that are pleasing to others and to yourself is a skill anyone can develop with care and joy.

There will be times when she'll get discouraged when learning how to play the piano. That's a natural part of it because your mind wants to be able to get there, but your physical skills and theoretical understanding haven't caught up yet. So there has to be one person in your life who will be rock solid in holding the lantern through those mental caverns as you navigate through that. That's my job.

And I have to enter that job with 100% knowing in my bones that no matter what obstacles you think you have that will prevent you from learning, I can help you overcome them, work around them or, even better, incorporate them in your learning. I have to be that sure. Any doubt, even a smidgeon, is too much.

We arrived at my destination, and that was it. I didn't even have cards on me to give to her (a rarity) because I was at my very empty new house, so we exchanged numbers.

When I settled down for the evening, I realized it doesn't matter if she calls. What matters is that she now knows she can do it, and there are piano instructors who will do what it takes for her to achieve her dream.

That's what everyone wants. 

We teach this.

Tina L, multiple award winning teacher, producer, and composer, is the founder of The Piano Instructor. Her curriculum, Musical Kinetics, teaches teachers how to create musicians for life. It is field tested by teachers, written by a teacher, and perfected as students respond and science provides more information. It is available here.

Views. Then the andante.

 This is my view, right now. Isn't it magnificent?

I am sitting inside the new global headquarters of The Piano Instructor, looking out my front window.

Renovations are underway.

Today, though, there is a break in the action. No workers, no inspectors, no engineers. All of that resumes on Monday.

So, I am sitting here, listening.

Mitsuko Uchida is leading the first movement of Mozart's piano concerto in D minor on my phone. 

Her deftness in the articulation of each note no matter the speed--and the speed gets up there--is remarkable, a goal I wish to achieve.

As I sit here, I realize that the acoustics in here are incredible. I can feel possibility raising goosebumps as she simultaneously climbs those progressions with certainty. We are feeding each other.

And I realize...

We never stop growing, searching, striving.

To strive effectively, it helps to have a strong foundation, which this house and I both have.

And it definitely helps to have a vision. I am clear on interior design, the importance of ensuring excellent quality work now so that I can enjoy my growth here for many years, and possess the willingness to expand my skillset to be able to finance it. All of that is present right now. Glorious. 

Renewals can be scary, and indeed almost everyone is doing their level best to "talk some sense into me".

But visionaries can't be swayed. Leaders work out all of those details with research you would not believe (far more than the Wikipedia entry that you then edited "for accuracy") and then remain flexible enough to flow when obstacles arise. I'm realizing that my friends and family mean well and want me to avoid all that and be safe. They're trying to avoid, really, like, six major possible things that could go wrong with the renovation, all of which can be remedied with research and proper funding and time.

But if you know that there will be a million obstacles and just accept it, then when you have only six you're like, Hoorah!

Me.

There's no growth in stagnation. Besides, home renovation is basically a television production with your own money. I pick my crew, describe what needs to be done, figure out a timeline, know that the timeline will be destroyed, and work around it all. Everything takes longer than expected, costs more than you'd like, and except for ridiculous catastrophes that you couldnt have planned, usually works out great if you hire good people. So worry is wasteful. 

Same. 

We teach this.

And now, the andante.

Tina L, multiple award winning teacher, producer, and composer, is the founder of The Piano Instructor. Her curriculum, Musical Kinetics, teaches teachers how to create musicians for life. It is field tested by teachers, written by a teacher, and perfected as students respond and science provides more information. It is available here.

Slow down, Teachers. For real.

 I have a ton of work to do tonight. It is all groovy things to do. But it must be done, as opposed to wanting to do it for the sheer joy and exhilaration of doing something worthwhile with my time and energy on Earth, ya dig?

Energy is needed. Preparations must be made.

Recipe:

Cucumbers from a friends yard, sliced and peeled.

Tomatoes, sliced, also from someone's yard

Your favorite dressing because we are keeping it simple and delicious (mine today is Briannas creamy cilantro lime dressing).

Cracked pepper--my secret ingredient on salads

Then:

Mix it all up in a bowl. Crack some pepper on top of it all. Eat. Moan if you'd like.

This simple snack or meal or in between crunchy-creamy-good will make all the difference in your mood, in a wonderfully inexpensive, healthy, delectable way.

Have a great evening.

No, I am not a paid or any kind of spokesperson for the Briannas salad dressing label. This is true love. 

Musical Kinetics--designed for music teachers by music teachers.

Musical Kinetics will dramatically improve your approach to teaching. You've got back-up now.

If you've just started teaching, you'll establish habits that will hold you in good stead throughout this career as well as others you may explore. Be inspired!

If you're a seasoned instructor, you've now encountered a "next level" curriculum that'll help your students strive to raise their own level of excellence. Motivate your students!

Purchase both the podcast audio and the PDF here: Musical Kinetics

Here are the contents:

Here's a lesson to check out:

Purchase the PDF here:
Musical Kinetics Store

Here's an excerpt from Seeing Your Success:

Purchase the audio here:
Musical Kinetics

What people have said about Musical Kinetics:

Groundbreaking.

Simple to use. Easy to follow.

Helps students understand music concepts better.

Helps students feel engaged and interested.

Helps teachers relax and enjoy the process of teaching...so very important right now.

Created for those who recently found themselves teaching in a digital, online format.

Blues scale meme

Why in the world did I pick fencing...

and how does fencing help craft me into a most excellent piano instructor?

Well, it helps to explain first that I am a champion.

Art is offensive to many, but sacred to more.

This morning, while reading the comments on a favorite FB group to which I belong, I learned that an artist had posted a controversial piece she had completed, and was asked to take it down because it offended someone (many?--this part was unclear).

Q&A: What do I do when I don't feel like practicing?

Question: Some days, I'm eager to practice, and on those days my music flows well. Other days, it's all I can do to do sit at the bench.

How do you motivate yourself on those days you just feel bad and don't want to ask your body to do anything?

Answer:

Be ok with feeling terrible and just do it badly.

How does diet help on stage?

Most of my life, I've eaten well balanced diets. Yes, I do indulge in the occasional fast food, and I'm known for loving desserts--even eating them before the actual meal--but for the most part, I am aware of how I feel after I eat, and therefore I eat accordingly.

Buzz pollination

Energy of a wave

Monday Reminder: You have permission to play or not play.

You have permission from yourself to yourself to play the piano or not play the piano.

Don't let anyone bully you into thinking that in order to prove that you can actually play you need to play for that person right then.

No.

You play when you want to play.

You don't play when you don't want to play.

You do not have to explain.
You don't have to offer a reason.

You have nothing to prove to anyone.

This is your art. You define when you wish to express it. You define for whom you want to express it.

We teach this.

Happy Monday!

PI News Issue 107

Know what's going on. Get the newsletter sent to your inbox every Saturday at 6 p.m.

PI NEWS ISSUE 107

Go Fact Yourself is a game show podcast hosted by comedians J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong. Check it out--episodes are available at MaximumFun.org/podcasts/go-fact-yourself. 

Yes, you can be in the audience. The next live show is February 23 at the Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles, California . Click for more information and for tickets. Free. T shirts are available. Not free.

Grove Studios and guest artist Will Jones III facilitate the first of many Grove Community Jams. You are welcome to bring your instrument and/or voice. Listeners are also welcome. 

Note from editor: All levels, from beginner to seasoned, are welcome. If you have never done this before and you wish to try out what improvisation means, this would be the place to do it. All are truly welcome.

EVENT: 
Grove Studios Community Jam

Sunday, February 23, 2020, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. $5.00
Grove Studios
884 Railroad, Ypsilanti, Michigan

ArtCenter DTLA presents Trailblazer: The Photographs of Barbara Dumetz. 

Barbara Dumetz is the star of this African-American alumni exhibition, wherein 30 of her photographic works will be showcased. A commercial photographer in the 1970s when female photographers were rare--and African-American ones were rarer still--Ms. Dumetz's photographs of celebrities as well as her commercial clients like Coca Cola and Delta Airlines makes her one of the most sought after photographers of our time.

Exhibition: Trailblazer: The Photographs of Barbara Dumetz. 

Now until - March 13, 2020
ArtCenter DTLA

114 West 4th Street

Los Angeles, California 90013

Pianist extraordinaire William Marshall Bennett is performing in Ann Arbor. Come see him (and maybe even make a request!):

Multi-Date Events: February 23--three performances: 
Webers, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Aretha's w/Diva D, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The Loving Touch with Laurence and the Love Mechanics

Then:

February 25, 26, 27, 28, 29--Webers Restaurant 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.





PREMIERE: Filmmaker and photographer Toko Shiiki directs Han, described on her events page as "a five movement work which draws upon elements from Buddhism and Korean tradition including pansori, folk songs and percussion".

Premiere: Han. Film.
Stamps Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Friday, March 27, 2020, 5:30 p.m.
26 minutes, with a reception after the film. Free.

Enjoy a restorative yoga flow with instructor Carl Gunderson (of Simply Holistic Fitness and Wellness) and soulful healing sounds by Brendan Collins (of Healing Forest Massage and Wellness). One hour. No yoga experience required. Enjoy a smoothie afterwards. Reservations strongly recommended.

Yoga Sound Bath and Smoothies--Class

Saturday, February 29, 2020
11:30 a.m to 12:30 a.m.
For more information or to contact Carl Gunderson for private yoga lessons:
810.772.9403 (*A new addition to the directory)

Join Steve Somers and Friends at The Tap Room in Ypsilanti. Jazz and blues styles and original works. No cover; Love Donations for the musicians are always appreciated.

Event: Steve Somers and Friends
The Tap Room
201 West Michigan, Ypsilanti
March 6, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Comedic actor heard on Bob's Burgers and Word Girl, Ron's long running Tomorrow! Show does it again with special guests including Sophie Santos and Sara Hennessey. Check it out--the show starts at 11 p.m., and tickets are $5.00. Weekly. The Lyric Hyperion Theater, 2106 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, California

Legal

WTF, SCOTUS?

Would you like to understand the Supreme Court rulings from a lawyer who can explain things really well? WTF, SCOTUS? is the blog for you. Catch up on the impeachment hearings in super clear layperson's language written by a teacher comedian lawyer. The picture above is for attention.

FOR RENT: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Quiet female artist seeking roommate in a two bedroom, two bath home in Los Angeles. AC/gas and off-street parking are available. Washer and dryer are on the premises. She already has a dog, grandfathered in. No pets for the new tenant. Proof of steady income is a must. $960/month.

DIRECTORY

The Piano Instructor

Areas of service: Michigan. We come to you. Contact: Tina L.313.919.2806. PianoLady88Keys@gmail.com Insta: the_piano_instructor

Grace Allasio--Piano Grace Allasio Piano Studio Areas of service: Plymouth, Northville and Novi, Michigan Contact: Grace Allasio gapianostudio@gmail.com

Kwamise Long-Taylor--Piano
Contact: Kwamise.Taylor@gmail.com
Phone: 248.470.2380

Jesse Thomas Morgan--Piano
Contact: Jesse Thomas MorganPhone: 734.355.1501
JMorganLessons@gmail.com
FB: Jesse Thomas Morgan

Kate Rosen--Voice
Kate Rosen Voice Studio
Studio Location: 355 West Maple Road, Birmingham, Michigan
Contact: Kate Rosen
www.KateRosenStudio.com

Brian McCloskey--Composer

FB: Brian McClosey

Carl Gunderson--Yoga, Health and Wellness
Group Classes, Private Instruction
810.772.9403

We're doing great things, and it's good to have something like this filled with art, music, activism, science, and love creating bonds.

This is made with Love. Our Love.

The purpose of The Piano Instructor

Synesthesia. Meme

Water is an excellent conductor of sound. Meme

PI News Issue 106

THE PI NEWS, ISSUE 106

If you gimme your email address, I can send the newsletter as one easy click as opposed to putting it into your individual FB Messengers, which takes for.ev.er. cuz there's a lotta you.

Also, anybody else who reads the groovy things we are doing can easily just get it instead of bothering you for it.





PI NEWS Issue 106
Made with Love






PREMIERE: Filmmaker and photographer Toko Shiiki directs Han, described on her events page as "a five movement work which draws upon elements from Buddhism and Korean tradition including pansori, folk songs and percussion".

Premiere: Han. Film.
Stamps Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Friday, March 27, 2020, 5:30 p.m.
26 minutes, with a reception after the film. Free.

Steve Somers leads his jazz class at Biggby's Coffee in Ypsilanti on Monday, February 17. Show begins at 6. Free.

EVENT:
Steve Somers leads WCC Jazz Band
Biggby's Coffee, Washtenaw Blvd, Ypsilanti, Michigan. 
Monday, February 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free.

Noah Starsix Rucker, better known in Ypsilanti, Michigan as Brother Noah, is the recipient of the Rising Phoenix award. Yoga teacher, organic gardener, and activist, Brother Noah shares with local youth the philosophy of his mentor Booker T. Washington, African-American educator and adviser to multiple US presidents.

Brother Noah will be presented with his award at the Rising Phoenix Awards ceremony on Saturday, March 21, 2020.

Join Suzy Klaehn as she teaches cake decoration. Tickets are available at the Build Guild site. You must bring your own cake.

Class: Cake Decorating with Suzy Klaehn

The Build Guild

1025 Goshen Avenue, Fort Wayne Indiana

You must bring your own cake.

Comedic actor seen on Portlandia and the voice of the mayor on Word Girl on PBS, Ron's long running Tomorrow! Show hits the mark tonight with special guests including Whitney Chitwood and Jordan Myrick. Check it out--the show starts at 11 p.m., and tickets are $5.00. Weekly.

The Lyric Hyperion Theater, 2106 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, California

Pianist Jesse Thomas Morgan's album, Where Love Resides, is now available on iTunes, Spotify, and Apple Music. Check it out--within the first week, it reached over 1,000 plays and the track "This is All I Know" was played on WCBN radio.

Marion Hayden, bassist, will perform in Sister Strings: Roots, Voice and Drums. Her performance is on Sunday, February 16 at St. Matthews and St. Joseph's Episcopal Church. Tickets are available.

EVENT: Sister Strings: The life and history of string instruments, voice and percussion in the Black community from slavery until present.

Performance: Sunday, February 16, 2020, St. Matthew's and St. Joseph's Episcopal Church, 8850 Woodward, Detroit, MI

Ms. Hayden is joined by cellist Akua Dixon, violinist Tia Imani Hanna, violinist Michelle May, and others.

ArtCenter DTLA presents Trailblazer: The Photographs of Barbara Dumetz. 

Barbara Dumetz is the star of this African-American alumni exhibition, wherein 30 of her photographic works will be showcased. A commercial photographer in the 1970s when female photographers were rare--and African-American ones were rarer still--Ms. Dumetz's photographs of celebrities as well as her commercial clients like Coca Cola and Delta Airlines makes her one of the most sought after photographers of our time.

Exhibition: Trailblazer: The Photographs of Barbara Dumetz. 

Now until - March 13, 2020
ArtCenter DTLA

114 West 4th Street

Los Angeles, California 90013

Grove Studios and guest artist Will Jones III facilitate the first of many Grove Community Jams. You are welcome to bring your instrument and/or voice. Listeners are also welcome. 

Note from editor: All levels, from beginner to seasoned, are welcome. If you have never done this before and you wish to try out what improvisation means, this would be the place to do it. All are truly welcome.

EVENT: 
Grove Studios Community Jam

Sunday, February 23, 2020, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. $5.00
Grove Studios
884 Railroad, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Go Fact Yourself is a game show podcast hosted by comedians J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong. Listen for yourself--episodes are available at MaximumFun.org/podcasts/go-fact-yourself. 


Yes, you can be in the audience. The next live show is February 23 at the Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles, California . Click for more information and for tickets. Free. T shirts are available. Not free.

FOR RENT: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Quiet female artist seeking roommate in a two bedroom, two bath home in Los Angeles. AC/gas and off-street parking are available. Washer and dryer are on the premises. She already has a dog, grandfathered in. No pets for the new tenant. Proof of steady income is a must. $960/month.

DIRECTORY

The Piano Instructor

Areas of service: Michigan. We come to you. Contact: Tina L.313.919.2806. PianoLady88Keys@gmail.com Insta: the_piano_instructor

Grace Allasio--Piano Grace Allasio Piano Studio Areas of service: Plymouth, Northville and Novi, Michigan Contact: Grace Allasio gapianostudio@gmail.com

Kwamise Long-Taylor--Piano
Contact: Kwamise.Taylor@gmail.com
Phone: 248.470.2380

Jesse Thomas Morgan--Piano
Contact: Jesse Thomas MorganPhone: 734.355.1501
JMorganLessons@gmail.com
FB: Jesse Thomas Morgan

Kate Rosen--Voice
Kate Rosen Voice Studio
Studio Location: 355 West Maple Road, Birmingham, Michigan
Contact: Kate Rosen
www.KateRosenStudio.com

Brian McCloskey--Composer

FB: Brian McClosey


Learn of the accomplishments of our friends, delight in seeing your own name in print, and share among colleagues and students alike every week. We're doing great things, and it's good to have something like this filled with art, music, activism, science, and love creating bonds.

This is made with Love. Our Love.