Ms. Bellamy , my high school classic spinet 1953 Baldwin Acrosonic, now for sale (San Francisco) Many modern piano teachers seem to emphasize the neccesity of learning improvisation. Well and good, for those who revel in what to me and many, are uber-anxiety producing. If I don't have a concertizing or public performance goal, why would I want to engage in that? Believe me, I have engaged in many other experiences that stretched me and my preferences to the limit, and I'm

The US entertainment industry has been the single major feature behind the world-domInant export of US-style culture and values to the...

Eyes shining and a warm heart was my overall feeling when I left San Francisco's Davies Hall Friday night after hearing renowned...

I am dedicating this blog to one of the most outstanding of our US Presidents and a hero of mine, Jimmy Carter (10.1.24 -...

Do you notice how sometimes you set out in one direction toward a location only to end up headed in another direction and landing at...

(Image from Xian Zhang's website. ) In 2024 it's a notable event when a woman wins a permanent management position in a top tier...

Did you ever wonder what the final dying words were of famous composers? A writer for the online music newsletter Interlude , wondered....

I've been thinking about duality thinking, and how to diminish it. Diminish, because I suspect there is no "cure." All we need is a...

Reflected in the title above is a heartfelt comment to mine that he must truly love music. It's the response by my musical...

" Hey, hey, hey - what ya got to say? " For a fun take on speaking one's "peace" (pun intended!), above are the Initial lyrics and video...

Amy Ahn is a remarkable, talented, enthusiastic young Bay Area (CA) performing harpist from a roster of thousands of musicians located...

This gorgeous photo was taken not long ago by my long-time friend Allison Jung when she was standing on deck of a cruise ship leaving the...

Bandola guitar maestro Alejo Cordero, new to the Bay Area just over two years ago from Colombia, South America, presented his first-ever...

I dare you to watch this video "La Maestra" all the way through, and not smile. You have a special treat in store! You will likely...

British pianist, composer, and piano teacher Simeon Walker seems to have his head screwed on right. He says that: "... box-ification of...

Amit Peled ,* cellist pictured on Sunday just past performed "Koi Nedrei Op. 47"  (aka "All Vows") by German composer Max Bruch. The...

In this second week of the New Year, yet another message from the universe has come to my attention: a call to contemplate "loneliness."...

One of the principal elements I seek in any piano teacher with whom I work, is that I be allowed to choose the pieces I want to learn,...

Love him or hate him -- there's just no "in between." Is he the best (or worst) pianist who has ever lived or who is alive today? Some in...

I'm an exuberant lover of health and the arts. As a “baby boomer” child growing up in Texas and at the urging of my mother, I pursued...