It’s been a busy couple of weeks, winding up my corporate career. This week, I’ll formally begin my new life as an entrepreneur. And, in a strange way, my musical life has been the better for it.
It’s not that I’ve been practicing more; if anything, I have had much less time to practice. Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Personal Journey
This week, I announced plans to leave the employer where I have spent the last 20 years, to begin a new chapter in my career. My intent is to go into business for myself.
It’s a leap of faith. Continue reading
Filed under Personal Journey
Barry Douglas
Chance encounters can change your life. That’s what happened to me when I encountered Barry Douglas, almost by accident.
Barry Douglas is a world-class pianist from Ireland, who skyrocketed to fame in 1986 when he captured the gold medal at the Tchaikovsky piano competition. Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Musicians of Note, Personal Journey
The last several weeks have seen a large number of community music groups holding concerts. Continue reading
Filed under Personal Journey
More than anything else in our lives, we seek encouragement and support. A little encouragement is often all that’ s needed to take a risk, try something new, or pick up an instrument again when you left it behind years earlier. Encouragement can be a very powerful motivator. Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Personal Journey
The studies are clear. Studying music early in your life can improve academic performance and help kids build confidence.
When we hit our teens, many of us put music aside to pursue our academic careers, start families, and get on with life. If you become a parent, the growth and development of your kids takes precedence — and we sacrifice a lot of time and energy to make sure our kids get a healthy start in life.
For me, becoming an “empty nester” re-awakened old desires: to learn to play the piano, an instrument that I’ve always enjoyed but had never successfully mastered beyond picking out a few notes with one hand. I had played the violin through public school and into college — at one point had considered music as a career — but as the years slipped by, active playing had fallen out of my life. Continue reading
Filed under Personal Journey, Returning to Music
Midlife Musicians 