Slow Progress

When people ask me if I like what I do for a living, I tell them (truthfully!) that I absolutely love what I do, I would just like to do a bit less of all of it. 

I like that I have a varied work week. I spend about 33 hours practicing music therapy (24 with people with dementia, 9 with very small children with development delays, speech delays, motor delays, etc.), and about 11 hours teaching the piano (roughly 13 students). Maybe a little more teaching and a little less therapy? But generally, it works out quite well. And I am quite gratified by my work.

However, what is hard is finding the little times here and there to play the piano and to compose my music. I have several pieces in progress: a 16 movement song cycle (11 songs complete, 3 in progress); three lullabies for SATB choir (1 in progress); a set of three "meditations" for solo piano (1 in progress); and a piece for speaking pianist (in progress). I have to say that my average of 2 hours a week makes for some slow going composition. But I'm moving forward, little by little, until a time that I will have more time to devote to my own music. 

Patience...

Studio Recital

My wife, Jessica, and I just put on our winter studio recital here in Lincoln, in Bemis Hall this weekend. Nine of her vocal students and eight of my piano students sang and played for a crowd of 70 family members and friends. The feedback, as always, inspired both of us to continue to seek to become better and better teachers and to continue to grow our studio.

The most flattering compliment came from a friend of Jessica's, who came to the recital simply to support us as teachers! She told me that she has been to many many similar recitals over the years and that this one had by far been the best! We are so proud of our students, and so happy to be working with eachother from the same philosophical standpoint. To be able to share one's music with others in the company of supportive and loving audience members is such a wonderful gift and we are blessed to be able to pass this gift on to other children and adults.

I heard a quote this last week that went something like this: "Carpenters make this world livable, doctors and police officers make people safe. But artists make life worth living."