Please move me to tears...

I'm not opposed to crying at all.  In fact, I've been known to cry while listening to "The Winner Takes it All", watching Hallmark commercials, hearing a friend share a personal tragedy, seeing a squirrel get hit by a car, looking into my daughter's eyes after I've scolded her, saying goodbye to my parents after a long visit and the list goes on and on.  I've been told that I'm a sensitive person.  And I've told myself that since I was really young.


As a teenager, sad music was something I learned to create to reflect my endless introspection. I took free reign over simple chord progressions laced with minor and suspended chords and threw in some surprising dynamic choices.  I was sitting behind the controls of the roller coaster and my riders (my peers mostly) thought the emotional ups and downs were fantastic.


Emotional music can be pleasing for some and unnerving for others.  Occasionally when I'm teaching a song in a minor key to a student, it becomes apparent that the student cannot handle the piece.  Not because it's too difficult, but because it's too sad.  I've had a couple students walk out of the room when I play a sad song and still others have cried.  I wonder if this has something to do with the vibration of a particular note and it's affect on our bodies and brains is largely due to our bodies being roughly 70% water.  Sound can transform water.  Energy vibrations can transform water.  (Interesting read, "Messages in Water" by Masaru Emoto).


I'm not a scientist and I cannot easily articulate my thoughts around this phenomenon, but I do know that Adele's "Someone Like You" brings me to a place of sadness surrounding past relationships, makes me go inward, makes me tear up and yet, I want to listen to it again.  And again... the pain is pleasurable.


Here's an interesting article about the mystery behind sad music.

The science behind Adele's emotional music

www.mnn.com

Researchers examine how the hit 'Someone Like You' evokes an emotional response that keeps us coming back for more.

A Family Affair

Learning an instrument is a family affair...  Everyone experiences music on some level.  You may be an "audience" member or you may be the music maker, but you're all - mom, dad, brother, sister - exposed to the vibrations of sound that are created by hands on an instrument.  


The Anzai family embraces music in their home.  It's present on a daily basis.  Sam and Taylor share their music with us - a little boogie woogie and a little jazz!  And Joe (their dad) shares his thoughts about their musical journey...  

Old Man Henry

Just watched this video and have a smile on my face.  What a beautiful moment Henry has with music.  He literally comes alive!


http://now.msn.com/living/0410-old-man-and-power-of-music.aspx#scptmd




Currently, reading my way through Oliver Sacks' "Musicophilia" (highly recommend it!) and it's just mind boggling the extent at which music affects the brain.  Such a mysterious phenomenon...


Enjoy!

I heart Jason Mraz

One of the things I want my students to enjoy is picking up music they love and learning how to sing and play it.  It's a real accomplishment to be able to do this AND it gives them the "American Idol" experience of sorts.  Who doesn't want to be a rock star?


Kylie Vanhove has been with me for nearly five years and she has a serious love for Jason Mraz.  Quite naturally, when she dug deeper into Simply Music's Accompaniment Program, she absolutely had to play and sing one of his songs.

Kylie also shared with me some of her thoughts about Simply Music.  Enjoy!

Play Me, I'm Yours

My hubby and I took our girls (Ava - 3 1/2 and Dakota - 8 months) to the Santa Monica Pier this afternoon.  I had to check out the "art installation" called Play Me, I'm Yours.  Luke Jerram, the artist who started it all, has been installing pianos in various cities since 2008.  What a great way to get the community playing together!  


There are 30 pianos installed throughout LA, but they'll only be here for 3 weeks.  If you live in LA, find a piano and share your photos with us!


Please check out this link to learn more:
http://www.streetpianos.com/


Remember when I wrote about not being a performer?  Well, I couldn't resist playing this beautifully decorated piano.  


Here's a quick video clip and some photos:

Check out the website and find out when this art exhibit is coming to your city!  And then, of course, go play!

Sure, why not?

Every morning when I open my email, I'm tempted to check out every 'deal' that's landed in my inbox.  From Groupon, Groupon Now, Living Social, Living Social Adventure, Living Social Escapes, KGB Deals, Dealfind, etc.  I'm bombarded with opportunities to explore, be pampered, eat well, drink well, and dress well all for a great deal!  On those days when I'm wondering if I deserve another $29.00 massage, I say, "Sure, why not?"


Almost a year ago, myself and a few other teachers in the area offered a Living Social Deal for a 4 Week Piano Workshop.  There were many who said, "Sure, why not?" to this deal.  One of our deal seekers is finishing up his workshop next week.  What has been his experience?  Check this out:

If you, or someone you know is interested in getting a taste of this remarkable program I teach, please contact me to schedule your 4 Week Piano Workshop!


www.rhythmnyou.com
rhythmnyou@gmail.com

The Great Escape

Just watched this amazing story of music in the Congo.  Gave me chills to see the joy on those beautiful faces!  If you missed 60 minutes, check this out...

Joy in the Congo

Music is an escape...

For me, playing music often feels like time has stopped...  listening to great music can either bring me to tears or make me want to dance, jump, leap, spin around...

Where does music take you?

Can I quit?

Not too long ago, Dylan wanted to quit piano lessons.  His mom had texted me to say that she didn't know what to do anymore.  She was tired of the battle that would ensue each day she tried to get her son to practice and she was ready to give in.

A day before I got this mother's text, I had spoken with a dad about how he got his child, Ethan, to get over the same hump.  He gave his son the 32 Day Challenge.  He based this on an article he read about NASA's space training program.  In the training period, astronauts wear special goggles for 32 days straight.  These goggles turn their world upside down.  This is important because without gravity, an astronaut needs to be able to function in different positions - upside down, sideways - without getting nauseous.  If an astronaut misses even one day of this training, he/she needs to start over again.  Why?  Because the brain is developing a new neuro pathway and it requires consistency.  And in turn, the neuro pathway determines that this new way of  seeing is completely normal.  In fact, during the training period, astronauts begin to see everything right side up again even with the goggles still on!  

This challenge worked for Ethan and it got me really excited!  I texted this distraught mother back and suggested that Dylan try the 32 Day Challenge which he did and since then he and many others have moved on to the 100 Day Challenge.  

Here's Dylan talking about his experience:

Make No Mistake

People often assume that because I’m a piano teacher, I play the piano.  Of course I play in the privacy of my studio.  I play in front of my students and their parents when needed, but I’m not a performer.  Not in a band.  Not on tour.  Not in a house.  Not with a mouse.

As a student, I was required to play in front of my peers and their families once a year for a spring recital.  Just saying “spring recital” gives me dry mouth.  My knees would shake, my heart would pound out of my chest and as well as I knew my song, I never knew if I’d get through it without starting in the wrong place, ending up in the wrong place, or just finishing it somewhere in the middle.  What would follow were tears, shame and the overall assessment that I am not a performer.

I’ve investigated this phenomenon with other teachers who have the same performance phobia and I’m thinking it comes down to being present, accepting mistakes and moving on.  In my traditional lessons as a child and young adult, I carried the burden of perfection.  I worked on accuracy and expression and could mimic others fairly well.  I remember playing Chopin’s Polonaise Militaire, Op. 40, No. 1 for a regional piano competition and as I left the concert hall, the room monitor approached me to say that I sounded just like a professional recording or even Chopin himself.  I couldn’t have been prouder.  I sounded just like somebody else.

No mistakes…  I felt like I had achieved something.  Perfection?  Was this perfection accompanied by the pure joy of experiencing my musicality? No.  Playing that piece stressed me out.  I was relieved when it was over and I was relieved to never have to play it again.

Since January of this year, I’ve taken up the guitar.  I have a fabulous teacher who teaches me to stay present with what I’m doing, when I’m doing it.  He teaches me chord patterns of familiar songs and we play and sing together.  It’s beyond fun.  And I make mistakes.  Lots of them.  My teacher instructs me to go slower or to change the way I’m holding my hand.  I take the instruction, make the adjustment and “ahhh” I get that sense of freedom again.  We play all of three or four chords together, over and over again and it’s a beautiful thing.  I feel myself getting better and I'm looking for opportunities to play with others.  No, I'm not joining a band, but I am enjoying playing songs with my piano students.  Baby steps to success.

This is a big shift for me.  And naturally, this shift affects my piano play/practice.  I’m learning to stay present and to allow myself to explore music in the moment.  And make no mistake, this freedom will translate into my students' freedom.  And that’s really the best reason for me to get comfortable with my vulnerabilities.