September 2, 2019
A lot can get in the way of updating a website! I've always been the kind of person who can feel too distracted by one project or event or another to do much else. This last winter, spring and summer, it was more a life change which kept me from posting much here or across my social media platforms: My wife and I welcomed our first child into the world in June! My existing concerts, teaching while waiting on our little girl to arrive proved enough to distract me from working on much else publicly till now. We've had a wonderful summer learning how to be parents and look forward to balancing that with a little more normal work as the fall begins.
I decided against recording the first 6 Mozart in a Month Sonatas earlier in the year. I've worked plenty on them, and revamping my approach to Mozart. I'm really happy with how my playing has changed, and I felt I just wasn't ready to spend the money on recording these precious works which I was still developing my style in. When the time is right, probably once I've learned all 18, I will do studio recordings of the Mozart Sonatas, but the right time is not now.
In the meantime, I did work on the Liszt Sonata! This has been a dream piece for years. Are you really a pianist if you don't dream of learning this piece? I decided that I ought to dig into it before the baby came, partly while I had the time, but partly as a spiritual exercise in maturity. I got all of the notes down before she arrived, many sections in very rough form. Over several months, I recorded run-throughs of what I'd achieved, and I will post about those soon. One must be humble to work on this piece, and I thought I needed to expose all of my vulnerabilities as I worked through this epic opus.
Mozart in a Month was to continue for year 2 August 1st, 2019, and indeed it did! I learned his Sonata in D, K. 311, while changing diapers, playing with and feeding our little girl, and while the result wasn't a perfect performance, I'm really happy with where my Mozart playing is headed. I'll have that on YouTube very soon and linked here.
Finally, I have no solo recitals planned for the year which is helpful as we adjust to being a family of 3. I do expect to do 1, maybe 2 recitals in Northwest Ohio. I'm also doing several duo concerts in the area with my friend and collabroator, Esther Darmahkasih, playing a program crafted for retirement communities, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
A lot can get in the way of updating a website! I've always been the kind of person who can feel too distracted by one project or event or another to do much else. This last winter, spring and summer, it was more a life change which kept me from posting much here or across my social media platforms: My wife and I welcomed our first child into the world in June! My existing concerts, teaching while waiting on our little girl to arrive proved enough to distract me from working on much else publicly till now. We've had a wonderful summer learning how to be parents and look forward to balancing that with a little more normal work as the fall begins.
I decided against recording the first 6 Mozart in a Month Sonatas earlier in the year. I've worked plenty on them, and revamping my approach to Mozart. I'm really happy with how my playing has changed, and I felt I just wasn't ready to spend the money on recording these precious works which I was still developing my style in. When the time is right, probably once I've learned all 18, I will do studio recordings of the Mozart Sonatas, but the right time is not now.
In the meantime, I did work on the Liszt Sonata! This has been a dream piece for years. Are you really a pianist if you don't dream of learning this piece? I decided that I ought to dig into it before the baby came, partly while I had the time, but partly as a spiritual exercise in maturity. I got all of the notes down before she arrived, many sections in very rough form. Over several months, I recorded run-throughs of what I'd achieved, and I will post about those soon. One must be humble to work on this piece, and I thought I needed to expose all of my vulnerabilities as I worked through this epic opus.
Mozart in a Month was to continue for year 2 August 1st, 2019, and indeed it did! I learned his Sonata in D, K. 311, while changing diapers, playing with and feeding our little girl, and while the result wasn't a perfect performance, I'm really happy with where my Mozart playing is headed. I'll have that on YouTube very soon and linked here.
Finally, I have no solo recitals planned for the year which is helpful as we adjust to being a family of 3. I do expect to do 1, maybe 2 recitals in Northwest Ohio. I'm also doing several duo concerts in the area with my friend and collabroator, Esther Darmahkasih, playing a program crafted for retirement communities, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
January 24, 2019
Happy new year everybody! This past weekend I had the joy of performing my 5th iterance of the Choosing Joy recital in Fort Wayne Indiana. Though the whole area faced a massive snow storm the weekend before, there was plenty of joy and celebration with the audience that was still able to make it out. I'm excited to still have 3 more performances of the recital this year in Ypsilanti, MI, as well as Marietta and Lorain, OH.
I have reformatted the Mozart in a Month project slightly. Instead of going straight for two years, I'm going to batch the recitals into 3 groups of 6, and take a longer break in between. Mozart's music is great, but a break is in order, and I needed to find room to pursue a few other opportunities in the upcoming months (not least of which, becoming a father in June!).
I will be stepping into the studio to record the first 6 Mozart Sonatas in this project, so I will look forward to sharing peaks into that process soon. Meanwhile, my teaching at the Toledo Symphony School of Music is as enjoyable as ever with my 30 piano students. A few other projects are formulating in my mind, and hopefully I'll have some new things over the next few months to share.
Happy new year everybody! This past weekend I had the joy of performing my 5th iterance of the Choosing Joy recital in Fort Wayne Indiana. Though the whole area faced a massive snow storm the weekend before, there was plenty of joy and celebration with the audience that was still able to make it out. I'm excited to still have 3 more performances of the recital this year in Ypsilanti, MI, as well as Marietta and Lorain, OH.
I have reformatted the Mozart in a Month project slightly. Instead of going straight for two years, I'm going to batch the recitals into 3 groups of 6, and take a longer break in between. Mozart's music is great, but a break is in order, and I needed to find room to pursue a few other opportunities in the upcoming months (not least of which, becoming a father in June!).
I will be stepping into the studio to record the first 6 Mozart Sonatas in this project, so I will look forward to sharing peaks into that process soon. Meanwhile, my teaching at the Toledo Symphony School of Music is as enjoyable as ever with my 30 piano students. A few other projects are formulating in my mind, and hopefully I'll have some new things over the next few months to share.
October 15, 2018
I'm now on my 3rd Sonata of Mozart in a Month, and completed 2 performances of Choosing Joy. It's been a busy couple months of practicing and teaching, but I'm thrilled that I get to spend my days at the piano.
I'm pleased that my goal of learning one Mozart Piano Sonata per month has not been unrealistic. Though my month end performances are not perfect, they are performances I'm quite happy with. Come January, I'll revisit all of the first 5 Sonatas and record them in studio, which gives me a second chance to get them much more perfect. And I'm not yet tired of Mozart either!
The performances of Choosing Joy have been inspiring to say the least. I've heard some incredible stories of people's own journeys with cancer and other hardships, and they have been very encouraging about the impact this recital program can have. I'm lucky to announce two more performances of this recital, coming up in 2019 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Marietta, Ohio.
Mozart, Choosing Joy and teaching is where I spend all of my professional life these days, so feel free to check out those pages, especially to catch up on my Mozart performances and studies.
I'm now on my 3rd Sonata of Mozart in a Month, and completed 2 performances of Choosing Joy. It's been a busy couple months of practicing and teaching, but I'm thrilled that I get to spend my days at the piano.
I'm pleased that my goal of learning one Mozart Piano Sonata per month has not been unrealistic. Though my month end performances are not perfect, they are performances I'm quite happy with. Come January, I'll revisit all of the first 5 Sonatas and record them in studio, which gives me a second chance to get them much more perfect. And I'm not yet tired of Mozart either!
The performances of Choosing Joy have been inspiring to say the least. I've heard some incredible stories of people's own journeys with cancer and other hardships, and they have been very encouraging about the impact this recital program can have. I'm lucky to announce two more performances of this recital, coming up in 2019 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Marietta, Ohio.
Mozart, Choosing Joy and teaching is where I spend all of my professional life these days, so feel free to check out those pages, especially to catch up on my Mozart performances and studies.
July 28, 2018
I've had a wonderful and productive summer! Trips across the U.S.A. and Canada, and spending time with friends and family. I've been writing plenty on my blog, and took Book 3 Suzuki Piano training to bring new ideas to my teaching. I've been reading a lot, and practicing and preparing for the coming year of performing.
Most of all, I am excited to announce a two-year project: Mozart in a Month. Starting August 1, I will be learning a new Mozart Piano Sonata, collecting each into a series of recitals, and releasing performances, progress reports, and plenty of other Mozart observations, on my blog and my Facebook page. Check out the page on this site, which serves as the hub, for the complete description and schedule.
I'm also looking forward to several live performances this year.
First up, on August 11, I'll be performing as part of the Fanny & Felix Festival, an all-day marathon celebrating the famous Mendelssohn sister and brother, hosted by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and Toledo Museum of Art. I'll be performing the spring months from Fanny Mendelssohn's Das Jahr. I studied this music some to lecture on in my piano repertoire class last year, and was thrilled with the possibility of adding some of this music to my repertoire.
I am pleased to be able to present Choosing Joy several times next year. So far, I'll be performing the recital on September 15th in Grosse Ile, Michigan, October 14th in Springfield, Ohio, and January 20th in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I'll update with more specific information as it becomes available (and I think one or two more dates too!).
Finally, on November 18th, I'll be performing one of my absolute favorite cycles, William Duckworth's The Time Curve Preludes, again in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Just a few more weeks before teaching ramps up. I hope you continue to enjoy your summer!
I've had a wonderful and productive summer! Trips across the U.S.A. and Canada, and spending time with friends and family. I've been writing plenty on my blog, and took Book 3 Suzuki Piano training to bring new ideas to my teaching. I've been reading a lot, and practicing and preparing for the coming year of performing.
Most of all, I am excited to announce a two-year project: Mozart in a Month. Starting August 1, I will be learning a new Mozart Piano Sonata, collecting each into a series of recitals, and releasing performances, progress reports, and plenty of other Mozart observations, on my blog and my Facebook page. Check out the page on this site, which serves as the hub, for the complete description and schedule.
I'm also looking forward to several live performances this year.
First up, on August 11, I'll be performing as part of the Fanny & Felix Festival, an all-day marathon celebrating the famous Mendelssohn sister and brother, hosted by the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and Toledo Museum of Art. I'll be performing the spring months from Fanny Mendelssohn's Das Jahr. I studied this music some to lecture on in my piano repertoire class last year, and was thrilled with the possibility of adding some of this music to my repertoire.
I am pleased to be able to present Choosing Joy several times next year. So far, I'll be performing the recital on September 15th in Grosse Ile, Michigan, October 14th in Springfield, Ohio, and January 20th in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I'll update with more specific information as it becomes available (and I think one or two more dates too!).
Finally, on November 18th, I'll be performing one of my absolute favorite cycles, William Duckworth's The Time Curve Preludes, again in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Just a few more weeks before teaching ramps up. I hope you continue to enjoy your summer!
May 27, 2018
As teaching winds down for the year, so too does the public side of my work! I have no performances on the schedule for the next several months and am very excited to have an enriching summer holiday full of fun, family but also practicing and reading.
I do have a new, massive performing project in the works which will begin in a few months, and I'm very excited to announce what that will be. Keep watching this page, as well as my Facebook page and my newsletter to get that information!
On a personal note, my wife and I are getting set for a big road trip in June to see the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Arches, as well as other National Parks and beautiful scenes. I've not explored any of that area and am so excited to take in all of the inspiring geography.
In July I'm excited to take on my Suzuki Book 3 training. These courses always impress me as each teacher-trainer that I've worked with has tremendous insight into the repertoire, and learning difficulties therein. I always feel like my own pedagogy gets overhauled as I process these new insights.
As teaching winds down for the year, so too does the public side of my work! I have no performances on the schedule for the next several months and am very excited to have an enriching summer holiday full of fun, family but also practicing and reading.
I do have a new, massive performing project in the works which will begin in a few months, and I'm very excited to announce what that will be. Keep watching this page, as well as my Facebook page and my newsletter to get that information!
On a personal note, my wife and I are getting set for a big road trip in June to see the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Arches, as well as other National Parks and beautiful scenes. I've not explored any of that area and am so excited to take in all of the inspiring geography.
In July I'm excited to take on my Suzuki Book 3 training. These courses always impress me as each teacher-trainer that I've worked with has tremendous insight into the repertoire, and learning difficulties therein. I always feel like my own pedagogy gets overhauled as I process these new insights.
April 10, 2018
In just a few days, I'll be joining Garrett Krohn on his DMA horn recital at BGSU (April 21, 8 PM in the Choral Hall). We've got a great program: a Sonata by Violet Archer, 3 pieces by Volker David Kirchner, and massive (-ly fun and difficult to play) Music for Horn and Piano by Thea Musgrave. This is the 3rd recital I've collaborated with Garrett on and I love working with him.
On April 13th, at 7 PM, we'll be playing the Musgrave, and I'll also be playing Feldman's Piano Piece (to Philip Guston) on the EAR/EYE concert at the Toledo Museum of Art.
I'm slowing digging into my blog again as the academic year finishes up. I'm anticipating some really fun things ahead personally and professionally. My wife and I are planning a National Parks vacation in the southwest USA in June, and I'm working on several more performances of the Choosing Joy recital through 2018 and 2019. I have many more ideas about writing and performing projects ahead, but will wait till they've developed a little more before committing to them!
In just a few days, I'll be joining Garrett Krohn on his DMA horn recital at BGSU (April 21, 8 PM in the Choral Hall). We've got a great program: a Sonata by Violet Archer, 3 pieces by Volker David Kirchner, and massive (-ly fun and difficult to play) Music for Horn and Piano by Thea Musgrave. This is the 3rd recital I've collaborated with Garrett on and I love working with him.
On April 13th, at 7 PM, we'll be playing the Musgrave, and I'll also be playing Feldman's Piano Piece (to Philip Guston) on the EAR/EYE concert at the Toledo Museum of Art.
I'm slowing digging into my blog again as the academic year finishes up. I'm anticipating some really fun things ahead personally and professionally. My wife and I are planning a National Parks vacation in the southwest USA in June, and I'm working on several more performances of the Choosing Joy recital through 2018 and 2019. I have many more ideas about writing and performing projects ahead, but will wait till they've developed a little more before committing to them!
January 11, 2018
This past fall I have been working on a whole lot of traditional solo repertoire. Eventually, that coalesced around a recital program which I am eager to perform and present throughout 2018 and 2019: "Choosing Joy". Through this recital, I will be telling the story of my wife's battle with breast cancer in 2016 and 2017, the very real and raw struggle we had together, and the life and artistic lessons I learned as a result of that time. The program features works by my friend, Garrett Hope, as well as Johannes Brahms, Samuel Barber, Amy Beach, and culminates in Beethoven's Eroica Variations, Op. 35.
I'm thrilled to perform this program at the Maumee First Presbyterian Church (200 E Broadway St) the evening of Saturday, February 3rd (follow the link for all the information on Facebook!). All proceeds from this recital will be shared between the church's great music programs, and The Victory Center, a support system in Toledo for cancer patients and their families. I look forward to sharing videos from this recital afterward, and hope to perform it often to the benefit of local cancer support organizations.
Besides this project, I of course continue to teach piano and piano repertoire at BGSU, Suzuki piano at the Toledo Symphony School of Music. I'm also teaching for one semester at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. As a sabbatical replacement, I'm thrilled to be teaching their piano majors and class piano programs. I'm slated to perform the "Choosing Joy" recital there on March 17th at 7 PM.
Finally, I'm excited to collaborate on a recital program with my friend Garrett Krohn, a horn DMA student at BGSU. In April, we'll be doing a recital which includes duo works by Violet Archer, and Thea Musgrave.
This past fall I have been working on a whole lot of traditional solo repertoire. Eventually, that coalesced around a recital program which I am eager to perform and present throughout 2018 and 2019: "Choosing Joy". Through this recital, I will be telling the story of my wife's battle with breast cancer in 2016 and 2017, the very real and raw struggle we had together, and the life and artistic lessons I learned as a result of that time. The program features works by my friend, Garrett Hope, as well as Johannes Brahms, Samuel Barber, Amy Beach, and culminates in Beethoven's Eroica Variations, Op. 35.
I'm thrilled to perform this program at the Maumee First Presbyterian Church (200 E Broadway St) the evening of Saturday, February 3rd (follow the link for all the information on Facebook!). All proceeds from this recital will be shared between the church's great music programs, and The Victory Center, a support system in Toledo for cancer patients and their families. I look forward to sharing videos from this recital afterward, and hope to perform it often to the benefit of local cancer support organizations.
Besides this project, I of course continue to teach piano and piano repertoire at BGSU, Suzuki piano at the Toledo Symphony School of Music. I'm also teaching for one semester at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. As a sabbatical replacement, I'm thrilled to be teaching their piano majors and class piano programs. I'm slated to perform the "Choosing Joy" recital there on March 17th at 7 PM.
Finally, I'm excited to collaborate on a recital program with my friend Garrett Krohn, a horn DMA student at BGSU. In April, we'll be doing a recital which includes duo works by Violet Archer, and Thea Musgrave.
