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Welcome to my blog page!

This is a place where I want to share my reflections and experiences on improvising, singing, performing and living as a teaching artist with low vision.

My hope is that by sharing my experiences, I can offer you another perspective.

I love teaching, and I decided to follow an artistic path. On my path, I have taken a number of detours and unexpected turns but it continues to be a fulfilling journey. Many years ago, I made a conscious choice that I would rather live to work than work to live. It's not always easy but it's incredibly rewarding. I learn every day from the people I meet, and the music I create.

I hope you enjoy it!

Irene

Musings

Scrabble board with six tiles showing musical notes. Tiles on bonus squares labeled "Double Letter," "Double Word," and "Triple Letter."

Scrabble board with six tiles showing musical notes. Tiles on bonus squares labeled "Double Letter," "Double Word," and "Triple Letter."

Wordscapes

Words can be ssooooooo evocative. When I read poetry, inspirational writing or autobiographies, it’s as though I can hear the writer’s voice in my head.

Oct 103 min read

Black 3D musical notes scattered on a gray surface, creating a harmonious and artistic pattern.

Black 3D musical notes scattered on a gray surface, creating a harmonious and artistic pattern.

Notes

Notes are reminders, cues, pieces of information to be recalled, requests, instructions, messages, secret messages, messages of love…

Oct 33 min read

Yellow flowers in foreground with lush green forest and distant mountains under a blue sky. Peaceful, natural setting.

Yellow flowers in foreground with lush green forest and distant mountains under a blue sky. Peaceful, natural setting.

Tuning In

A group of about 15 of us gathered in the beautiful concert hall at Wildacres Retreat in Little Switzerland. I ask everyone to come into a circle and begin to sing gently on the vowel “ooh”.

Sep 263 min read

Trees in the foreground with a view of green mountains and cloudy sky in the background, seen from a wooden deck railing. Calm, natural setting.

Trees in the foreground with a view of green mountains and cloudy sky in the background, seen from a wooden deck railing. Calm, natural setting.

Musical Self Care

As I was preparing to give a client a sound bath she asked me whether giving sound baths helped me. Without a pause, I blurted “absolutely”.

Sep 194 min read

People enjoy dancing in a spacious room with red curtains. They smile and move energetically, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere.

People enjoy dancing in a spacious room with red curtains. They smile and move energetically, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere.

Living Music & Cultivating Universal Design for Music Learning

We just completed the second week of classes at Concordia University. I am teaching individual voice lessons, Private Study, to a wonderfully varied group of students.

Sep 124 min read

Home studio with computer, keyboard, guitar, and headphones on wooden desks. Red patterned rug, wall art, and notes create a cozy mood.

Home studio with computer, keyboard, guitar, and headphones on wooden desks. Red patterned rug, wall art, and notes create a cozy mood.

A Powerful Reminder

It’s March 2020, I’m sitting alone in my home in a strange state of shock. I’m not allowed to go out, and even if I could go out, there’s nowhere for me to go.

Sep 53 min read

Scenic view of a forested valley with a river running through it, small village below, and cloudy blue skies above. A rainbow is faintly visible.

Scenic view of a forested valley with a river running through it, small village below, and cloudy blue skies above. A rainbow is faintly visible.

It’s All Right There in Front of Us…

I have been fortunate enough to travel to some amazing places in Europe, South East Asia, the US, and across Canada. It’s wonderful to experience new places and learn about how people perceive, create and live in the world around them.

Aug 293 min read

Group of people joyfully posing with arms outstretched in a music room with drums, keyboard, and framed artwork on walls.

Group of people joyfully posing with arms outstretched in a music room with drums, keyboard, and framed artwork on walls.

Transitions

As I move from summer to fall, I’m doing all I can to savor every last bit of warm sunshine and blue skies with a heart that is happy, wistful and excited.

Aug 213 min read

Large group of smiling people holding musical instruments in a wooden hall. Joyful atmosphere with lively poses.

Large group of smiling people holding musical instruments in a wooden hall. Joyful atmosphere with lively poses.

Midsummer - Midlife

Slow down! Why is that so hard to do? To Just be? Is it fear of letting go? Is it fear of loss?

Aug 83 min read

Person playing a singing bowl in a room with a window and ornate moldings. Various instruments and items are placed on the floor.

Person playing a singing bowl in a room with a window and ornate moldings. Various instruments and items are placed on the floor.

Hope

At this same time last year I was running between work, caring for my mom, and going to the hospital to be with my brother who died of Stage IV cancer. He passed on September 2, 2024, and since then my life has been a whirlwind of change.

Jun 123 min read

Colorful swirls of orange, blue, and yellow surround a black musical staff with notes, creating a vibrant, energetic mood.

Colorful swirls of orange, blue, and yellow surround a black musical staff with notes, creating a vibrant, energetic mood.

On Harmony

Singing harmony can be intimidating, even overwhelming for some. The only way to get good at it is by diving in and doing it - especially in an encouraging environment where “wrong notes” open pathways to learning.

Jun 63 min read

People dance energetically with colorful scarves in a room with wooden floors and red curtains. Bright windows and chairs in the background.

People dance energetically with colorful scarves in a room with wooden floors and red curtains. Bright windows and chairs in the background.

A Little Play Goes a Long Way

I started out musically as an improviser, in fact we all do, and in our own way. As a child I made up songs and put on shows for my family. My parents thought I was cute and funny. It was when I sought guidance from my mother, and then my uncle who was a professional singer that my self doubts started to shut me down.

May 308 min read

A group of people play various instruments, like drums and guitar, in a circle on a patterned rug. Some wear colorful socks, creating a lively vibe.

A group of people play various instruments, like drums and guitar, in a circle on a patterned rug. Some wear colorful socks, creating a lively vibe.

Being IN Music

In Canada, we welcome this long holiday weekend: Victoria Day is celebrated to commemorate Queen Victoria's birthday, which was officially observed as a holiday in 1845.

May 164 min read

Person lying on a cushion, smiling, raising mallets with instruments around. Cozy room, beige carpet, and colorful percussion instruments.

Person lying on a cushion, smiling, raising mallets with instruments around. Cozy room, beige carpet, and colorful percussion instruments.

Flexibility

The phrase "flexible body, flexible mind" reflects a core principle in yoga, emphasizing the interconnectedness of physical and mental well-being.

May 94 min read

A quiet scene of a brick house with a red roof surrounded by lush greenery. A path leads through trees with pink blossoms in the foreground.

A quiet scene of a brick house with a red roof surrounded by lush greenery. A path leads through trees with pink blossoms in the foreground.

Spring Music and Melodies of the River

The warmer weather and budding leaves bring about new energy and a little more time to breathe. I’m savouring the end of a productive winter semester. I’m so proud of my 10 students who presented performance exams. It is amazing to witness their progress over the last year.

May 23 min read

People playing drums and pianos; colorful xylophone in background. Energetic mood with focus on hands over instruments.

People playing drums and pianos; colorful xylophone in background. Energetic mood with focus on hands over instruments.

Musical Self Care

I love to sit in the morning sunlight, meditate, and tone with my voice or improvise on a soft instrument such as a hand pan. Early morning rain is also beautiful in its own way, it is peaceful.

Apr 243 min read

A person speaks to a small seated group in a room with a patterned tapestry and neutral walls. The mood is engaging and attentive.

A person speaks to a small seated group in a room with a patterned tapestry and neutral walls. The mood is engaging and attentive.

A Place to Play

When I am improvising, co-creating music with others and facilitating, I am filled with energy. There is something about the quality of the sound that emerges: It is full of a certain energy and excitement with a bit of an edge. It is essentially the human experience in sound.

Apr 184 min read

Colorful abstract drawing with tangled lines in yellow, pink, and blue. Central flower with heart-shaped leaves. Vibrant, chaotic mood.

Colorful abstract drawing with tangled lines in yellow, pink, and blue. Central flower with heart-shaped leaves. Vibrant, chaotic mood.

Color and Sound

Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which one stimulated sense triggers another sense. One prime example of this is chromesthesia where sound triggers experiences of colors, sometimes the colors are swirls, moving lines, floating formations, or auras. The colors are always moving.

Apr 113 min read

Two people seated indoors, one holding a drum and drumsticks, the other an instrument. Wooden floor, amplifier in background.

Two people seated indoors, one holding a drum and drumsticks, the other an instrument. Wooden floor, amplifier in background.

It’s Never Too Late

I have always loved working and being with older adults. Among my first singing students was a distinguished gentleman who...

Apr 44 min read

People seated in a circle play various musical instruments like a drum, guitar, maracas, and kalimba on a patterned rug, creating a lively mood.

People seated in a circle play various musical instruments like a drum, guitar, maracas, and kalimba on a patterned rug, creating a lively mood.

Music Saves Lives

Over the last 10 years, I really started to find my purpose: why do I facilitate improvisation and singing?

Mar 292 min read

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