Midsummer - Midlife

It has been awhile 

Many times I felt compelled to write

But my body told me

The time is not right

Stop

Listen

Just be

Slow down!

Why is that so hard to do?

To Just be?

Is it fear of letting go?

Is it fear of loss?

Is it fear of facing my authenticity?

Something feels different

Something has shifted

I used to be bubbly, bright

And always trying to get it right, 

To be the best I can be

At everything and for everyone.

Now

Rather than be seen,

I want to see what my actions reflect back to me,

To be fully present so I can appreciate

Others’ breakthroughs and discoveries,

Just loving being in their sound

Our sound. 

To be fully present in my own life

To improvise in life

To embrace the art of living is:

- removing my jacket just to feel the soft breeze on my skin

- to cook a meal savoring it with all my senses

- to think of someone, and receive an unexpected call from them

- to notice my surroundings when I take a walk…

Life is beautiful 

If we want it to be.

This has been a summer of slowing down, and that is not at all easy for me. The more I resist it, the more my body gives me cues. 

I am approaching this fall with a very different kind of excitement. I can only describe it as an open and receptive state. I am ready for a new chapter with new ways to share the art of improvisation and create with others. 

I turned 60 this year, and my reality has changed. I observe how that informs my work and music. I feel that I have let go of so much trying, and that can be a little scary. I am starting to accept and trust that it’s ok if I can’t …

It’s ok to be a master of what I can do…

Allow space for growth…

Less is more, so much more…

Embrace the art of improvisation in music and life.

Midsummer - Midlife

Release! 

Another Beautiful Art of Improvisation! 

Art of Improvisation 2025

I just returned from Music for People’s annual workshop “Art of Improvisation” that took place at Hamilton College in Clinton NY. It was another amazing opportunity to share with a steadily growing community of creatives who thrive on improvising. 

I am always blown away by all the different ways that they are using improvisation in education, community building, wellness, composition, and performance. The age range of the participants spanned over seven decades. There are very few contexts where one can find intergenerational music making and mentoring. We learn so much from each other. Spending a full week in that magical first stage of the creative process opens us up to inspiration and new ideas. For me this was really about living in a state of creative impulse, recognizing and releasing the thoughts and feelings that block us from discovering and acting upon that inner musician that longs to be released. There were moments of profound sadness, anger, silliness, joy, laughter and celebration. We were all in it together. 

The mentimeter really sums it up. We need community more than ever, and I am excited to be offering an exciting fall lineup of activities to do just that - to bring people together through music! 

Music for People’s Musicianship Leadership Program is growing steadily. 13 members of our international program attended AOI this year, and it was so gratifying to finally be with those people that I had been meeting online throughout the year. 

I am thrilled to be a part of the MFP teaching team again this year as we prepare for our 2025-26 Musicianship Leadership Program. There will be a free online information meeting Sunday September 14th from 2-4pm on Zoom.