Does Your City/Town Have a Music Store?

Well, I just got back from Davis, CA. I took a mini-vacation with my wife who was applying for a job at UC Davis.

It's beautiful up in northern California, especially during this time of year. The trees are colored in red, brown, orange, and gold and the air is filled with autumn.

After walking around the town for an hour or two, I came upon a music store. Now, my city of San Diego has a few music stores, but they're small, not very good, and usually only sell guitars and sheet music.

But much to my surprise, in this store were flutes, saxophones, clarinets, drums... you name it. They even had some FJH sheet music I like.

The reason I bring this up is because it seems as if music stores are dissapearing. It may just be me, but I remember seeing more of them as a young kid growing up in Philadelphia.

What about you? Are there any music stores in your town?

My Town Is Burning Down

Hi everyone. As some of you already know, I live in San Diego. Not the county part (the part that's on fire) but in the city itself.

San Diego is a VERY dry place. Actually, it's a desert. And when there's no rain, everything becomes tinder. All it takes is one match or a spark and it can start off a firestorm - like the kinds you've been seeing on TV.

I'm OK and there's very little chance of the fire reaching the city itself but a lot of people have been evacuated and displaced.

This happened 4 years ago too. Oh well, this is the price we pay for having some of the best weather in the world.

My Other Website

My first passion was and will always be music. But I also like Haiku. I like reading it, writing it, and even teaching it.

To wit, my "other" website is called Wisteria Press.

I've written 2 haiku books "Bird Haiku" and "Seashore Haiku" that have over 100 poems in each. I also have written many articles on and about haiku poetry.

Check out the site at http://wisteriapress.com/

Joy and fulfillment in ambient New Age music

Just came across this interesting article about New Age artist Paul Avgerinos. If you've never heard of him before that's OK. Neither have I but it's an interesting read none the less. Find the article at: http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/redding/23905.shtml

Composer's Journal

Well, I haven't been as steadfast at the piano as I would like. But, my goal of spending a half-hour at the piano (whether anything comes or not) is working out.

Some people work better with task goals where you have to complete a certain thing in a certain amount of time.

I don't work as well that way. For some things, but not for creating music. I find it much easier to just "show up" at the piano for at least 30 minutes a day and work that way.

In fact, I just finished a piece I've been working. My method is to basically come up with 8-12 pieces first. I then choose the one's I want for the CD and put them in order. The rest of the time is spent "polishing" them up for performance.

I don't know if I'll reach my goal of having a finished CD by February 08 but setting a goal does seem to push me along.

Pianos - Digital Vs. Acoustic

Having played both digital and acoustic pianos, it's a hard choice between the two. Here's what I mean. The first piano I ever owned was a Kimball upright.

It sounded like a cat on steroids but it was mine and I loved it.

About a year later, I decided I wanted a more "real" piano sound. Something that sounded good instead of a cacaphony of notes mixed in a cloud - the sound coming from the Kimball.

I looked in my local paper and noticed an ad for a digital piano ... a Roland 88 weighted key piano to be exact. When I got to the location, I was prepared to pay a nice sum for this piano. Turns out the woman who was selling it gave it to me for free. Her husband had played it and had recently passed away.

And get this ... he was into New Age piano.

This is the keyboard you see me give lessons on. It's actually a great instrument. But having said that, I still prefer an acoustic because each acoustic piano has it's own "soul" if you will.

What about you? Which type of piano do you prefer - acoustic or digital?

Here's some more info on choosing a digital or acoustic piano.

I Hate The Dentist

Just got back from the dentist. I needed a bridge for my upper right side.

You would think this wouldn't hurt. Wrong!

He had to "shave" my teeth down so the new bridge would fit. The nerves of the tooth are very sensitive (mine are anyway) and I have to take tylenol to ease the pain.

He wouldn't give me anything stronger. Oh well. At least now I can smile without too much enbarrasement.

Recommended Site: FJH Music

For the note readers among us (and even if you're not a note reader) this is quite an amazing resourse.

It features contemporary solo piano works by many of today's most talented composers. Best of all, you can download free pdf samples and hear some of the music played as well.

One of my favorite composer's here is Wynn Anne Rossi. She is quite amazing and if I didn't know better, I'd swear this was New Age music.

Find the site at http://www.fjhmusic.com/piano/writtenforyou.htm

Recommended Site: Solo Piano Publications

If you're into New Age piano (and I assume you are since you're reading my blog) then you have to check out Solo Piano Publications.

You'll pretty much find ALL the New Age piano players you'll ever want to get to know. The site has interviews, links to New Age pianists websites, recommended CD's and more. Well worth a look!