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The Birds In Winter

A few years ago I placed bird feeders around our property.  Always by a window so we could see the action.  Observing the activity around the feeders was weirdly calming.  Birds are busy.  Birds are hungry.  Birds are not warm and fuzzy and loving like a kitten or a puppy.  The love sent out is not returned in the usually expected way from other critters.  Maybe they care - about me.  Maybe they don't.  Maybe on some level of consciousness not explored, they are ohsowell aware that a human is concerned for their well being and they return the favor by showing up at the feeders and providing a show of God's Grace in flight.

I'm not this woman - yet.  However, I feel her in my future and feel contentment and joy.

Piano Passion

I want to play the piano like the big boys and girls.  No mistakes.  Gorgeous interpretation.  Performance coming from a place deep inside the cell tissues.

So I practice.  And practice.  And take lessons.  And listen.  I dream about the music.  Hum the music while buying eggs and milk and bread.  CD's of  Lupu, Rubenstein, Richter and Brendel provide inspiration while driving here and there.  Attending live performances at Peabody or the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to somehow absorb the competency of the man or woman holding forth on a beautiful Steinway concert grand.

And still I make mistakes.  And still my fingers can't find the right note.  And still my inner metronome misses a beat.

Oh to be a kid again focused on the music.  Young brain and body capable of receiving great instruction from committed teachers.  Finding myself deeply absorbed in the study of bringing beautiful sound into physical reality.   Surrounding myself with music and knowing, deeply knowing that the pursuit of musical expression is a gift to be tended and nurtured and respected and pursued and honored.

Sailing Late In The Season On Sloop Du Jour

Spent time on the water today.  It was almost 70 degrees  here in Crab Town.  Nice, nice, nice.  Pretty soon it's going to get cold.  No way around it.  When a beautiful day beckons so late in the season we drop everything and head down to the harbor for a day sail.  Ahhhhhhhhh.

Collard plays Ravel 'Le Tombeau de Couperin' - 6.Toccata

http://youtu.be/UORxpTn-pOE

Oh my.  It will take me 20 years to learn this.  But what a ride!

Piano Lesson With Bob Durso - The Taubman Guy

I had a piano lesson with Bob Durso last Friday.  Have been working on Novelette in C Major by Poulenc.  It's a lovely piece of music.  And my smallish hand is unable to get through the piece without inappropriate alignment of hand, wrist and forearm. 

Hence - pain!  And a bangy, choppy performance. 

In twenty minutes he corrected the problem utilizing the Taubman Method.  No pain, proper alignment, beauty of sound. 

Voila!

Rob And Meg

A very happy, happy couple.  They are GREAT together!