Child, Music is a vital part of who I am. My memories are steeped in concerts and recitals, practice times and rehearsals, clammy palms and shaky notes, exhilarating performances and spontaneous song. I can remember back to my very first solo; I was the Little Red Hen in our kindergarten musical. Clad in yellow tights, […]
The Preview of Beauty and the Beast
It’s show week again for the local high school’s spring musical. I can hardly believe it’s been an entire year since my first experience in the pit orchestra. (Last year was The Sound of Music, remember?) I was honored to be asked to participate as one of 4 adult instrumentalists in a 25 member orchestra. […]
{A Night of Choral Music is} Good for the Soul
Monday evening was the fruition of many months of planning. The Spring Arbor University Chamber Choir — of which I am an alum — came to our cute little village to put on a concert in our historic church sanctuary. It was a fantastic success! My beloved choir director, Dr. Livesay, contacted Kevin and me […]
The One with 5 Minutes [Connect]
Today over at Lisa-Jo’s blog, the Five Minute Friday prompt is Connect. My mind went all sort of places before hitting the “start” button on my timer, but I’m so thankful I rested with this topic. It’s been resonanting with me all week, as I’ve received call after call, email after email, and welcomed in […]
The One with VBS Songs
Some people say I look like my mom. I think that’s pretty true. But I also know I followed in my mom’s footsteps in more ways than just her looks. One particular path I she led me down was children’s ministry song leading. I can remember summer after summer of Vacation Bible School as my […]
The One with Corporate Worship
Worshiping through song. It’s such an incredible thing. You come together with hundreds of Christ followers from all over the country and together you raise your voices in song, your hands in praise as one body. Even though most people filling the pews have never met, never been in the same church, never lived in community […]
The One with the Sound of Music
After 3 months of practicing, 30 hours of dress rehearsals, and 13 live-show hours The Sound of Music production weekend is over. And honestly, I’m kinda sad to see it go. The show was phenomenal! You would not believe the quality of student actors and musicians–tremendous! Being in the pit meant a front row seat to […]
The One with the View from the Pit
For the past 10 weeks, I have been hard at work learning the keyboard/synthesizer strings part of the full score to The Sound of Music. (Hence my absence this week–it’s show week, people. LOTS of rehearsals.) I was asked to be an adult member of the high school production’s pit orchestra, and it has been […]
The One with the Love for Piano
Piano has played a part in my life since that first piano lesson in 1995. My relationship with this instrument (and the inseparable component of music) has ebbed and flowed over the years. There were months (maybe years, even) when I didn’t want to practice, the music was too hard, and I never played well […]
The One with the Official Music Studio
Friday afternoon brought a flurry of activity to our house. After having a super relaxing morning and afternoon, my brain warped into super-productive-ultra-creative-let’s-get-stuff-done mode. I’m sure my husband could have done without said mood, but he lovingly obliged. We had been dreaming about rearranging our living room, moving the piano, and making a more usable […]