Some wedding music is timeless, and some goes out of fashion. Just look at the the way this decade started, in the….okay, I’ll say it…the pandemic. Now, as we emerge from all of that social isolation and distancing, how have weddings and wedding music changed to reflect this new Renaissance? On the heels of receiving […]
Returning from the Land of the Lost Blog
A LOT has happened since the last blog article that appears here…. January of last year. Yikes! What happened??? Did I take a vacation from blog writing? Sort of. To encourage myself to write a bit more often, my future posts may be shorter (unless I get going on a meaty topic). I also removed […]
Unbelievable Secrets to a Long Life (Can Music Be One of Them?)
I marvel at the life of Richard A. Overton, who lived to 112 years of age. His recipe for a long life was that he just did whatever made him feel good. Twelve cigars per day and maybe more (but he didn’t inhale), four cups of coffee each morning with a shot of whiskey (to […]
How to Use Music to Rescue Conversation
We live in contentious times. Friendships can be blown to smithereens by holding a contrary political stance or religious belief, carrying strong social opinions, or simply disagreeing about whether the earth is round or flat. Is there a way to hold a healthy conversation while accepting differences, understanding that we are good human beings behind […]
Unraveling the Mystery to Creativity
Gioachino Rossini composed music at the blink of an eye. He boasted that he wrote “The Barber of Seville”, one of the greatest comic operas ever, in only 13 days. He wrote the overture to “The Thieving Magpie” the same day it opened on stage. What was his secret to lightning-fast creativity? Even if you […]
Keeping Up Appearances
Regardless of whether I’m sitting behind my harp or not, I’m not allowed to have a “bad hair day”. I’ve got to look simply mahvelous, dahling, whenever I walk out the front door. I can’t look out-of-sorts even when I’m puttering around town grocery shopping, visiting the bank, and running other mundane errands. Am I […]
The Top 10 Ways to Use Live Harp Music
Like superheros, harpists swoop down to save the day. We appear as if from nowhere, brandishing an instrument that has the power to alter mood and atmosphere. We look like your ordinary Clark Kent until we wield our harps and go out into the world to do good! Harpists may be as rare as other […]
Ridiculous and Not-So-Ridiculous Requests
I love a good challenge. I get bored playing the same set list over and over again. So long ago, I stepped up to the plate and accepted music requests, playing whatever my audience wants to hear. This can invite trouble, though… My wedding couples deliver their music selections to me well in advance so […]
The Amazing Perils of Traveling with a Harp
My adventures of taking my harp to unusual locations are fodder for a comedy routine. I take pride in living by the adage, “Have harp, will travel,” even when getting to the location involves some creative logistics. Take, for example, flying with a harp. How does a harpist get that big thing on a plane? […]
Your Ticket to Romance: A Live Harp Music Surprise
Jack called me from work at a car dealership in New Jersey. “I’m coming out to Tahoe and I’m planning my wedding for June 14th. Are you available? There’s just one thing you need to know…I haven’t proposed to my girlfriend yet.” Thus, the wheels began to turn on one of the best wedding surprises […]