Category Archives: Uncategorized

Part of my preparation to play my concerto this year included practicing compassion for my audience. If we truly feel compassion for someone, or a collection of someones, it is difficult to also be afraid of them. I wrote the following meditation for myself. I keep it in my flute case and read it asContinue reading “Compassion for My Audience”

My friends – It has been way too long since I have written.  Yes, I’m still alive, which is more than just a flippant comment these days. I’m fine, just remaining recluse and healthy. Back in May of this year, a dream came true for me. I was invited to perform my “Fantasy for FluteContinue reading “Living my Fantasy”

Happy MLK Day, everyone. Although I’m not sure “happy” is the correct adjective. “Hopeful”? “Determined”? “Keep on Keepin’ On”? My wife and I just watched the “I Have A Dream speech” at this link on Youtube: (41) “I have a Dream” Martin Luther King Jr. Full Speech with Subtitle – YouTube (spoiler alert: get outContinue reading “Thank You, Dr. King”

I am in the process of retiring from my day job.  “Day job” is musician-speak for “real job”; you know, the kind that has a regular paycheck.  Income you can reasonably rely on. I get to return to being a starving musician now.  “Starving musician” is a redundancy.  Except this time I won’t be quiteContinue reading “Retirement”

We watched a very talented young flutist in Haiti on a livestream earlier today. They are sponsored by an organization called BLUME Haiti, which stands for Building Leaders Using Music Education in Haiti. Looks like you can view the video now on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blumeHaiti/ The flutist’s name is Nannley Duverly, his facebook pageContinue reading “BLUME Haiti”

Why is it that time seems to be simultaneously racing ahead and not moving at all? My wife and I got our ballots in this week.  Oregon has been voting by mail for years. We had reviewed the Voters Pamphlet and made our decisions so that as soon as the ballots arrived, we could markContinue reading “Voting”

Hello friends. Recently, as I was wandering around Youtube looking for things to take my mind off of the world around me (pandemic, violence, divisiveness, election anxiety, smoke and wildfires…) I stumbled upon this lovely young woman’s song parodies which are just fantastic. She goes by the name SongBird and you can find her here:Continue reading “Keep Singing, SongBird!”

Hello friends! I’ve started reading White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo (Beacon Press 2018). I’m finding it very insightful and thought-provoking, in a good way. I like how the author asks the reader to stop and think for a moment, and gives a bunch ofContinue reading “Books for White People”

I have really been enjoying the National Flute Association’s Summer Series these past few weeks.  These are online panels, presentation, performances, etc. that the NFA is offering instead of our annual convention.  If you are a flutist and are not watching the summer series, I strongly urge you to consider registering and dropping in.  AllContinue reading “NFA Summer Series”

Hello friends! Here is a link to Roy Zimmerman’s second version of his parody “The Liar Tweets Tonight” in which I got to participate!  I’m on the left at about 1:11 for my one second of fame.  Also participating are Peggy Seeger (Pete’s sister), Jay Siegel (of the Tokens, who sang the original “Lion SleepsContinue reading “Liar Tweets Tonight, v2”