I was so incredibly touched by this story. It is not often that you get to see children like this.
6-year old Emily Bear has wowed audiences from the White House to her own house. Playing the piano since age 3, Emily also composes her own music. Has WGN-TV discovered the next Mozart?
A couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to work with a teenager who is going through an addiction recovery program. No, not for drugs or alcohol…but for internet/gaming addictions.
The remarkable thing about this boy is he is an amazing violinist.
Part of his therapy during his 40-day program, is he is supposed to explore his hobbies more. And being the musician he is, his therapist asked me if I would spend an hour with him to show him my music studio and teach him a little bit about composing.
I really had no idea what I was going to do while he was here. I just assumed that things would come to me naturally, as they do when I am teaching a piano lesson.
I found that after 10 minutes of showing him my studio (it was a quick tour since he is not supposed to be on the computer, which is a large portion of my studio and what I do and how I create music), I didn’t have a clue of what I was going to do next.
Well, actually composing something would be a good next step.
I ran into a dilemma – being that I had never actually composed anything on the violin before, myself. Even though I am a violinist as well, I compose everything from the piano.
I fumbled over ideas, words, and I know I didn’t explain things well…
And then, we decided to just play some violin duets.
Duets turned into performing…
Getting ideas…
Cranking out the manuscript paper…
Writing down a short song that we made up together in the ABA Sonata format.
And then…
SMILES. On his face as well as my own.
He felt a sense of excitement learning that he could CREATE music, not just play it. I felt a sense of happiness seeing that in him. And lastly, I was not just the teacher but also the student. It was also MY first song ever composed on the violin. It was definitely not as easy as composing on the piano, and yet it was so simple.
I explained to him how I had studied music in college and had been through the ringer with Classical music ingrained into my very soul. However, I always felt frustrated when I wouldn’t play something EXACTLY right. And that is why composing is so satisfying. It is YOUR creation and it is never incorrect. You make it however you want and it is your own.
After a brief moment of “ahhh”, we broke out into The Orange Blossom Express and jammed some more. I dare say he had me beat on that song.
So I had a first today.
Someone, who I’d never seen before in my life, came up to me and asked me if I was “that fabulous pianist girl”. I was completely confused, turning red…and not sure how to answer.
Was I to say, “Why YES that’s me!!”
or
“No I have no clue what you are talking about, but I do play the piano.”
The only thing I could think of was, “Maybe I’m her….to whom are you referring?” And the woman said “I have your cd! In my car! I totally recognized you.” She then went on and said a lot of warm fuzzy things which totally made my day, and told me all about her 5 kids who are all in piano lessons.
So that’s it. This was officially the first time someone ever recognized me in public from my cds. I can now go no where. LOL. *rolls over and snickers*
So today I taught my 8 year old student, Victoria. She is a very bright individual and a joy to teach.
Upon introducing her to a new song from her Alfred Book 2, I began pointing out to her all of the different articulations in this piece. Excitedly she wanted to write them all down on the front page of her song. And this is what she wrote:
Stecato
Slurs
Kreshenddoh
Axents
It was very cute. I especially adored the “Kreshenddoh”. 
I’m frustrated, just a little bit.
I just bought a new computer for my music studio – which if you know anything about the type of BEEF of a computer you have to have for studio software you know it’s not cheap.
I know I’m going to get flack from Jamey for this, but I’m a PC person. No Mac’s for me. Yes I know Macs are more geared for artists, but that’s just how it is and I make no apologies.
Everywhere you go and research, the latest and greatest news is you have to get a 64 bit operationg system, processor, and sequencing program. This enables you to pull huge files and run them simultaneously without freezing up your computer or a huge amount of latency.
Check. Got all three 64 -bit areas with my new computer.
Now the problem we have been running into is that a lot of my beautiful, wonderful, favorite and EXPENSIVE VST software programs are just not up with the game yet. We’ve had to go to all the various websites and download update after update after update, and still some of them won’t work on a 64 bit system!
FRUSTRATING!
So I’ve spent all this money on a computer to make my studio time go much faster and smoother, and yet so far I haven’t been able to even use my key software packages yet.
Now we’re talking about upgrading all my software, even changing some out to a different brand (From Synthogy Ivory to EastWest Quantum Leap Pianos), but it would be a $3,000 switch.
UGH.
Just wondering what other musicians are currently running on a 64 bit system, what problems you’ve had with your 32 bit software programs w/upgrades or n not and how you’ve been able to bypass them?
Signed,
Tuckered Out New Computer Owner
The maestro slowly lifts his arms up high as he prepares to bring them down to the ivory keys to effortlessly play his grandioso concerto.
His audience waits in longing anticipation.
And BOOM the first note whisks away the hearts of listeners throughout the concert hall…
He looks over to his audience for loving approval of his musical creation…and to make sure they are still listening.
And then pauses as he holds one long, long, LONG note because he…..uh…because he got sidetracked and tired.
The maestro will now interrupt this concerto to take a little snackie and a nap.
Yes, that is my little 7 and 1/2 month old, Preston. I just had to share what a little pianist he is. Preston has been hearing the sound of a piano since he was in the womb – even shared the concert stage with me a few times while I was pregnant.
And now he can’t get enough of it. He knows exactly what to do with a piano.
Do you ever Google yourself and see what comes up?
Will just introduced me to “Google Alerts” where you can have links emailed to you where your name is discussed. For an artist, it’s just a great way to read what is being said about your music.
Well today was the first time I used Google Alert. Holy cow, I didn’t realize how nervous I would be to click on some of these links. I mean I realize as an artist I have had to develop a thick skin and take both good and bad comments about my music, but this Google Alert thing makes me feel like I am spying on people’s secret conversations about me or something. Who knows what I will read!
Today’s entertainment was stumbling across a blog where a gentleman said he had stumbled across my website and though he wasn’t a fan of every song he loved “A Beautiful Storm” and encouraged others to check out my site. And then underneath I saw the list of comments.
So I took a deep breath and decided to check out the comments too.
It was all very positive, one person even said I was drop dead gorgeous (thank you anonymous commenter!). But the thing that really made me laugh was how some of this guy’s commenters said they hated classical music…that it made them sick, or hurt their ears. Another commented that “…though I don’t enjoy Classical music, I really like John Tesh.”
Okay, John Tesh and Classical do not even belong in the same sentence.
And then I was like, “Since when has my music been Classical??”
Sorry to tease the undereducated music listeners out there, but just because music has accoustical piano in it does not mean it is “Classical”. I mean I could get really technical and point out that people generalize the term “Classical” so much that they don’t even realize that true Classical music is music written between the years 1750 – 1820. Beethoven? Nope not a Classical composer. He was a Classical Crossover as most of his music was written in the Romantic era.
I really hope that people are not not giving my music a chance because they fear it is “Classical”. LOL Is it because on my website I classify my music as “New Age Classical”?
I think when I redo my website in 2009 I’m gunna have to come up with a better description of my genre/style. Any ideas?
Anyway. That is beside the point. I don’t even have a point. Just Google yourself. What have YOU learned about yourself on the web? LOL
Sometimes you have to admit your human-ness as an artist, so today I’m going to do that.
And before you read this, please know it is written with a smile on my face and a laugh.
I’m not normally a competitive person when it comes to music. I think every artist brings something unique to the table and I would rather be up there on stage with them than trying to one-up them. Particularly when it comes to us composers. Because what I compose is not going to sound like what John Doe composes. So what is the point in trying to compete? I admire so many of my musical collegues.
However, for goodness sake, I keep having run-ins with an artist. Not personally. Or maybe a better way to put it is he keeps one-upping me. Professionally.
When my album first came out, my album was compared to his quite often. Friends and fan would listen to my music and say “Have you heard of….?”. And then everywhere I went I would see his album.
Last fall I travelled to Idaho to give a concert near my alma mater, Brigham Young University, when I found out this other artist was also performing at my college the SAME night I was. Different venues. Obviously his venue seated about 2,000 where mine seated about 100. LOL.
Both of us solo pianists, both of our styles similar, both competing to for the same audience, same town, same night. He’s with Warner Brothers, I’m with my own independent self-started label. I guess there really is no competition – haha. (But I do have to say I did fill the house! With people standing in the back).
And then last night, I was listening to his newly released 2nd album and all of a sudden I look up from what I’m doing and realize he has a song on his album that is an arrangement of a classical Spanish guitar piece…A song, which, I want to add, is a piece that I had picked out months and MONTHS ago to arrange for solo piano and THERE it was on his new album. So scratch that song arrangement. Everyone would think I copied him LOL.
I was actually a little miffed over that, I will admit. My husband had to listen to me go on and on for like 20 minutes at the dinner table last night about how I was mad I wasn’t going to be able to use that song on my album now.
So I’m sitting here laughing about this all, somewhat annoyed, somewhat feeling extremely competitive with this artist. The thing is though is I LOVE his work, I think he’s amazingly talented but I keep finding myself unwantedly competing against him. And honestly he is the only artist I have ever found myself having competitive feelings with.
Actually, I think it is just in my own head that I feel competitive with him since I don’t think he actually even knows I exist. Haha! 
So I’m going to admit my own human errors and let you all know that I, Jennifer Thomas, do experience feelings such as these. But I want to get past them because it has bugged me for a long time.
So William Joseph, if you ever happen to read this, let’s shake hands and acknowledge each others existance and be friends. LOL And maybe next time we do concerts in same town on the same night, we can just do some duets instead.
Jennifer
P.S. I’m not annoyed or mad. Just amazed. Check him out - he’s amazing. www.william-joseph.com
So today, after my 4 week old little baby boy woke up from a nap crying and me getting enough of a wiff to know he needed changing, proceeded to change what was one of the poopiest diapers I’ve yet had to change.
Afterwhich as I’m unloading all the numerous amounts of wipes I used (I use a lot because I can’t let the poop touch me if I can help it), and a very full diaper into our hightech scent free diaper disposal bin…and just as I am reaching for a fresh new diaper, the little guy decides to set off the automatic sprinkler.
Before I’ve had a chance to catch the stream flying through the air, he’s managed to aim for the entire wall next to his changing table as well as his freshly washed changing table cover.
“Whoaaaaaaaa!!” I say as I’m scurrying to grab the new diaper and cover his little firehose. Finally I have the leak sealed as he is just looking at me wide-eyed and with as much of a half-cracked smile that a 4 week old can have.
“You think that’s pretty funny, dontcha.” I say to him.
As I pull the diaper off and grab yet another pile of wipes, I notice his entire backside and legs are drenched.
“How much pee does a little newborn have??” I thought.
So I clean up his behind the best I can, as well as the wall and his changing table and as I’m getting the last off of it off his right buttcheek, I do one last glorious swipe and the wipe flips a fair amount of pee into my hair and onto my arm.
Sigh. I’m actually laughing at this point.
I pick him up and notice he is still drenched. But he’s crying now because HELLO its now been 7 minutes since he woke up and master Preston has not been fed yet.
30 minutes later, the little guy is satisfied and lets out the biggest belch I’ve yet heard and is slowly dozing off into a drunken state of milky happiness. He lets out one of those cute baby sighs and I think to myself, “Yesssssssssss, I can put him in his swing and actually get something done.”
The little tyke is zonked out again within minutes and I head to the kitchen to make chocolate chip cookies because I’ve been trying to make them for 3 days and haven’t had the chance yet. So now’s my chance. Yes I know, not the best thing for my post-baby diet, but dangitt I went without cookie dough my entire pregnancy and now I want some!
As I’m putting the sugar, butter and eggs into the automatic mixer, I accidentally drop an eggshell in. “Doh!! Noooooooooo!” I said as I stared into my cookie dough as the eggshell got mixed in with the rest of the dough.
10 min later I managed to sort through the dough as best as I could and take out all the tiny fragmented pieces of eggshell.
Checked on the little guy, still sleeping. Phew.
So then I start putting in the flour. Normally I mix it in as I go, but seeing how I’m using my industrial mixer here, I thought I would just put all 4 cups in all at once and then mix.
As soon as I hit the go button, all I see is a cloud of white and realize that I’m now covered in flour, as well as the kitchen counter, and the floor that I just mopped the night before.
Wow, so that was a bad idea. I guess that is what the lid is for.
Got it all cleaned up, and burned my first batch of cookies. But the dough was delicious.
So here I sit covered in flour, pee, and probably some poo too. And you thought being a concert pianist/recording artist was a glamorous thing? Haha.
Jennifer
P.S. I am loving it.
P.P.S. Jace, this is why I’m not ready to do another concert with you yet. I’m afraid all of my moments at the piano thus far have been me lullabying him to sleep – right hand alone while holding him in the left. Maybe I’ll right a song just for the right hand. Bartok did for the left, so why can’t I?
P.P.P.S. I must be seriously sleep deprived when I start writing right instead of wright. I mean write! Right?
yes I’m still around and yes I’m still pregnant.
*sigh*
Only about 5 and 1/2 more weeks until my duedate….I am literally counting down the days. I am so huge and uncomfortable. Now I know why pregnancy is so awful those last few weeks…to make it so women actually look forward to going into labor!
I figure if I keep concentrating on a date that is about 2 weeks earlier than my actual duedate that somehow my thoughts will trickle down to the little resident tenant in my belly and he’ll take the hint. (that would mean only about 3 and 1/2 more weeks away)
And yep – I put this pic up on my profile so that I can sit there and look at it and reminisce of how flat my stomach used to be. LOL
Just a short list of things I’m excited about -
- Looking forward to touching my toes again
- Being able to bend over and pick things up without grunting in pain
- Being able to do a long list of things to do – and all in one day. Today I had about 10 items, got about 2 of them done and felt it was the accomplishment of the century. Not to mention it took me ALL day to do those 2 things. And my back is killing me 
- Being able to sleep in my tummy again
- Eat RAW cookie dough (yummmm)
- Not have people constantly asking me when I’m due, how I’m feeling, if they can touch my belly, feel the baby kick, if I’ve got the nursery set up yet and soooo many other questions I’m so tired of answering LOL
Most of all I’m just excited to not feel like complete and utter poo anymore!
So there you have it. An update about me. Anyone feel like coming over to massage my feet, give me a back rub and clean my house for me I will love you forever and dedicate my next song to you. 
Cheers!
Jen
