One of the many privileges of my job is guiding student research. My role as a mentor is something that I do not take lightly—creating a safe space where young scholars can explore ideas, challenge existing beliefs and discover their passions. I am so grateful to my own mentors who listened patiently to my wild, … More Follow Your Bliss (Passionate Research)
Last night I played my first solo concert in three years. I’ve always been more comfortable as a chamber musician and love sharing the music-making process and the spotlight with others. My problem is that while I’m not so fond of stepping out onstage alone, I am madly, passionately and deeply in love with the … More Making friends with the piano, again.
Recently one of my beloved students was grappling with finding his place in the competitive music field. He spoke of feeling “not good enough” to excel. Fortunately, he is an idealist, in search of finding a meaningful way to contribute to society. I have no doubt that he will figure this out and make a … More In Search of Meaning
With the start of a new academic year, I find myself yet again on a quest for balance. After a summer of ample practice time, reading time, hiking time, as well as a general pace that made it easier to practice mindfulness meditation, I have returned, like many of you, to the fast-paced school year, … More Balancing Act
Yesterday I witnessed a teary eyed mother saying goodbye to her first-year college student. As a college professor who is also a mother, I feel a deep connection to this parent and want to applaud her for having the courage to let go, however painful it may be. This made me think about the phenomenon … More The Ebb and Flow of Letting Go
When I was younger, I was preoccupied with proving myself. Having less than stellar pre-college musical training made me feel vulnerable and ashamed. I felt like a phony when I compared myself to peers who seemed to have grown up listening and making music with family (and who had already studied in Vienna; my … More The beauty of “not knowing”
These days, I have been practicing in earnest on a Steinbuhler DS5.5TM keyboard insert (sometimes referred to as a “7/8” size keyboard) made specifically for my Steinway B piano, in preparation for a concert in February. For those of you less familiar with the smaller-sized keyboard insert, here’s a link with tons of information: (http://www.steinbuhler.com/). Once you … More Small Hands, Big Heart
We, pianists, have a great deal of music competing for our attention. With all that Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, not to mention Chopin and Liszt, why would anyone spend time learning new music? Having been asked this question numerous times, I thought I would share some of the ways that learning new music has enriched … More The New Music Buzz
This weekend I had a healthy dose of nature, kayaking and biking in Northern Wisconsin. I tried to soak up the sounds, colors and scents as I enjoyed spending time with my family. I noticed dozens of shades of greens in the ferns, trees and flowers. My daughter pointed out a small snail making its way … More The Art of Paying Attention
I’ve been working on a project related to self-compassion and music-making. This is a new adventure for me as I am no poster child for self-compassion. For most of my life, I have denied myself the very things that I have given so freely to my students and colleagues: validation, encouragement and compassion. More often, I … More The Self-Compassionate Musician
feeling the sound 