Piano Meditations Podcast

Episode 166, 8-18-21

Ten guests tonight! It makes all the difference in the world knowing people are listening live. Tonight's music tended toward more 'groove-based'. More repeating patterns over different harmonies. Enjoy.

Episode 165, 8-11-21

After a two week hiatus for vacations, I truly wasn't sure what the music would end up being. Like an old friend, the sounds of this awesome Steinway proved a good guide. Went to some unusual sonorities (for me) and it was intriguing to explore. 

Episode 164, 7-21-21

Tonight I tried to incorporate sounds from the computer software, but I forgot to record the piano; so I'm not including just the computer sounds in tonight's episode. The episode is about 15 minutes shorter as a result.
Growing up, I took to extremes my father's advice to "delay gratification" and "postpone reward", so I kept trying to get better before I performed. No more! Hopefully you will indulge my learning curve as I gradually get better incorporating the studio, rather than toil at home and emerge as a master ten years from now...

Episode 163, 7-7-21

The first two pieces tonight were very tongue-in-cheek; it's actually tough to be genre-specific and not fall into an existing tune. "Blue Monk" kind of had to happen! After that, I did a bit of a reset and slowed down to exploring single notes and voice leading. I was very happy to be able to play tonight; I just had shoulder surgery last Friday! 

Episode 162, 6-30-21

As anyone who follows this podcast knows, I really don't plan ahead of time what the music will be, or even the general mood or energy. Tonight tended toward the operatic for some reason! I started with a canon where the melody was following itself around, and ended with something that sounded like it was the finale of some epic drama. Enjoy!

Episode 161, 6-23-21

Feeling a little energetic tonight! A few quotes made their way in; Still Crazy After All These Years, something from Jesus Christ, Superstar, Dream On (Aerosmith), probably others of which I'm unaware. Had a good group of in-person folks tonight. Feels so good!

Episode 160, 6-16-21

Tonight I wasn't feeling too inspired and I had the sense I was likely to "plagiarize myself" if I didn't really commit to listening to the notes and being honest in their development. So, that's what I did, and it ended up feeling great! The pieces necessarily started off slowly, and over time built in intensity.

Episode 159, 6-9-21

Several pieces took a little longer to take shape tonight. I stayed with one or two chords and just waited until I found some direction. It's tempting to just start doing something for fear of sounding aimless or boring, but then there's the wisdom I saw on someone's shirt at a meditation retreat; "Don't just do something, sit there!"

Episode 158, 6-2-21

So nice to have live audiences again! I was feeling very mellow tonight, and I thought I'd be actually playing music for meditation tonight, but, as usual, the music went its own direction. Still pretty mellow, but I got into a few energetic grooves. Enjoy!

Episode 157, 5-26-21

Tonight’s music is all an exploration of the three-note theme (1-7-6) offered by NASA to accompany the Lucy Mission, meant to encourage musical creation and discovery. NASA may use the music if they like (yes to Creative Commons license, NASA!).
#nasalucysoundscape
I tried to use the motif in many different ways. One of our guests tonight had associations with the different planets! One piece is very dissonant, which could be asteroids colliding... or whatever comes up for you. enjoy!

Episode 156, 5-19-21

New guests again tonight! All vaccinated, feels great. The piano was just tuned by the great Victor La Gamma, so I always lean into the rich deep chords that just feel so good. 

Episode 155, 5-12-21

We're back to live audience in earnest! Eight people tonight, and some new guests! A couple quotes crept in; Brother Can You Spare a Dime, Rainbow Connection, maybe more. A nice waltz at the end, some minor ruminations, a jazzy romp, a little of everything tonight!

Episode 154, 5-5-21

Another one in the books!

Episode 153, REPOST of 8-30-17

I didn't catch the fact that my audio defaulted to a different microphone, which resulted in very poor audio, so tonight is a revisit to episode 4, August 30, 2017. This HAS been going for awhile!

Episode 152, 4-21-21

We had a huge crowd tonight; six people! ;)
It's so wonderful beginning to play again for people in the room hearing the actual vibrations of the piano. Of course I'm very happy people enjoy the music on FB and the pro-audio podcast, too, but something unique does happen with the symbiosis of performer and audience. Tonight's music felt very good, hope you enjoy!

Episode 151, 4-14-21

More live guests tonight! Feels so good to socialize again now that we're vaccinated. Nothing special to report about the music, but I hope you like it!

Episode 150, 4-7-21

Wow, episode 150! There's one spot where you may hear something else going on; Sharon was streaming on another platform and someone wasn't muted. Hey, it's a momentary duet!
My hands were tired from chopping wood earlier today. Took a few minutes to loosen up. Anyway, enjoy! If you would, I'd appreciate a review of the podcast. 

Episode 149, 3-31-21

Our friend Erik came over to listen! Sharon hosted a listening session on another platform, too; just having new ears added a sense of focus for me tonight. Hoping we can start to have more vaccinated people over soon.
The second to last piece was quoting something, maybe Ravel's Bolero, maybe something else. Erik was talking about Chick Corea's "My Spanish Heart" so I may have been influenced! Enjoy.

Episode 148, 3-24-21

Some pieces felt great tonight; two in the middle less so. It seems I have the hardest time really listening and getting into a groove when I play 'genre-ish" music; either going for a jazz sound or using very functional harmony and chord changes. Curious to hear some feedback on this idea! Can you tell when I'm not feeling inspired?

Episode 147, 3-17-21

Almost forgot it was St Patrick's Day! For the last piece I improvised a little 6/8 mixolydian mode thing to sound vaguely Irish... Somehow Moon River crept in on another piece. I started one piece with an idea towards fugue, but it ended up just being something in a minor key. In any case, hope you enjoy.

Episode 146, 3-10-21

Happy birthday to my wonderful wife Sharon! Throughout this pandemic she has been usually my only in-person audience, but thankfully she enjoys what I do! Tonight's music felt like it had more movement in it; I posed the idea on the Facebook Piano Meditations Livestream that people may enjoy moving to the music, so I suppose that's why it felt that way... Anyway, on one piece I was kind of already falling into the chords for Gershwin's "Summertime", so at one point I tried actually playing it.  Interestingly, when you aren't quite sure of the harmonies and you have to depend on your ear, one can end up "re-harmonizing" by accident. Or is it? Hmmm...

Episode 145, 3-3-21

Just going for pretty sounds tonight. I tried to listen for multiple melodic lines and keep track of them. The only known quote was the beginning of the Star Trek theme as I started a piece. I had to, couldn't help it...

Episode 144, 2-24-21

Got the high quality audio back online! Calling this episode 144 instead of 143 because the podcast app is calling it that. Maybe it's still counting the intro episode, who knows. No conscious quotes tonight, just putting the focus on allowing the music to take its own path. 

Episode 142, 2-17-21

iPhone audio only; sorry! I had trouble with my studio computer in the moments before the Facebook Livestream. This audio has been extracted from the livestream recording, so the quality is not great. I'm experimenting with an audio setup which may allow me to channel the pro-quality microphones into the FB livestream, so the quality will be as good as the podcast!

Episode 141, 2-10-21

I've said this before but tonight was again one of those nights where I felt like I was in a "same-old", kind of uninspired place, but by now I know better than to start editing or judging myself harshly while it's happening. I just keep going, maybe coming to the same old chord progressions I use so often, but I keep listening and allowing whatever's happening to just happen. Then, sure enough, some little spark starts going and the music catches a groove and I can ride it out. The only melody that presented itself tonight was Tender Shepherd from the musical Peter Pan. Go figure. 

Episode 140, 2-4-21

The only spontaneous melody quotes that popped up tonight were "As Long as He Needs Me" and "Desafinado". A friend asked for something Satie-like and my wife asked for deep, rich tones. I try to oblige. The piano was tuned today by the great Victor LaGamma, so naturally I was drawn to those deep, rich tones! Enjoy.

Episode 139, 1-29-21

I asked Sharon (my beloved) if she wanted to hear anything in particular tonight and she suggested I take my time exploring the tones and not feel any need to "develop" or build the momentum or energy. So I did, and I didn't! It takes restraint to stay with a sound longer than usual, or even comfortable, but sure enough, it then opens up in a new way. Enjoy.

Episode 138, 1-24-21

Bonus Episode! I am a pianist at the Noyes Rhythm camp in Portland, CT for over 35 years, and I offered a Piano Meditations evening as an auction item for a fundraiser. The person who was highest bidder decided to open it up to the whole community, so I livestreamed it on Facebook. At the camp, the evening activity is a "Playtime", where the dancers come down to the dance space (the Pavalon) nestled in the woods and open on all sides. Kerosene lanterns light the floor and the pianist plays jazz, ragtime, classical music and improvisations on the grand piano. It's truly magical; so tonight the music was meant to evoke that setting and provide the impetus to dance. Enjoy.

Episode 137, 1-20-21

Happy Inauguration Day! I for one am very happy to have a new administration. It also happened to be my birthday.. Tonight's music was for dancing and feeling good! 

Episode 136, 1-13-21

Ok back to (mostly) mellow. A number of tunes crept in tonight; see if you can spot them! Some are actually the tune, others are snippets. Tonight's last piece was a riff on the melodic shape of Bach's Prelude #1. 

Episode 135, 1-7-21

Sometimes you have to shake it up. "Meditations" doesn't necessarily mean "mellow". I make bigger mistakes when I'm playing fast or in uncharted territory, but that's half the reason I started doing this in the first place. And as my old improv teacher Anne Farber once said, "There are no mistakes in improvisation, just new directions". So there you go.

Episode 134, 12-30-20

Well, I took a break, and I sort of thought it might be time to move on to other musical projects, but I missed the process! Plus, by now there are many subscribers to this podcast, and I have to believe people are enjoying the music, so, let's keep going! 

Episode 133, 12-23-20

Happy Holidays and first day after the Winter Solstice! Tonight's music had a few familiar tunes circling around, and I went for some sparkly sounds and bell chimes. I love how "Ain't Misbehavin" and "Santa Claus is Comin' to town" have the same chord progression. Enjoy.

Episode 133, 11-25-20

I'm still not sure if i'm back to a new episode every week, but it actually feels like I'm missing something if it doesn't happen! I personally enjoy listening back myself, so it's almost like I buy a new CD each week...
I know a lot of people enjoy listening to the podcast while cooking, doing yoga, having tea, etc, so I tend to not get too bombastic; plus, when I really start playing fast I can't truly hear where the music wants to go, and I fall into "rote" phrases that I know I can play rather than listening deeply to the direction of the music. In any case, enjoy!

Episode 132, 11-18-20

I decided to take a break from making a new episode weekly, as you may know. At this point I may repost a previous episode, or make a new one! The piano was just tuned by the great Victor LaGamma, so naturally I wanted to share the beautiful richness that this piano has. Enjoy.

Episode 131, 10-7-20

I asked my wife if there was anything she'd like to hear tonight and she said she'd like to hear the kind of brooding minor sounds from "Game of Thrones". We also talked about Cinema Paradiso tonight, so the theme was circling around. Whatever was happening in the moment I tried to let it go where it willed, but every now and then brought back a main chord or motif. I'm realizing I should change the intro, too, by the way. Aside from the piano being badly out of tune, friends and neighbors don't come over, we don't have wine, and I actually never go for an hour. OK, I'll get to that soon.
 

Episode 130, 9-30-20

Really feeling dance phrasing tonight; Four bars, chord progressions, predictable melodic contours, the whole thing. Naturally, a lot of songs suggested themselves so I explored them a bit. "Michelle", a touch of "Yesterday", a melody from Jesus Christ Superstar, I think even the theme from All Things Considered. In any case, I was imagining my dancing friends from Noyes School of Rhythm who sometimes use these evenings as their "Playtime". Hope I made you move! Enjoy.

Episode 129, 9-23-20

Went a little out there tonight! Hope this isn't being listened to during a spa or actual meditation! Even so, I gotta break out a little now and then and work my fingers into some unfamiliar territory. And who knows; it happens rather often that I think I'm going crazy when I'm playing, but listening back it actually sounds like it makes sense. Go figure. There's plenty of mellow stuff in tonight's episode as well. Enjoy.
 

Episode 128, 9-16-20

My sonic palate seems to be centering around a set number of "archetypical" approaches; I don't feel as if I'm copying myself, and I do get into the emotional feel of the music, so I'm certainly not bothered by it, but at the same time, I'm not trying to push boundaries or stretch my technical abilities. Part of me feels like I'm being lazy or getting into a rut, but the other part is like, "I'm playing exactly what I feel like playing, so what's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing!" Enjoy.

Episode 127, 9-9-20

Knowing I have a few friends who like to dance to Piano Meditations definitely influences what I play sometimes! Tonight I played around with seconds (as in notes next to each other) and triple meters. It felt more "dancey" so of course I just went with it. I tried a little bouncy two-step at the end. Those can be hard because they pull so strongly into "functional harmony" which tends to box me in, but it's a fun challenge nonetheless. Enjoy.

Episode 126, 9-2-20

Felt a little off tonight, but I know better than to judge it while it's happening! The humidity is making some notes stick and I have a squeak in the pedal, so I may have just been distracted. In any case, tonight music went pretty mellow for the most part. A few quotes worked their way in; "Still Crazy After All These Years", and some camp song about the Titanic going down. Go figure...

Episode 125, 8-19-20

Had a few family members come for dinner and stay for the music. Opened all the windows for the best ventilation, so of course tonight's music became a duet with the sounds of nightlife outside. Enjoy!

Episode 124, 8-12-20

Really focusing on enjoying rich tonality and melody tonight; not too worrying about structure or development, and letting "free" actually mean free! Tonight's music had a few quotes; I fell into Gershwin's "I Loves You, Porgy" after realizing after the fact I had already played a bit of the melody. Also, messing around with intervals of thirds, it naturally went into a touch of "Soon It's Gonna Rain" from The Fantasticks (looking at you, Janice!). Enjoy!

pisode 123, 7-28-20

iPhone-only audio tonight, sorry! Once again I forgot to hit record with my wonderful studio mics. I have to always remember there's more music where I found it tonight. I felt good about the pieces, so I hope you can get past the lo-fi audio. Enjoy.

Episode 122, 7-22-20

So many subscribers and listeners say they find Piano Meditations relaxing, calming, mellow, etc that I find I'm leaning into that vibe! I do try to mix it up in the course of the evening; both for my sake and to make sure it doesn't become too much like background music. However, it's nice to know people are finding it enjoyable, in any case. 

Episode 121, 7-8-20

I lost an episode in there somewhere, so I called this one #121 so it lines up with the official podcast count. Just played live for my wonderful wife tonight, but it's encouraging knowing people are also listening from home! Tonight's music kept to relatively familiar territory; hopefully explored in a fresh way. Enjoy.

Episode 119, 6-30-20

Had some new guests who enjoyed the music from the front yard. They brought dinner! Can't beat that. The rain began just as the last chord was fading away. Tonight the music was in a major mood. Some upbeat, some mellow, a conversation about Bruce Hornsby inspired a riff from "The Way it Is". There was another quote at the end, but I still don't know what what I was quoting. If you hear it, help me out! I think it was a song from the 50s. 

Episode 118, 6-24-20

 Big night; three guests! Rather than have everyone in the living room they sat outside on the grass and I had the windows wide open. Side benefit; apparently they were dancing! I had a little Latin feel to one piece, and "Maria" from West Side Story crept in somehow. Enjoy.

Episode 117, 6-17-20

Thank you for the amazing tuning, Victor LaGamma! It's funny, the last couple of weeks I felt I hadn't been really listening deeply as I played, and sure enough, with everything in such alignment tonight, it felt like the notes were just lining up in the order they should be played, and all I had to do was drop them in their spots. I leaned into more of a jazz feel at the beginning, then did a little contrapuntal ditty, then a drone/melody thing, and finished with a dainty waltz. Enjoy.

Episode 116, 6-10-20

Had our first guests inside the house since the beginning of quarantine. Keeping it small, just two friends, kept our distance, opened windows, and it felt great to connect again! I was playing with major and minor for most of the evening, with a little nod to a Chopin Polonaise, and maybe "Where or When" towards the end. Enjoy!

Episode 115, 6-3-20

I had some auditory enhancements tonight in the form of night birds and a gentle thunderstorm! I couldn't help but focus on quiet tones and high notes. Of course, while I'm playing our dog Bear is pacing around and panting with anxiety. You may hear some other knocking around in the mix. Enjoy!

Episode 114, 5-27-20

Just working on getting into a groove and seeing where it goes. It helps to get a little repeating pattern going, then expand it a bit until it wants to bust out. Not spending much energy on creating a more classical structure of theme, second theme, development and recap. I think that's ok... Enjoy!

Episode 113, 5-2-20

Had a little blues, a little broadway, a little folk, a little pop, tonight was just a romp. The piano is pretty out of tune, but it just had a new humidity control system put in and it needs a few more weeks before it can be brought back to its sonorous magnificence. In the meanwhile, we have a cool idea for local friends; while we are still staying safe from covid-19, feel free to come spread a blanket on our yard and hear the piano outside the living room! It's warming up now, and we tested it; it sounds really nice!

Episode 112, 5-13-20

After all these episodes, it certainly doesn't feel "new", but it does still feel "fresh". I couldn't have hoped for more! It is truly fascinating how much comes out that that has a certain "style" (one could say "voice") but still isn't a complete rehash of old ideas. I guess it's like language; you can always find a different way to say the same thing; but then again, sometimes what you've said before is exactly what's called for in the moment. Go figure.

Episode 111, 5-6-20

Once again making music tonight to benefit our local www.gullottahouse.org; the organization has done essential assistance for years helping those in need, but has stepped up like never before during this crisis. They help both people in need of food and restaurants in need of customers. Please consider donating if you have enjoyed the music tonight. I played a couple standards tonight; All the Things You Are and Black Orpheus. Otherwise just grooving on whatever tones were stopping by! 
 
 
 
 

Episode 110, 4-29-20

Had some new listeners tonight because on the Facebook Live stream we asked for donations to www.gullottahouse.org. They are a local non-profit bringing food to people in need before and during this crisis. It's fun to be making up a melody and suddenly a composed melody emerges. Tonight the music fell into Send in the Clowns and the Game of Thrones theme. (Actually, full disclosure, my wife asked me to weave it in somewhere!) Thanks for listening!

Episode 109, 4-22-20

Staying home, waiting out the pandemic, cooking great meals that my wife and I share (with no guests), cleaning up, and then it's time to play music. I have to admit enjoying a cocktail or two before setting up the microphones... But then, the music starts, I have no idea what's coming next, but the music takes its own direction, and, although my fingers may be somewhat compromised from those cocktails, still it takes me somewhere. wherever it goes, I hope you enjoy the direction it takes!

Episode 108, 4-15-20

I was so busy with dinner I almost forgot to set up and play! I didn't warm up tonight beforehand, so I took it easy until I felt loose enough to stretch a bit. We are binge-watching Game of Thrones so it's inevitable that the theme would pop up at some point, and tonight was the night. Funny, my ear didn't let me play the theme straight out, even though I kind of wanted to dive into it; so, it stayed a mere reference. Enjoy.

Episode 107, 4-8-20

I had designs of moving to a video podcast with multiple camera angles and a snazzy video intro, but got overwhelmed. It's for listening to, anyway!
In these virtual times, I hope the music can be a salve. Felt a little jazzy tonight, and fell into Brother Can You Spare a Dime and Round Midnight. I think Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas made an appearance, too. See if you can find them!

Episode 106, 3-25-20

Almost ready to transition to video podcast. I recorded tonight with several cameras, but I don't know my way around Final Cut Pro yet! Really feeling the need to explore pleasant, pretty sounds at this time. So many are suffering right now. i started one piece with simple triads and it segued somehow into "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John, which made me think of my song "Circle of Life" which of course he has a song with the same title, so of course I had to play a little of that, too. once I was going down memory lane I felt the urge to play another song from that album, "Willow". Then, that reminded me of an old song from a very long time ago; "Starlight". So I guess tonight had a lot of personal nostalgia. Enjoy.

Episode 105, 3-18-20

Thanks for tuning in. Let's all create for the love of it, and keep each other's virtual company as we wait out this Corona crisis. May we all be well, and for those who are not, may they all receive the care they need. 
Had some strange quotes show up in my fingers tonight; not sure how "Walk Like an Egyptian" or "Camptown Races" got in there, but there they were so I had to deal with them!

Episode 104, 3-11-20

For some reason I felt like I was "copying myself" tonight; sometimes it's fun to go to favorite progressions, but other times it feels like there are no new ideas! Felt like the latter tonight. Part of the reason is that I keep wanting to add some looping and layering effects with the computer but I never get time to explore it. I'm also putting feelers out for other musicians to join me but it hasn't happened yet. In any case, hope you enjoy!

Episode 103. 3-4-20

It's a good approach to remind myself to listen by playing just one or two notes at the beginning, then gradually build to see where it goes. If I start with a particular style or genre it kind of locks me in to that style, so it's harder to be "authentic" in terms of truly "following the music". In any case, it's a balance, so you take the highs with the lows! Enjoy.

Episode 102, 2-26-20

Just my own family in the audience tonight, but at this point it's almost as if I just let the horse out and see where she goes! Tonight I just felt like having steady chords in the left hand and exploring free melody in the right hand. Also staying with very traditional key-center tonality, which in many ways is very freeing. Let me know what you think!
 

Episode 101, 2-19-20

Back to the core group tonight. Even just one person (besides myself!) actively listening to the music makes a difference in the performance. I can't say exactly how, but their focus helps my focus, and it becomes a conversation, not a monologue! Tonight I was exploring contrapuntal harmony and multiple melodies. Had a little Joplin-esque jaunt at the end. Enjoy!

Episode 100, 2-12-20

Episode 100! Definitely calls for a party. I invited anyone and everyone who came at least once since I began this project over two years ago. So many came! We had about 50 people. I usually ask people not to applaud at the end of a piece because it sounds kind of pitiful with two or three in the audience, but tonight it was game on! I'm actually a little stunned at the enthusiastic response! In any case, the evening felt great, and I hope you enjoy the music.

Episode 99, 2-5-20

Penultimate episode to 100! Piano was just tuned by the incomparable Victor La Gamma. I'm always drawn to open harmonies with a fresh tuning. Except for a crazy atonal blues, most of the music tonight was centered on rich harmonies. 

Episode 98, 1-29-20

New audience member tonight. Seems like the way to go deeper is to go more into the very sounds I like to hear anyway. It's probably a fool's errand to try and "stretch'; I only end up feeling artificial. Finding one's "voice" may be more about playing what's comfortable than trying to do something new or unusual. At least, that's how it felt tonight!

Episode 97, 1-22-20

Ok it's starting to feel a little tough to keep a fresh approach. After almost 100 episodes, it's safe to say I've got some sounds and pathways that I go to again and again. Tonight began with the sense that I was mimicking myself. I wasn't feeling like the music had any sense of direction or coherence. However, eventually an energy came into the piece and I was able to get into the groove.  Once there, it was a fun night as usual, and I feel satisfied with the overall episode. I wonder how long this project will continue!

Episode 96, 1-15-20

I thought I'd be solo in my living room tonight, but by 8:00 there were five people here! 
I've been exploring simple pentatonic scales but tried layering patterns with rhythmic complexity; seems to make a nice combo. Also did a fractured waltz, and a take-off of the first few notes of "Where or When". Enjoy.

Episode 95, 1-8-20

I had some (what felt like) spectacular bloopers tonight; sometimes I'm digging into the keys and fingers just slip off and clunk onto the next key. I couldn't help but groan. Hey, it's all part of the journey, right? I was solo in the living room tonight, so thanks to those who tune in virtually each week!

Episode 94, 1-1-20

First episode of the new decade! Five more till the 100th episode. In a few weeks I'm going to be trying out some new equipment; stay tuned. 

Episode 93, 12-25-19

Stuck to tried and true harmonic moves tonight; there's something incredibly free when using the pentatonic scale and scale-tone chords. Everything just sounds good. Also, taking a few notes and repeating them while changing the chords underneath makes for interesting movement. 

Episode 92, 12-20-19

We had our neighborhood latke party tonight, so, naturally since it was Wednesday it came with a concert! When we only have a few guests I ask that there be no applause, 'cause it just sounds pitiful, but we had about twenty people so applause was not a problem! Hopefully it won't be jarring for podcast subscribers. Feel free to comment with your feedback.

Episode 91, 12-11-19

Felt the pull to go simple tonight, and try a little more long-form playing. I stuck to a smaller palate of harmonies on each piece and took the time to explore them deeper and longer than I tend to, and it really felt good. 

Episode 90, 12-4-19

Tending towards minor and sort of Slavic/Spanish?? I'm drawn to the tension with some of these modes, which creates momentum to continue and build. Finding inner lines also helps to get into deeper listening. A couple pieces had a slow time getting started, but eventually I found a path to explore. 

Episode 89, 11-27-19

A new listener tonight, always a treat! It's a lot of fun to share the sound of this beautiful piano, and be able to play any notes I want in whatever order I choose, to hear the music I want to hear, and have people actively listening and enjoying it. In eleven more evenings it will be the 100th episode!

Episode 88, 11-20-19

Small but appreciative audience tonight. However, this podcast is getting some real action, I'm excited to say! Over 400 listens yesterday, and more than 5000 this week. I'm continuing to focus on listening to where melodies and harmonies want to go, and doing my best to "follow the music". 

Episode 87, 11-13-19

Three friends in the audience tonight; I'm glad they came because the previous two hours I was trying to figure out a way to do Livestreaming through my podcast host, to no avail. I was frustrated and hadn't had dinner or warmed up my fingers, much less gotten into a good musical headspace. Having people here who were ready to just listen to some nice music was very centering and appreciated!

Episode 86, 11-6-19

Pushing through a cold, but once the music started I forgot all about it. Having an interesting inner dialogue about the balance between interest, variety and boredom. Tonight I stayed with some sonorities longer than I usually would, and I was wondering if the audience might be losing interest because there wasn't enough variety, but I also realize that sometimes I may not give my audience enough credit to stay with the music and I mix things up before it needs to be. What do you think?

Episode 85, 10-30-19

OK, so the night before Halloween you gotta do some minor keys! I explored some unusual minor chord changes which create a kind of cinematic excitement and tonal ambiguity.  

Episode 84, 10-16-19

A couple new listeners tonight! The weather was stormy, we got a fire going, settled in after a delicious dinner, and then the music! That's what I call a nice night.

Episode 83, 10-8-19

Except for one quasi-pop piece which never felt like it got started, the music tonight seemed to have a nice flow and an organic development. 

Episode 82, 10-2-19

It's getting harder to really challenge myself to explore new territory. I've got a nice sound going that's tonal, relatively mellow, and highlights the resonance of the piano. When I go for more high-energy technique I can feel my limitations, and then I pull back so as not to totally crash. Maybe that's just the right spot; I'd be taking that approach if I was racing a car!

Episode 81, 9-15-19

Bonus episode! This is audio from a concert at our local library, recorded with the phone. Audio quality is not so good, but it captures the afternoon. I deleted the applause after most pieces, in keeping with the usual sound of the podcast, but at the end the music was still going when the crowd jumped in, so... how could I resist? ;)

Episode 80, 9-25-19

Had a small audience tonight after two weeks solo! It does make a difference knowing people are hearing the sound of the Steinway live. It makes me listen more intently to the sound of the notes ringing in the room. 

Episode 79, 9-19-19

Just me in the living room again tonight, but I know I have online listeners and it still feels like there's an audience! Felt a little subdued tonight; just kept leaning towards melodies curling around each other. One piece was intentionally "bad" or at least intentionally off-key. I felt I needed to shake myself out of a gauzy tonality! Enjoy.

Episode 78, 9-12-19

This was the first time I played for an entirely virtual audience! The debates are on (and I'm about to tune in) so I wasn't surprised. Interestingly, I definitely had a bit harder time getting past my go-to default sounds, but I think there were some good moments in there. Enjoy.

Episode 77, 9-4-19

Had some fun tonight with folk-type melodies. We all have these archetypical tunes in our heads, so how to play with them without being stereotypical of the archetypes? You decide if it worked!

Episode 76, 8-28-19

Sometimes you have to break something to break through to something. I was feeling like I was plagiarizing myself, so I took the playing to a kind of crazy place, and then, true enough, came to a place that felt authentic, where I could just let the music evolve as it needed to. 

Episode 75, 8-7-19

Kept hearing a little buzz tonight; stopped and started a few times but ultimately had to just embrace it and keep going! Maybe I played a little louder tonight to compensate. Had some fun with bluesy and Broadway sounds. 

Episode 74, 7-31-19

Glad to squeeze an episode in tonight! Had some new listeners too. Just came off a week playing for dancers at Noyes School of Rhythm (www.noyesrhythm.org) so the music may be a little more "elemental". You be the judge; enjoy!

Episode 73, 7-10-19

Once again enjoying the fresh tuning by master tuner and pianist Victor La Gamma. Whenever it's so perfect I automatically fall into playing lots of basic triads and simple harmonies because it just sounds so sweet. Enjoy. 
No Piano Meditations next two weeks.

Episode 72, 7-3-19

Just family in the audience tonight; my mother-in-law asked for some Scott Joplin and I happened to have a rag in the repertoire. I sort of kept with the "oompah" bass for a while, which turned into a version of the jazz tune "Black Orpheus", and in honor of Independence Day did a medley of "America" mixed with John Lennon's "Yesterday". Enjoy.

Episode 71, 6-19-19

New guests tonight! Kind of went all over the place; tonal, twisted, waltzy. Sometimes I just felt like being a little random...

Episode 70, 6-12-19

Just hanging with chord progressions. Enjoy!

Episode 69, 6-5-19

Still really digging into the romantic; I'm having a good time exploring counterpoint with double melodies and inner voicings. Some kind of musical theater thing showed up, too. Enjoy.

Episode 68, 5-29-19

Audience of one! But that's who's actually in my living room; seeing some nice statistics of the podcast! 677 listeners yesterday, 4577 just this week. Keeps me motivated. Tonight I made more "mistakes" but I was also more "into it"; following the energy and really feeling involved in the music. Enjoy.

Episode 67, 5-23-19

Apologies if you tried to listen with a previous upload; something happened where it was shortened and/or was playing part of another night's music. This should be the whole evening. I'm going to listen all the way through to make sure! 

Episode 66, 4-10-19

For the first time tonight I wasn't feeling a desire to play; I knew people would be watching on FB Live, so I didn't just blow it off. But then two people from the neighborhood came! Sure enough, it was great to just focus on making music for 45 minutes. Enjoy.