To steal a phrase from Was (Not Was), I feel better than James Brown. Several reasons.
- Having a lazy summer. Practicing, riding the two-wheeler, getting some sun, reading, teaching a very light lesson schedule.
- Getting in some travel later this month, notably a visit to Colorado to see my friend and former bandmate Scott Yoho and his family.
- Planning on attending Music @ 10,000 Lakes again in August. This is a retreat for piano teachers who don’t get enough time to explore their own music. It’s the second year of the retreat, and once again will feature a teacher of mine, the wonderful Liz Wolff. It’s at St. John’s University in Collegeville, August 12-14.
- I voted. Turns out the Minnesota primaries are taking place during the piano retreat, so I sent for an absentee ballot. I highly recommend this for everyone!
- Had a musically pleasing spring:
Music directed, arranged, and played piano for Dance ‘Til You Drop with Collide Theatrical Dance Company at MN History Theatre in March-April 2018. Well-attended and well-reviewed (especially Collide artistic director Regina Peluso’s “innovative” choreography).
Music directed and arranged “Monday Music Madness II” at the annual convention of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA). This was a student-led cabaret, backed by a professional rhythm section, that began with state-wide auditions submitted by students of MMTA teachers. Above: Emmett Mathson sings “Great Balls of Fire” and tears up the keyboard, and Grace Cline sings and scats on “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby”. Here are a couple video links:
Jonas Rasmusson – Good Vibrations
Sam Eaton – Waving Through a Window
dougrohdemusic.com 