WHATS NEW?
February 19, 2025
I am honestly surprised by how much this little podcast/blog has grown in the past 12 months. The amazing guests and all of you wonderful subscribers have really helped me turn this into something that can benefit people in the arts and their fans and I thank you for it. I’ll try to keep it up and make it better.
In case you missed it…
My guest on Creative Conversations this week is the director of Sinfonia Varsovia Janusz Marynowski. This outstanding orchestra is Poland’s finest and one of Europe’s best. But it’s much more than that as he explained. You definitely should take some time and watch/listen.
Coming up…
One of the guitar worlds most unique and eclectic composer/performers is Stepan Rak. We had a great conversation and he even grabbed his guitar and played a bit. If you’re into guitar or new compositions or both you won’t want to miss this.
In other news…
After a nearly 20 year absence the Polish Chamber Orchestra (a subset of Sinfonia Varsovia) is returning to the U.S. with soloist Daniel Hope for concerts in Georgia, Florida, and Colorado at the end of February and early March. For more information please go to their website.
The Trio Ghidorah will be performing at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Midland, Michigan on March 15. This should be a great concert. For additional information about them and concert details please click here.
True crime author Rod Sadler is currently in the middle of a book signing tour but somehow has still managed to finish a new book that will be published in March. I’ll try to get him back on the show so he can tell us all about it. For additional info just go to his Facebook page.
February 12, 2025
So I guess the first thing I need to do is apologize to all of you for how icky (I think that’s the technical term) the layout of my blog is. I’m working on it but old people and technology don’t often mix well. I have a plaque that says, “Everything is figure-outable” and I seem to read that out loud a lot these days.
In case you missed it…
Composer, educator, cantor Gerald Cohen talks about writing chamber music, choral music, and opera. The recording of his opera “Steal A Pencil For Me” was recently released as a two-CD set.
Coming up…
On Sunday my guest on Creative Conversations will be Janusz Marynowski the director of Sinfonia Varsovia in Warsaw, Poland. This orchestra and music organization is world renowned and it was a true honor to meet him.
In other news…
The Polish Chamber Orchestra visits the U.S. for the first time in nearly 20 years.
They will be appearing at:
February 23: Vero Beach, FL
Community Church of Vero Beach
February 24: West Palm Beach, FL
Dreyfoos Hall at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
February 28: Atlanta, GA
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts at Emory University
March 02: Beaver Creek, CO
Appearing with the Polish Chamber Orchestra is the acclaimed violinist Daniel Hope playing a program of Mozart, Haydn, and Gluck.
Also…
The Folias Duo (Carmen Maret/flute and Andrew Bergeron/guitar) are teaming up with mandolinist Brian Oberlin and bassist Sallie Bacon for a delightful evening of classical and jazz at The Stray in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Valentine’s Day February 14
One of the things that Creative Conversations is teaching me is that classical music is still alive and well but is evolving like everything else. I think many people have a distorted idea of what the arts are and I hope that the podcast and this blog can help with that. If you would be willing to pass them on it would boost the effort.
February 5, 2025
I used to write a different sort of blog several years ago. It was more of an editorial (or musing….. or brain droppings….etc.) and I published every Monday and Thursday for two and a half years. It was fun because I could just prattle on about a variety of stuff that interested me and I figured not too many people were reading anyway so…. But I realized after a while that I was not offering insight or thoughtful perspectives but just griping and whining. So I stopped. However this is kind of a slow news week so I thought I could stick my toe in the water again and see if I can locate my forgotten “prattle” for just one more week.
Creative Conversations began as an opportunity for me to just record conversations with my artsy-fartsy friends. I thought that because I found these conversations interesting others would too. I was wrong. Nobody cared. However the format has evolved and for the past 1 1/2 years I’ve been interviewing people in fine arts….both creators and people behind the scenes. I’ve been fortunate to meet many successful and yet not very well known artists. And I feel privileged to be able to present them to my small, but growing, audience.
The primary purpose of this blog is to be an extension of the podcast, but I’m still trying to figure out the mechanics of it all. I don’t think that the podcast is on as many platforms as I originally thought and the program I’m using for this blog is really clunky so I may have to ditch it for something better and more “elder” friendly. I very much appreciate you and your patience. Please don’t give up on me.
If you would like to support my efforts just give me your comments and suggestions and please recommend me to your friends. Thanks a bunch!
In case you missed it….
Composer Edward Smaldone was my guest on Creative Conversations on Sunday Feb. 2. We talked about composing, teaching, and his newest CD “What No One Else Sees”. Please take a few minutes and listen. You can learn more about him at www.edwardsmaldone.com
In other news….
Coming up….
On the next episode of Creative Conversations I speak with the award-winning composer Gerald Cohen. Please join us as we talk about his musical journey including being a cantor and how his faith has influenced his art. We also talk about his latest opera “Steal A Pencil For Me” (libretto by Deborah Brevoort) based on a true love story that takes place in the concentration camps of WWII.
Orli Shaham performs Mozarts Piano Concerto #20 on February 8 & 9 with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Gérard Korsten. Additional details are on their website.
January 29, 2025
I started recording videos of my podcast 12 months ago. Prior to that it was audio only. In Sept. of 2023 I modified the format somewhat so that it was primarily (but not exclusively) fine arts. I am always trying to improve it and let it evolve. Recently, despite my best efforts, it’s becoming mostly a place for musicians. It’s not intentional on my part. It just seems that the musicians are the ones saying “yes” to my interview requests and I have to chase the others down just to get a “maybe”. There are some exceptions, of course, but that seems to be the overwhelming majority. Please hang in there with me as I try to figure of this out. As always, your questions and suggestions are welcome.
In case you missed it…..
My guest last week was the very talented music educator Maggie Malone. She is currently serving as superintendent of the West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics. It’s a K-8 public school doing some great things. Please check it out if you haven’t alread
In other news…..
Violinist Daniel Hope will be touring the U. S. with the Polish Chamber Orchestra Feb. 23 - Mar. 2.
Daniel Hope
Polish Chamber Orchestra
of Sinfonia Varsovia
PROGRAM: “JOURNEY TO MOZART”
Christoph Willibald Gluck: “Dance of the Furies” from Orfeo ed Euridice
Franz Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G Major
Wojciech Kilar: Orawa
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 49 in F minor ‘La passione’
February 23: Vero Beach, FL
Community Church of Vero Beach
February 24: West Palm Beach, FL
Dreyfoos Hall at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
February 28: Atlanta, GA
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts at Emory University
March 02: Beaver Creek, CO
Coming next week…..
My guest this weekend is award-winning composer Edward Smaldone. His music has been performed by many different groups and recorded on many different albums. Join us as we talk about composing, teaching, his newest CD “What No One Else Sees”, and we even talk a little guitar.
Guitarist/composer Andrew Bergeron has just completed his Symphony #1 and is premiering it on Feb. 7 & 8. Please go to his Facebook page for more info.
January 22, 2025
I’m not sure what it’s like where you live, but here in Michigan it’s really cold. My personal opinion is that it’s great weather to avoid and stay inside where it’s cozy and warm. Read a book, listen to music (or back episodes of Creative Conversations), and maybe take a nap. For my neighbors - please stay warm. For my friends in the southern hemisphere - enjoy your gardens and breath a sigh of relief that you’re not here right now.
In case you missed it….
Coming this week….
In other news….
My guest last week on Creative Conversations was the wonderful concert pianist Vedrana Subotic. I really enjoyed meeting her and listening to her play. I think you will too. You can watch her YouTube videos or learn more about her on her website.
My guest this weekend is the very talented music educator Maggie Malone. She is the superintendent of the West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academies. A little “truth in advertising” - I’ve known Maggie since she was a little girl taking guitar lessons with me. It was fun to catch up with her and also a treat to learn all about this very special K-8 public school. I hope you’ll find some time to join us.
Author Rod Sadler has just published his new book tour information. Please go to his website to learn more. www.rodsadler.com
Cassatt String Quartet celebrates 40 years of chamber music.
Here is their Spring Season
January 24 (Bronxville, NY): Concert at Reformed Church of Bronxville
January 29 (Briarcliff Manor, NY): Concert at Artis Briarcliff
February 10-17 (Ohio): Tour with pianist Emely Phelps
February 12: Athens, OH
February 14: Oberlin, OH
April 6 (New Canaan, CT): Concert at Treetops Chamber Music Society
July 26-August 5 (Maine): Residency at Seal Bay Festival of American Chamber Music
You can learn more about them at their website
The Folias Duo (Carmen Maret-flute and Andrew Bergeron-guitar) announced their Valentines Day Concert in Grand Rapids, MI. They will be joined by Brian Oberlin and Sally Bacon. For additional information about this and other upcoming concerts please visit their website www.foliasmusic.com
January 15, 2025
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through January. Here at my house we finally put away our Christmas decorations and are putting out a few things for Valentines Day. Like many others, we’ve made and broken a few New Year’s Resolutions. You too? One of the resolutions that I’ve kept, though, is to improve the podcast openings. That starts this week. It’s still a bit rough around the edges but I expect it to improve as I learn more. As always, your suggestions are invited and welcome.
In case you missed it……
My guest last week was author/activist Jane (Keon) Jelenek. Jane stopped by to talk about her latest book “Toxic Town Cleanup”. It’s a followup to 2014 “Tombstone Town”. These books tell of her involvement with a citizens task force that is requiring the EPA and other government people to clean up the former site Velsicol Chemical plant. You can find these books on Amazon.
Coming Up……
My guest on Creative Conversations will be the marvelous concert pianist Vedrona Subotic. We talk about her newest CD “Chiaroscuro”, Beethoven, teaching, and so much more. You can learn more and hear her play at: vedronasubotic.com
In other news……
Author Janet Defever has begun a new blog. It’s pretty nice. Check it out here…
Sono Luminus presents Steal a Pencil for Me, the hauntingly beautiful new opera album from composer Gerald Cohen and librettist Deborah Brevoort released August 23, 2024.
An opera in two acts, Steal a Pencil for Me is a love story full of hope; a drama of overcoming great adversity, set during the dark times of World War II concentration camps. It is based on the true story of Jaap and Ina Polak, who fell in love as prisoners, amid great loss, helping each other to survive. Based on their love letters, which were published in a book of the same title, Steal a Pencil for Me is about the indestructibility of the life spirit and the power of humankind to survive adversity. The opera dramatizes intimate concerns and private dramas in the midst of the epic tragedy of the Holocaust
You can find it on Amazon
Jan. 8, 2025
Happy New Year! I took a couple of weeks of from pretty much everything just to catch my breath and reevaluate stuff. It felt good to spend time with my family, and take a few extra naps without trying to keep to a schedule. I hope your holidays were as good.
I had time to reflect on the podcast and realized that it really evolved a lot since February 2024 when I began publishing video to YouTube. When I first started doing a podcast several years ago it was audio only, each episode was about 60 minutes long and heavily edited. Now it’s about 30 minutes long and mostly unedited (except for the occasional interuption).
I’ve been fortunate to have had some amazing guests on. In the process I’ve read books, seen art, and heard music that I would not have experienced otherwise. I truly feel privileged to have been able to introduce them to you.
As most of you know, I am not very good at marketing. If there is someone you think might enjoy this please send them a link. That’s as close to a plan that I have. I honestly feel like we’re all creating a cozy little community together. If you have suggestions on how I can improve this please speak up and don’t be shy.
In case you missed it….
Last weeks guest was composer/conductor Lee Kesselman. We talked about writing music big and small including opera for children. We also talked about a new CD devoted to his music called “Would That Loving Were Enough”. It’s primarily chamber music from a guy who is known mostly for his choral
music.
In other news….
Speaking of Lee Kesselman….Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana will be performing his Kadosh/Benedictur on their “All About That Brass” program on March 2, 2025. That sounds pretty cool! Check it out if you can.
AND…
Pianist Orli Shaham has been named a Musical America Professional of the Year. Congratulations!!
v
Coming next….
Author/activist and longtime friend Jane Jelenek stopped by to talk about her new book “Toxic Town Cleanup”. It’s a followup to her first book “Tombstone Town” and tells of her work on a citizens task force overseeing the cleanup of a former chemical plant that has poisoned the surrounding area. The company, state and local governments, and the EPA have all tried to sweep this under the rug and would have succeeded if not for Jane and her merry band of trouble makers. I know this sounds dreary and dry as dust, but Jane’s writing style makes it very compelling. It actually reads like a whodunnit. The story she tells is happening in many places around country and I’m hopeful it will encourage and inspire others. Please join us for a very important 30 minutes.
Happy Holidays
It’s hard to believe that the holidays are here and the year is nearly done. I made the decision in January to start doing videos via Zoom for my podcast and posting them to YouTube and Spotify. It’s been very successful (depending on how you measure success) and I will continue as best as I can. I keep pretending that I know what I’m doing but I’m convinced I’m going to get caught at it any day now.
I started writing this blog only a few weeks ago as an extension of the podcast and also to toot my own horn periodically. Between the two I have begun to believe that I can help introduce the general population to many of the creative people we know and the hard working people behind the scenes. But I need your help. Please feel free to comment, criticize, or make suggestions that will help this endeavor along. Listen to as many episodes as you can. I’m trying to convince the dreaded algorithm that I actually have friends. And finally, please recommend me to anyone that you think may enjoy this.
I’m going to take the next couple weeks off after this weeks podcast is posted. But I’ll be back to annoy you in January and I’m looking forward to some very cool stuff in 2025. I wish you peace and love and I’ll see you next year.
In case you missed it…
Last weeks podcast featured the very talented singer/songwriter Jamie-Sue Seal. She is also the founder of Smokin’ Sleddog Records and Togo Touring Artists. We had a great discussion about the business of the business and the difficulties all artists face.
Next weeks podcast…
The award-winning violinist/conductor Tigran Shiganyan makes a return visit. Please join us as we discuss his many recent projects and accomplishments.
By the way…since we recorded our interview Tigran has received the American Prize Ernest Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music. He conducted an entire program of music by composer Lowell Liebermann with the Kazakh State Orchestra. Congratulations my friend!
Something extra
I should have posted this before. I’m sorry but I thought people in Mid-Michigan should know.
The Mid-Michigan Classical Guitar Society is presenting its annual Holiday concert on Sunday Dec. 8, 2024 at 7:00 PM at Creative 360 in Midland, MI. We will present performances featuring several of our members, four songs by the full ensemble, and an exciting recital by our featured guest artist Nick Liu. The venue is lovely and very relaxed. This is a family friendly event and is free to attend. Please come spend your Sunday evening with us if you can.
If you would like more information about the Mid-Michigan Classical Guitar Society please visit MMCGS.ORG
Dec. 5, 2024
In case you missed it…..
Last weeks guest on the podcast was columnist, author, podcaster Jeff Giles.
Coming up this weekend…
My guest this weekend is singer songwriter Jamie-Sue Seal. Jamie-Sue is also the founder and CEO of Smokin’ Sleddog Records and Togo artists. This is a great conversation about what goes on behind the scenes in the music business. You won’t want to miss it.
In other news…..
The trio HAVEN has recently released a beautiful new album of music by contemporary composer Lee Kesselman. Lee will be a guest on the podcast in January. Although known primarily for his choral works his talent for writing beautiful melodies and harmonies is very much on display in this CD.
Several years ago I released an album of Christmas Carols. You can buy it through my website or go to YouTube and give it a listen. I’m not comfortable hyping myself here but people get cranky if I don’t let them know stuff.
I don’t want this to become an op-ed place. Goodness knows there are plenty of other places for that. However, President Trump tried to eliminate funding for the arts and humanities during his last term. It’s a distinct possibility that he may do so again. If this funding is important to you please be vigilant and don’t be afraid to contact your representative or senator.
Nov. 28, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m currently preparing some food for todays feast when the kids all show up. But I really wanted to thank you all for subscribing and helping me along. If you can think of anything I can do to improve this blog or the podcast please leave a comment.
In case you missed it……
Last weeks podcast featured Chicago based painter Adam Thomas.
Coming this weekend …….
I’m joined this weekend by author/columnist Jeff Giles….
In other news…..
I uploaded my rendition of the BeeGees classic “I Started A Joke” the other day. You can watch it here on YouTube.
It’s also available on my Patreon page.
November 22, 2024
So this week I’ve been working around some minor scheduling issues. Still, they are very aggravating. It’s put me a bit behind in getting this post out.
In case you missed it…..
Entertainment attorney and artist manager Randy Ojeda joined me to discuss the business of being a successful artist.
In other news…..
Orli Shaham has just released this wonderful collection of Piano Sonatas by W. A. Mozart. You can find it on Amazon.
Coming this weekend…..
Chicago based painter Adam Thomas talks about his journey from the corporate world to successful artist.
This week on Creative Conversations
In my seemingly never ending stuggle with technology I’ve made what I hope to be some improvements to this blog. They were suggested by subscribers like you and greatly appreciated. If there you have any suggestions please tell me. I’m not nearly as good at this as I pretend to be but I really want it to be successful for all of us.
In case you missed it……
Last week guest was the amazing and widely acclaimed composer/conductor Victoria Bond. She’s composed operas, ballets, and many other works large and small.
And in other news….
Folias Duo recently had a successful recital at Indiana University. Here’s a link to see an excerpt.
Guitarist/composer Dale Kavanagh has a new CD out. I haven’t heard it yet but I most certainly will in the next couple of days. She’s a favorite of mine. Here’s a link if you’d like to buy it for yourself.
This weeks guest is Randy Ojeda esq. whose law practice focuses on artist management. Please join us as we discuss the too often ignored and misunderstood aspects of being a successful artist.
A new CD by composer Lee R. Kesselman will be released on Friday Nov. 15. I’ve heard it and it’s wonderful. Many people don’t know that there is a lot of new classical music being performed these days. It’s not just old music by dead people. You should definitely check it out.
Making Changes
So professionally some things are changing….I think/hope. It was suggested recently that my podcast should be video instead of audio only. I’ve actually been thinking about this for awhile now but I was undecided. (That’s a polite way of saying wishy-washy) But I’m committed to the change now. Actually I would like to think of it as an upgrade.
I’m not entirely sure how it will be presented but I’ve got this part figured out….all of the future episodes will be approximately a half hour in length, unedited, and recorded from Zoom. Past episodes were quite heavily edited. Some conversations were nearly ninety minutes long and I cut them down to fifty or so. The audio version will be available wherever you normally get your podcast and then the video version, or at least clips, will be available on my YouTube channel. I’m still trying to sort it all out. I’ve got a lot of technical stuff to work out too. The plan is to be up and running before February 2024.
When I started out doing this stuff I knew that I didn’t know anything about it and that mistakes were unavoidable. That means that as I continue to learn and grow, changes are inevitable….or at least they should be. I’ve enjoyed many entertaining and informative conversations with my artistic friends and I thought others would enjoy listening in. So I started the podcast with the idea that the listeners could be “a fly on the wall”. I steadfastly avoided the “interview” model of a traditional show. Well, I was wrong. Nobody cared to listen to other people shoot the breeze. And, like many people, I was slow to acknowledge it. But I’ve finally come around.
While talking about it with my advisor I was urged to transform this blog into a vlog and do video only. I’m not too sure I want to do that. I enjoy the act of writing. I probably should have been a writer instead of a musician. If I were to turn on the camera and just talk about this weeks topic I would likely just babble away. And if I scripted it first I would recite it with all of the finesse of an eighth-grader reciting Shakespeare. This may not be the smartest move but I think I’ll just continue writing for the time being.
I bounce my ideas off of my wife. She’s very smart and very intuitive and often thinks of angles that I miss. I also pay a consultant an hourly fee to help out periodically. Honestly, I’m not smart enough to think of this stuff by myself and I’m always looking for input. So with that in mind, please send me your thoughts and ideas, criticisms, complaints, or just general comments. Such things matter to me and are beneficial. I’m sorry that I can’t afford your hourly fee. I’m sure you’re worth it.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in the news a lot over the past several months. Although there is no specific publishing date, it was first developed in September of 2021. However most of us didn’t learn about it until earlier this year.
I’ve been curious about it and have read articles and watched news reports with interest. I think the joke “artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity” has been effectively disproven. AI is emerging as a very powerful tool. And like all tools it can be used for any purpose the user determines.
I downloaded ChatGPT recently just to see what the fuss was about. It was very easy and quick to download and it’s free. So…why not? Okay, I’ve got it. Now what?
I’ve had an idea for a how-to book that I’d like to write so I decided to see if AI could help. I asked it to give me ten chapter headings on that subject and I instantly had them. Several were obvious choices and one was off the mark. But a couple of them were pretty good and I hadn’t thought of them before. Although I won’t be able to use them, they caused me to think in other directions and gave me some inspiration. So without knowing how to use AI, I was able to benefit from it just by goofing around.
The process is simple enough. You type in a question or request and it instantly (and I do mean instantly) responds. In another experiment I took a small point in my future book and asked it to write a 500 word article. It instantly gave me a pretty good article. I can see how this can be exploited by students and why teachers are worried.
ChatGPT is just the beginning. There are other AI programs that have recently come out. A battle for good and evil has already begun. Please remember that I’m an old man and if I’m aware of some of this stuff younger, more sophisticated people are also aware and familiar. This is, in part, a concern for striking actors in Hollywood. Their voices and images can be duplicated and used without their consent for the financial gain of the studios. This is generally referred to as “deep fakes”.
In a New Jersey high school some students used deep fake technology to create nude pictures of some of their classmates and then posted them online. I know it sounds outrageous that the ability exists, but not surprising that it was used. I would like to think that the perpetrators were clever….misguided, of course, but clever. Nope. This morning I saw an ad for another AI program and that was its primary selling point. Yes, these kids need to be held accountable, but so should the software developers.
On a brighter note, the Beatles released a new single this week with the help of AI. (Geez. With the release of a new single by the Beatles and a new album by the Rolling Stones it makes me wonder just how far we set back our clocks this weekend.) Paul, George, and Ringo tried to do something with the remaining cassette demo that John had recorded before his death in 1980 but the original was, in George’s words, “F**king rubbish”. Now, nearly 30 years later, with the help of this new technology, Paul, Ringo, and others were able to make it work.
There were several technical problems, of course, but the biggest hurdle then was that John had simply sang and played piano into a cassette recorder. The piano overpowered his voice in several places and there was no way to balance them out…..until now. With the help of AI they were able to separate the voice and the piano and put them on different tracks. I recently saw a demonstration of the process and was amazed. The demonstrator played piano and sang into a single microphone, took this recording and plugged it into the AI program and instantly got back two separate tracks which could each be manipulated individually. No fuss…no muss.
There is no doubt we are at the beginning of a turning point. For better or worse this technology will change our lives. Yes we should be worried about it’s potential and need to take precautions. But we should also be excited. The possibilities are mind blowing. I’m not too worried because predicting the future has only ever worked with tabloid astrologers. If you watch the movie “2001, A Space Odyssey” you’ll see the video phone (of course) but it’s attached to the kitchen wall. I should add that we don’t have a presence in orbit around Jupiter either. And the pocket communicator in the original Star Trek TV show looks absolutely quaint.
So, for now, I will watch my back but hope for the best. Perhaps it will eventually make me a decent cup of coffee or help me decipher the words to “Louie, Louie”.
Happy Halloween
It’s Halloween. In a few hours the “trick-or-treaters” will be stopping by the house and I will be handing out treats. An annual tradition that I happily participate in, partly out of gratitude for all of the goodies I received as a costumed child many years ago. In truth I look forward to the excitement-turned to duty that the kids have.
As the evening begins the kids run up the steps to the front door and yell “trick or treat” and are excited that you drop a piece of candy into the opened container (usually, but not always, some sort of sack). However, an hour and a half later they just sort of wander up the sidewalk, saunter up the stairs, and dutifully mutter “trick or treat”. When I offer a piece of candy they don’t hardly notice. They simply open their sack as if to say, “just put it in here with the rest of them.” Their enthusiasm has waned and become something like their parents daily enthusiasm about fifteen minutes before quitting time.
Old people like me inevitably make comparisons between the way it was when we were children and the way it is today. It’s not our fault that we remember stuff but I hate it when these words dribble from my lips…..(fill in the blank) “back in my day” or “when I was your age” or any other variation that you can imagine. But dribble they do. Things today are very different of course. The big differences for me is the presence of adults accompanying the kids. It’s sadly necessary. It wasn’t when I was a kid. We would roam the neighborhood like pint-sized marauders rushing from house to house. However, once we had been to every house the evening was done. We went home ate treats.
Another difference is the treats themselves. We would often get home-made treats like fudge, brownies, cookies, and popcorn balls. I honestly didn’t care for popcorn balls but my Mom loved them. So I happily gave them to her as a bribe to keep her out of the good stuff. Unfortunately those days will never return. It’s the one night of the year where it’s okay to accept candy from strangers as long as it’s store-bought and the wrapper hasn’t been tampered with. Today’s kids will never know the joy of choking down a popcorn ball or a peanut butter cookie that was left in the oven too long…..about a week ago. But you did find out which of your neighbors could bake….or couldn’t. You also found out which ones cared enough to actually take the time to make things instead of simply buying a bag of root beer barrels or rock hard bubble gum.
So yes, things today are a bit different than they were. But the important things still remain. Luckily no one has figured out a way to do it virtually. It is still a brief opportunity to socially interact with real people. It’s a very brief opportunity for me to meet my neighbors and their children. We can choose to be either those nice old people who live on the corner or those grumpy, mean old people that no one likes.
And we give out the good stuff. We give it out to anyone who rings the bell. Little kids, teenagers, and one old lady holding her infant grandchild claiming she was trick-or-treating for the baby. (Yeah, right. I wanna see that kid chow down a Snickers bar) Age doesn’t matter…it’s just a piece of candy. It’s more important, in my opinion, that the kids have a safe night on the town.
Even though it’s an international event it’s still very local. A celebration of Barbies, ninjas, superheroes, and things that go bump in the night. A “hall pass”, if you will, for children of all ages to extort a small treat from their neighbors. A tradition that most of us willfully participate in….some gleefully and some begrudgingly. But I’m grateful that we still carry on this peculiar tradition. So Happy Halloween to all.
Oh….and I’m also grateful for the demise of the dreaded popcorn ball.
Homecoming Parade
Our great-granddaughter is a cheerleader. This is her first year and she is understandably excited. This past Friday was Homecoming at the school which, of course involves a football game in the evening. Before that, however, is the Homecoming Parade that travels through our little town and makes its way to the school. Our little cheerleader was in the parade so Grandma and Grandpa decided to attend.
We hadn’t gone to the parade in many years. It’s kind of embarrassing because the parade route passes within a block of our home. But we made it this year to support our cheerleader if not the hometown.
As soon as we left the house and headed downtown we recognized the commotion. There was excitement in the air. A Homecoming is special in a small town.
When we got downtown we spotted an empty spot at the curb and so we claimed it as our own. We chatted a bit with others in the vicinity and got to know our neighbors. A lot of the older folks were there for the same reason we were. A family member or family of a friend was involved.
I looked about and took in the spectacle. Folks lined up along the curb or standing directly behind someone who was. Someone had set up a hotdog stand nearby. I guess I wasn’t curious enough to walk over and find out who it was. Perhaps a local church using it as a fundraiser. In past years I’ve seen a popcorn machine set up too but I didn’t see it this year.
There were little kids, with their parents, excited not only for the parade but also because parade participants would be throwing candy to them as they passed by. There were middle-school kids there too, happy to be off their tether and allowed to socialize with their own kind in a feral sort of way. This included a couple of small herds of young girls who seemed to be on some kind of urgent mission based on the way they scampered from one location to another.
The parade began at 5:30 sharp with the blast of sirens from the various police cars that were in the lead. That was followed by the local marching band. If you were hoping for world class music you were destined to be disappointed. But this is where world class music begins. I have the highest praise for local band directors who can somehow wrangle these children and teach them how to play their various instruments while marching. Oh….and the music was still pretty darn good.
The parade continued with a succession of convertible cars carrying the Homecoming King and Queen and their court two-by-two. There were a few more vehicles carrying members of various charities and, of course, the cheerleaders. The passengers of all of these vehicles were throwing handfuls of candy to the children as they passed. All of the kids had plastic bags full of the candy they had collected. It was a pretty good precursor to Halloween. I doubt the candy would last that long but their weekend was looking promising.
Many of vehicles were provided by or sponsored by local businesses and so also doubled as rolling billboards. My wife and I lamented that there were no traditional floats. That used to be a big deal when we were in school during the dark ages. And then another blast of sirens as a firetruck and ambulance passed, announcing the end of the parade. Our little parade had lasted about 15 minutes.
During the time we were there I spent a moment to take it all in. The folks there were from all walks of life all along the economic spectrum. There was no question that many differing socio/political views were well represented. But none of that mattered this night. This was homecoming in our town. The town that belonged to all of us. The town that we all cared about.
If all you knew about America was what you saw in the news you would be disappointed in what had become of the American Dream. But when you balance that with our little Homecoming Parade, which is little different from homecoming parades in every town across America, you get a much more balanced view. Yes we have our problems. You can list them as easily as I can. But we have our good points too and they should be listed just as often to remind us of how lucky we are. I’ll start…..Homecoming Parade.
TheUntalented Students
After my Mom died a couple decades ago we went through her stuff, as one does. I came across all of the school report cards we had received as children. She had kept them all. While I was a pretty good student generally, I noticed one very ironic item in my elementary cards. Apparently the one subject I did poorly in was (wait for it…..) music. So, of course, I chose music as a profession (as one does).
I always felt drawn to the creation and performance of music. But when I pursued it I realized that I was not a natural nor particularly talented. But I had forgotten these report cards. When I came across them they reaffirmed my feelings.
I’m largely a self-taught (feral?) guitarist. I’ve had a handful of lessons over the years but all of my students have had more formal music training in the last couple of months than I’ve had in my lifetime. I’ve joked that I am living proof that you don’t need to take lessons and study to become a good guitarist…..if you don’t mind spending 20 years learning 4 years of material. And, although I think of myself as a good guitarist, I’ve never been a great one. I don’t know if studying formally would have changed that or not.
I believe, however, that my background has made me a pretty good teacher. I did so very many things wrong before I did them right that I can properly advise a student. (“I used to think that your way was easier too. I was wrong. Please don’t make the same mistakes I did.”) I’m also empathetic with their struggles. I clearly remember my own struggles in trying to get my fingers to do stuff. Some memories of that frustration still make me wince.
I’ve been thinking of all this recently as I look over my teaching career. It’s easy to point to the talented students. The small handful that made a successful career in music. The few extremely talented amateurs who’ve decided to play for the sheer enjoyment of it. The standouts that every teacher in every field has.
However I’m equally proud of some of the students who weren’t talented. Their struggles were often painful to watch. But they never gave up. They toughed it out. They likely will never be awesome, but they will (I hope) have a lifetime of enjoyment from playing music. They will also have a deepened appreciation of the virtuosi that they encounter throughout their life.
As their teacher I was often frustrated and even angry. Not at their inability to comprehend or execute but at my own inability to present the information in a manner that was more helpful. If a student is really trying and is unsuccessful, then much of the responsibility rests on the teacher.
It’s funny that I’ve also had many extremely talented students who failed because they just didn’t try. No matter what I did, I just couldn’t get them motivated to apply themselves. Those are the ones that disappoint me. But when someone tries really hard and finally is able to play pretty good? I’m really proud of them too and like to brag…..as one does.
My Excellent Adventure
About four or five years ago I got this bright idea that I wanted to start riding bicycle again. I rode a lot 25 years ago but stopped when I developed a heart condition. I just chickened out I guess. At the very least I didn’t want to ride alone. But I missed riding and so, after getting the okay from my cardiologist, I started again.
I was so out of shape that I could only ride 4 or 5 miles at a time. Then I needed a snack and a nap. (Still two of my favorite pastimes) However, I kept going out and gradually increased the distance and frequency of my rides. To coincide with my rediscovered hobby I went on a diet and lost over 70 lbs.
I’m not too fond of riding on public roads anymore. I’ve had some unpleasant experiences with the occasional driver and just don’t want or need to put myself in that situation anymore. There are some extraordinary trails for unmotorized vehicles all over the country. I’ve driven past some of them in my travels to northern Michigan and thought I would like to ride them someday. The problem is I didn’t want to drive for two hours just to ride for ten minutes. But this past summer I was regularly riding 15-25 miles and could have gone further but I just didn’t want to. I didn’t feel like I had that much discretionary time. I’ve got students to teach, blogs to write, podcasts to produce, blah….blah….blah!
This past weekend, at the urging of my wife, I packed up my bicycle and my credit card and headed north. The first stop was in Leland, near Traverse City. Within Leland is a historical site called Fishtown. A former commercial fishing village on Lake Michigan. It’s been preserved and repurposed with art galleries, sandwich shops, etc. I had never been but my friend Carolyn Damstra had a pop-up art gallery there so I thought I would surprise her with a visit and also see if there was a trail nearby.
We hadn’t seen each other in person since before the pandemic so it was nice getting a chance to hang out and catch up. But she was working, after all, so I left after a half hour. But she gave me directions to a nearby trail so my biking adventure officially began. I parked my car, unloaded my bike, and jumped on the trail. The trail was a mixture of crushed limestone and fine sand. It was a nice surface to ride on, but a bit slower than I’m used to. On the other hand, I wasn’t in a hurry so it didn’t matter. I rode through mostly forest and open meadow. After a couple of miles it became a paved surface and the ride was smoother and faster. I spent the next couple of miles just admiring the beauty of the area and occasionally stopping to take a picture or two. I finally got to a place where the trail crossed a busy road, so I decided to turn around and go back.
When I returned to my car I checked my bikes odometer and saw that I had ridden about ten miles in approximately an hour and a half. I probably could have made better time but why would I want to? As an old man I officially have “mosey” down to a science.
Normally I would be done for the day, but I hadn’t ridden all those times over the last few years building my stamina just to quit now. Nope! I had other places to go. Specifically Charlevoix, or a place just north of there. There is a bike path that runs parallel to US31 along the Lake Michigan shoreline. I’ve driven that rode hundreds of time but have never been on the trail. I’ve ofter said, “One of these days….” But had not done it…..until now.
I rolled into a rest area/trail head around 5:30pm and unloaded my bike. I jumped on the trail and headed north with a beautiful Lake Michigan to keep me company. After a couple hundred yards along the road the path turned into the woods. Riding along, soaking it all in, and feeling grateful for the experience as I looked to the sky and saw the blue expanse over the lake contrasted with dark storm clouds off to the east. Uh oh! So I came to where the path crossed a side road (is there a pattern here?) and turned around. After I loaded the bike I checked the odometer and saw that I had ridden a mere six miles. Only sixteen accumulated miles but it was quality not quantity that was important on this trip. As soon as I got in the car the rain started. Slowly at first and then heavy. Like driving through a car wash.
My family has a cottage about 40 minutes from there so the plan was to spend the night there and then do some more riding the next day. As I was driving I realized I hadn’t eaten since breakfast so I stopped at a local market and got some food. While sitting in the cottage I started to make plans for the next day. I had toyed with the idea of spending the morning riding around that area but ultimately decided against it. Instead, one other destination on my “one of these days” list was about an hour away. So the next morning I headed east to Hartwick Pines State Park.
I originally thought there was a trail there. I misunderstood. There were two I soon discovered. I followed the trail as I was driving from Grayling to the park. It runs parallel to the road. When I got to the park the trail ended (began?) at the entrance. However there was no place to park. So I entered the park hoping to ask the park ranger but none was on duty. So I drove about looking for a trailhead but couldn’t find one. So I drove over to the Visitor Center and hoped I could find someone there.
Luckily there were three people there with only themselves to talk to. I think they were happy to see me and were anxious to help. I told them I was looking for the trailhead and this nice woman immediately said, “Sure. It’s right at the end of the parking lot. You just go this way (she pointed) and you’ll see it.” I was thinking that this was some distance from the trail I saw, but okay. “You’re right here”, she point to a map taped to the counter, “and there’s a 3 mile, 5 mile, and 7.5 mile loop that you can follow.” (Loop??) I thanked her and went in search of the entrance.
I found it easily enough and as soon as I entered I realized that my query should have been more specific. This trail was different from the one I was asking about. This trail was a primitive path designed for mountain or fat tire bikes. Not my little urban runabout. But…when in Rome….
So I began my ride thinking a 5 mile loop (now that I understood that nomenclature) would be just about right. The trail immediately went uphill…and then uphill again. When I got to the top of that hill I saw that it went (you guessed it) uphill a third time. Then it went downhill….severely. I wasn’t sure if I was going to coast down or fall off.
It leveled off a bit and then started a series of hills again. I remember thinking it was like the old joke…..”up hill both ways”. I also remember amending my distance to the 3 mile loop and still wasn’t entirely sure I would make it. The path was dirt, punctuated with tree roots and small holes, and a mixture of dirt and very soft sand. When the tires hit the sand it was like riding on ice and then I would bog down as the sand deepened.
The path opened into a beautiful meadow and flattened out. It was at this moment that I thought of a couple of friends who look forward to this kind of ride and do it often. And I briefly understood why. And then I went uphill again…..and again. On one hill there was a stretch of sand that bogged me down enough that I had to get off and walk. On another hill I missed a shift and ended up walking again about 30 feet. Those were the only times I walked. I managed to ride the rest.
When I finally emerged from the trail into the parking lot there was a young couple about to hike it. They saw me riding (I’m being generous to abilities here) down the hill that I had earlier ridden up and cautiously waited for me. “Good morning! How are you doing today?”, they asked. “I’m tuckered out”, I said. But I realized I was grinning. That wasn’t the trail I had intended to ride and I will go back soon to ride that one. But I may take another crack at the forest too. It had never occurred to me that I could ride that bugger, but now that I have I may have to consider a return trip. I’m not over confident, but I do feel somewhat emboldened.
I loaded up the bike and checked the odometer. The lady told me it was a 3 mile loop, but my bike said it was almost 4 miles…….and my body suggested it was closer to 30 miles.
Then I checked my watch. It was just 10:30 on Saturday morning. As I had mentioned in a previous blog, my friend Tom Heideman has an internet radio show on Twisted Road Radio from 11:00-1:00. He told me he was going to play my song “A Fond Farewell” at the very end and I was only 90 minutes from home. So I hightailed out of there and got home in time for lunch with Tom. And I still had time later for a snack and a nap.
Tunes With Tom
I am a creature of habit. My wife teases me about it often. But my routines keep me productive. I get stuff done because I follow my routines. The downside is that I’ve become complacent. My habits are comforting, like an old pair of sneakers. And, like a lot of old people, I don’t care for change. I don’t find change to be exciting. Instead it’s usually a bit unsettling.
Recently I interviewed Tom Heideman for my podcast. Tom is a singer/songwriter that I’ve known and admired for over twenty years. He also has an internet radio show on Saturdays from 11:00am-1:00pm. I had never listened to it because, well…..it’s new. It’s not part of my routine and I didn’t know what kind of music he played but I knew it would be different from the music I normally listen to……and that can’t be good. But in the name of “research” I tuned in a couple weeks ago.
Internet radio is very different from what I imagined. First of all I needed to find the website. Then I needed to figure out how to tune in and listen on my computer. So I’m already a long way from my comfort zone. But it’s Tom…..he’s a friend……..and a guest on my show. So I guess I’ll just “man up” and deal with it. (Insert audible sigh here).
It turns out that it wasn’t that tricky after all. Just a couple of clicks of the mouse and I was in. I came into the show several minutes after it started and was greeted with a really cool, kind of jazzy tune. I also noted there was a live chat room. People were engaged in pleasantries (remember pleasantries? Pleasantries seem to be in short supply these days.) discussing the song they were listening to as well as other songs they had heard by the same artist. And, in this case, the artist was also a part of the discussion.
I “lurked” for a few minutes and then simply typed “Good morning Tom” and was immediately greeted by several others and welcomed into the group. That encouraged me to become a semi-active participant. (I didn’t want to be pushy and I wasn’t sure of proper chat room etiquette)
Then came the next song. It was a soft acoustic ballad. A far cry from the one before it. Each successive song was different from the others. What a pleasant change! (Wait! Did I just say that out loud?) And it quickly became apparent that these were indy productions….and they were good…..mostly. Some of the production qualities were a bit sub-par, but once you learn to listen past that you will enjoy yourself. And if you don’t like the song you’re currently listening to, just wait a minute. The next one will be different.
I’ve been advocating “buy local” for years as a point of principle and philosophy, but it turns out there is a much more practical reason for doing so. This is just plain, old, great music. In many ways this is the way it was when I was growing up. The local radio station played a wide variety of music from rock, to country, to polkas, to big band. Radio today is formatted and the music has a sameness about it. Ok…I know that’s comforting. Believe me….I get it. But “Tunes With Tom” (that’s the name of his show) is eclectic. It’s new and exciting (geez…there I go again).
I revisited the show again last Saturday morning. This time it wasn’t for research or to be polite to a friend. I went back because I really enjoy it. And I honestly expect to be a regular listener and participant…..routinely.
If you have some spare time on a Saturday from 11-1 take a moment and listen to Tunes With Tom on Twisted Road Radio. It might became a part of your routine too.
