I have been incorporating songwriting into my day job in every and any way that I can this past year and a half. Recently, the word went out through the National Park Service for park sites to find creative ways to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for the 50th anniversary. In a conversation with…
Category: performer
What is Story-to-Song?
Curious how a song is written? I am starting a film series on how I write songs using the Story-to-Song method. Here is the introduction! Stay tuned for more…
All by myself
It can feel pretty lonely up there at the mic, and I have found ways to avoid direct contact with the audience while I am performing. I often sing with my eyes closed. It helps me to feel the rhythm and to focus on the story of the song. Somehow, with my eyes closed I…
Inner critic, be damned!
My inner critic and I have known each other for a long time. As much as I would like to send it packing, I know that we are a part of each other. A gift from my inner critic is when I discover its limitations. Without fail, after each low moment when I let that…
Where nearly no one knows my name
For much of my life, I have felt like an anomaly. These past few years of moving around, I thought I had found peace with this feeling. Tonight, I went to my second ever open mic in Lowell at the Back Page. All day, I had felt in a bit of a funk, not myself….
Performance do’s and don’ts
In my last post, I began a dialogue about musical performance. This dialogue was inspired by a fellow musician, who wrote to me recently with questions on the subject. One her questions was how to remember music when you are in front of an audience. I reflected on this question. Remembering lyrics has always come…
Performance jitters
A musician across the proverbial pond recently sent me a message about performance. The questions she raised were perfect fodder for a dialogue, and I was honored by her words and her willingness to be vulnerable and reach out. For me, becoming comfortable with performance has been a long, bumpy ride, and even today there…
Artist or Busk
Do you ever feel like you are in limbo? In my post-doctorate life, I feel the weight of what comes next. It haunts me day in and day out. When I ponder the question, it is clear in my mind what I would like to be doing, but the desire is a daunting one to…
Guiding Song 