A Wedding Today

I played a wedding today at the Franco Center. Although few look at my website and even fewer (maybe none) read this blog, I am still not going to divulge the couple (unless the ask me to). It was beautiful and of course the location and the weather helped (despite the heat).

Originally the plan was violin duets. I had the person ready but they didn't respond to a few weeks of emails. I found a bass player, but they had a gig in Augusta the same day. I asked a good friend who played piano to accompany me-- they also had a wedding to play. I practiced as a solo violin but I knew the sound would not be full. Of course the Franco hosts one of (if not) the best Steinways north of Boston (I played it two weeks ago and I will be adding the recording to this soon). Once I saw the list of songs and a need to accompany during the ceremony, I realized the piano was the saving grace. That piano can whisper and yet fill the hall. So, I found arrangements last night of all the songs and starting preparing. I also found a song near and dear to one of the mother's hearts and decided to add to the end of the ceremony (although few heard it).

In the end, I believe it all went well. I was left in an open hall with my favorite piano and a piece of mind. My fingers were happy and hope everyone had an earful of memories. Congratulations to the couple-- you were both handsome and beautiful. I wish you both a long lasting relationship, good health and happiness. We all need that!

Update: Here are the pics from the wedding.
http://www.sarahlandryphotography.com/Proofing/Zach/24771652_DfjFqW#!i=2027149977&k=56tK8mk

The cost to be comfortable...is worth it!

How have you been? I have been busy-- and yet I have projects that have been pushed aside while I finish others, making me feel like I never quite finish what I intend to each day. That is called life-- keep running up that hill!

One thing that has helped me in my never-ending journey, is to realize that being comfortable is an important stress-fighter when you are adding more stress to your life. I am never going to be without the stress of instrument practice or composition or teaching or studying-- but I can be comfortable while I do it so that I can focus on the task at hand.

So what does this mean? Well, what are you wearing? What are you eating? Are you so concerned about what things cost in comparison to the quality of the item? Let's say that we are talking about sandals. You can always pay $20 and get a pair that feel "alright" for a week, but you know that they will not last and that they are "cheap". You can end up buying these each summer costing you more and more and creating more trash. You could have bought a nice pair-- maybe spend 3 times the amount, but they always fit right, they are built rugged, and they last 3-5 years. You save money and you remain comfortable. You may also be supporting a company that takes pride in their work and not a company that has a machine-only made product. I don't think I need to go into the debate about hand-made quality versus quick/cheap machine-made. Want a plastic violin?

As for food, this should be a given. Want bloating? Want a stomachache? Of course not! Then figure out what makes you feel good when you eat it (gives you energy) and what is good for you. These two things will probably go together. Fried and sugary foods have a similar effect on all people, it is just that some weigh the quick pleasure of taste over the bad digestion. I think it is not worth it. Find foods that are good to digest for you and make them the majority of your diet-- you are too busy to lack energy! Look up non-inflammatory foods and see what many runners are eating. You can't run for too long on bad fuel!

Sorry to be preachy. Where is the music tie-in? I am trying to sell old equipment to afford a keyboard. This keyboard does not have the bells and whistles of the workstations that hold thousands of samples and contain a touch-screen computer and such. This keyboard has one main feature-- the keys are wooden like a real piano, and the feel and action are as much like the real thing as you can get. It is all about the touch to me-- feeling comfortable! It is worth it.

Next time you are weighing the options between quality and cost, think about comfort first and foremost. How long is this life? Imagine buying the cheapest bed and spending a third of your life with nightly uncomfortable rest? Think about it.

Thank you!

String Trio in the Park

On Thursday June 7th, I played violin with a string trio in the park on Lisbon St. in Lewiston. The event was a dedication to Chief Justice Armand Dufresne-- the park was named after him already-- I believe that a monument was being put up. It meant a new venue to play with a new audience, so I was ready.

We were two violins and viola-- but last minute that changed to a bass viola da gamba (with gut strings). The instrumentation was not perfect since the violins were overpowering and tuning issues arose (gut outside is an issue). We played early Italian music-- Corelli,. Samartini, Monteverdi-- no one made a comment as to it being appropriate or not, but it sounded good.
More of these gigs are on the way.

Thanks!

Lost gigs and New directions

I haven't updated this in a while...sorry. I have been busy, but not in the ways I would like.
I have been preparing for a few weddings with a string quartet and string trio happening throughout June, July and August. I will feel at home again in a suit playing something "classical".
I played fiddle at a Civil War reenactment for a grade school (Harriet Beecher Stowe) in Brunswick last week (5/25).

I couldn't land a costume so I improvised with what I had-- a perfect minstrel outfit!

MaineStream lost a major gig at Harmony Hall this past weekend. Each member was not only prepared, but had put aside personal events to make the gig. There was anger from all sides and I just wondered what went wrong-- possibly Memorial weekend and bad timing. The band is now questioning remaining together. I hope something gets solved-- when we work together we have a decent sound. Is the gigging scene in this state shrinking?
Yet another roadblock in the journey.

Thanks!