The thought began quite some time ago with someone in an online church musician group where I’m a member. They mentioned how hard it was to find any music for atheists and agnostics’ funerals and asked for suggestions. Funeral music seems to be exclusively religious: eternal life in heaven, the love of God, etc. The […]
Funeral Music for the Non-Religious: Story Time Read More »
Deep in space, a million-ish years before humans walked the earth, a white-hot star reached critical mass. Its gasses swirled violently, imploded and then exploded—sending all the matter in its star system off at wild angles and nearly impossible speeds. An eighty-kilometer fragment from the innermost heavy gravity planet shot away on a ballistic trajectory
Prologue [unused] for But Who’s Got the Kids? Read More »
I tend to lean toward being charitable with parents of young children, especially when I read about seemingly preventable tragedies. We get parent-blaming stories about small children escaping adult supervision and getting onto a highway, lost in the woods, climbing into a hot car in their own home’s driveway and getting stuck, drowning in a
The age-old question of “inspiration”—where that music comes from—has always fascinated me. Paintings of angels hovering beside composers and dictating new music are common. Music’s origination is often attributed only to centuries-dead geniuses and divine inspiration, certainly nothing that happens now. Of course, as a child, I believed that. Fast-forward to my recent history. Since
Music from the Stars Read More »
It has been said that the price of a long life is outliving your loved ones. I’m realizing this is an extravagantly costly price. Processing the sudden loss of an age peer friend is beyond difficult. And as my age approaches the biblical three-score and ten, I suspect that losing family and friends will become
The Price of a Long Life Read More »
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: No Good Choices (working title) Read More »
It’s clearly their own fault that they can’t get ahead. They’re lazy and stupid and just want a free ride. They’re a burden on others and failure’s their habit. Don’t notice their struggles for dignity, pride. The child in the ghetto deserved his harsh fate. His mom had no reason to yield to despair. His
It’s Their Own Fault Read More »
January 24, 2022 Rowen shivered in her hospital gown as she peered over her mask to survey the room. Pristine walls and cabinets glistened white against the spotless stainless-steel fixtures. The cryo vault door—also stainless-steel—loomed hopefully behind her. The only decorations were Dr. Emmett Cohen’s many degrees, fellowships, licenses: and posters depicting various aspects of
Decision in Cohen Clinic Read More »
Yes, it IS possible to learn how to play by ear and/or take music dictation, even if you don’t have perfect pitch. Are you or your students struggling with their ear training for music theory class or just would like to play that new pop song “by ear?” Are you wondering what to do when
Ear Training Hints Read More »