“Several years running I was asked to facilitate a drum circle for Salisbury Behavioral Health out of the Philadelphia area.
Over the years, I have become familiar with and friends with many of the participants, most of whom are adults with various developmental disabilities…”
Read More“Music has the power to transport us to different places, times, and even far away worlds. It has the ability to tap into our deepest feelings, and to instigate entire emotional and mental states. It all depends on what the composer is trying to achieve. This is at the core of scoring for soundtracks. It is also effective without the aid of a visual component.”
Read MoreAs you gather with your loved ones as this holiday season kicks off, please accept my blessings and well wishes for each and every one of you. My clients, my loved ones, my friends, my tribe,.. Without all of you life would be a dull bore, a flavorless fruit, an endless repetition of sunrise to sunset. It is connection with others that I am always grateful for. The relationships that color our lives, and the stories we all create together over time and space. It is an honor to travel with you all, and I raise of glass to many, many, many more years of fellowship to come.
Read MoreI remember the first time I met Dylan Manfre. He had to have been like 9 years old or so, maybe 10, and he was this wide eyed kid with this huge blonde poof of hair. He was a little hesitant at first learning guitar, but he settled into it more and more each week. And then years went by, and even more years after that. I worked with Dylan right up until he left for college. I taught him everything from chords, soloing, to songwriting, singing; there really wasn’t a musical stone left unturned in our work together.
Read MoreWhile working at Trenton psychiatric, I have met all manner of interesting people. Many of the people that reside at the facility, be it long term or short term, often have some incredible skills, expansive minds, and innate creativity, and it’s rather inspiring to spend time with them.
Ne such fella I met there I will dub, The Spiritualist. This man was SO deeply aware of spiritual practices, pagan theologies, and really, considerably high level spiritual practice understandings. He and I would talk at length about astrology, lunar cycles, the pros and cons of organized religion, and a lot about how Paganism fits into the modern world. He was always someone that I was excited to see at the Self Help Center.
Read MoreOver my many, many years of teaching I have encountered students of all ages, experience, musical preference, and education, and if there’s one thing that always (while also never) surprises me, is how many people beyond the beginner stage do not know or lean heavily on the importance of the musical alphabet.
Something so rudimentary, and so crucial, and somehow many teachers overlook the need to stress the value of this simple piece of info.
Read MoreI have never figured out if I dreamt having this one particular woman student, or if I saw her once and then somehow forgot to ever get back to her. It has perplexed me for a long time.
When I was first getting into teaching, I was coming out of working at a studio. The owner was not so good at his finances, and was constantly bouncing checks, or not paying me for extended periods of time. I was frustrated, and eventually I started transitioning out of working at that studio, and a lot of my students ended up exiting with me, as I was their preferred teacher. That is when I really started doing housecall lessons, something which is still a main income stream for me to this day.
Read MoreI Had been practicing Reiki For Years, I Just Didn’t Know It
In the midst of my double yoga certifications I also began attending Reiki shares, and finding myself in the company of many practitioners. I had been familiar with the word Reiki, but not so much the formal practice, sigils, or the history behind it all. Once I became aware of it all, I found myself intrigued to learn and to practice more.
In short form: Reiki is an energy healing practice where the life force of a person or thing is able to be healed, modified, or shifted to a place of greater love, functionality, and positivity. Reiki does not have to be a touch based practice (the laying of hands) but it also can be an effective way to deliver the healing. It’s origins are japanese, and though such healing practices are ancient, the actual establishment of Reiki as a noted healing modality is still fairly new in the Western World.
Read MoreAll Work And No Play Makes For A Dull Experience
Being in a band is fun, but it’s also work. A lot of work. So much work that it can turn into a job.. (shudders). There’s nothing wrong with that though. As long as you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life, as the saying goes, however with work there needs to be play. Balance is crucial because play inspires work very often, and they feed into each other.
“Come Out And Play…”
Encouraging play time with collaborators is a great way to detach from the brain, and also a wonderful way to grow together. Seeing each other in an environment where you are engaged in activities that have nothing to do with work, or even if it does, but in a more passive way, helps you not only get to know each other more, but it is a terrific stimulant for new and inspired creativity. With my collaborators, I like to go to concerts, do nature excursions, see movies, and even go to events and gatherings where we aren’t going to be so inclined to promote or network. It’s good to be removed from the grind of spreading the gospel of your project endeavors.
Read MoreEarly on in my teaching career, I was contacted by a woman named Teresa about lessons for her son Johnny, and so we started working together. Jonny was a bit of a hellraiser, but a good kid nonetheless, and I always enjoyed teaching him. We would play all kinds of rock and metal songs, and he got pretty good pretty fast. I had enough years on him to be a bit of a big brother type that he never took overly serious like an adult, but more as someone he could be himself without me getting all grown-up-ish when he acted like a jackass. He was definitely a rambunctious kid, and no stranger to rebellious hijinks. He was always a bit of a wise guy , but again, really a good kid at the end of it all.
Teresa eventually ended up as my hair stylist, and we became friends. She was a nice woman and a solid mother. She supported Jonny’s interests and provided all the care that he needed, and she would often.
Read MoreLife is Too Short To Waste Time NOT Laughing
Let’s face it, the world is a hectic place; war, strife, pollution.. All those things that bring on panic and anxiety, especially when it is literally crammed down our throats every minute of every day on the news, on social media, in the newspapers, etc. It can be sickening, and we can let this kind of bombardment really drag us down. Or… it doesn’t have to.
Laughter.
The magick cure to even the most profoundly upsetting moments in this life. Laughter, unlike other medications, is FREE and it is INFINITELY available. So try a dose every time you are feeling down.
Read MoreMy Name Is Jimmy, And I’m A PolyAmorophonic Instrumental Non-Monogamist
“Say what?”, you may be wondering …
I enjoy describing myself this way in jest at times when the opportunity presents itself, as “Polyamorophonic” is my twist on the word Polyamory, which is a relationship practice of having “many loves”, or in other (simplified) words, an open relationship. This is how I feel about instruments. Why enjoy just 1 when you can find love with 2 or 3.. Or 4… Just like with an open relationship though, make sure you spend enough time, energy, and attention to each of your beloveds. I mainly split my time with Guitar and Piano, and though Guitar is my primary, Piano is a very close secondary. I find immense fulfillment in my interaction with both.
Why Learn 1 Instrument When You Can Learn 3?!
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