Happy Easter + Viva Santa Fe!

I'm finally back from the New Mexico-Texas excursion, which was laced with traveling drama, a national conference of unexpectedly rich research, and some cultural sight-seeing.

Taking a day to recover from the hectic MTNA schedule, we took advantage of our proximity to the famous Turquoise Trail and spent an afternoon cruising some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in North America. Whether you're an outdoors enthusiast, Wild West buff, or just plain curious, the 60 mile highway that traverses the western plains from northern Albuquerque to Santa Fe is well worth your time.

And the destination makes this fun day even more satisfying. Santa Fe has been embedded in my mind ever since I first saw it 7 years ago, seeing it again was a real treat. With a quaint historic center made up of winding pedestrian streets, this classic Western town boasts excellent weather, plenty of museums, fantasic cuisine, and, of course some of the best artwork in the U.S.

This equation amounts to probably one of the best 12-hour mini-vacations around. Three of our highlights:

Madrid, NM: This ghosty town has charm and quirkyness to spare. Double the fun if you make this stop on a motorcyle.
The Shed: Quintessential New Mex cuisine, and the best margheritas around (literally, there was nothing even close in Albuquerque). The blue corn quesadillas are a delight, and makes sure you try both the red and green chilis...a Shed specialty!
Marble Brewery: Actually founded on Marble Street in Albuqeurque, this Santa Fe location boasts 10 beers on tap (in rotation, but I recommend the Marble Red and Brown Ale) for those of age, a rooftop patio (with historic city center views), and made-to-order wood-fired flat-bread pizzas made with local ingredients. Viva Santa Fe!

Now on to Texas! It was great to have another week to hang out with Chris, and to see Denton after all these years. My foray in Tex-Mex cuisine continued, but I must say that each and every beer fanatic must visit a Flying Saucer (I think there are three in the Dallas-Fort Worth area). With an impressive list from around the world, and many local micros as well, this is THE place to hang and enjoy a night out with friends.

Oh, and the recital was a success...although recording mishaps plagued us again, but I'll try to salvage some data to post soon. Now I'm in Madison, enjoying the turning to Spring...and all the pleasures this great town has to offer!

Speaking of which, coming up next will be a special post devoted to the Wisconsin Film Festival, surely one of Madison's best annual events! Til then, Happy Easter to all!

MTNA Conference Recap: Stage Fright, Laban Movement, and Entrepreneurial Mentorship 2.0

It's been a whirlwind of a week. Needless to say, my travelling adventures worked out; I made it to Albuquerque for the Music Teachers National Conference after all, and got to enjoy two and a half days of hyper-stimulation about all things music. I had fun with my poster session, and got more feedback about Entrepreneurial Mentorship, and of ways to view it from different perspectives (I sense another paper brewing...).

What makes these conferences fun (besides catching up with people from across the U.S., and learning about what's happening out there in the field-at-large) are the unexpected gems - the sessions that offer both substantially rewarding information, and deflate the stress of such a packed week of events.

The two highlights for me came on the final day of the conference. Frederic Chiu is not only one of my favorite pianists, but he is also a skillful clinician. His entertaining, intellectual, and probing session on stage fright brought together issues of musical training, the efficacy of routine, and psychological analysis. His discussion on Silvan Tomkins' Affect Theory was a particular "Ah-Ha!" moment for me. The idea that our emotional responses preclude (or at least out-pace) our rational responses, gives a new perspective on how our psychological state can influence and/or cause performance meltdowns. It also enhances the notion of regret aversion, which Barry Schwartz links to the mental trauma of making decisions - both in terms of musical interpretation/technical choices, and of the stress we face in our career development. In his book The Paradox of Choice the world of ever-expanding choices, we artists (often as "maximizers") not only have to deal with the opportunity cost of those options we gave up, but also of the ramifications those decisions have on our future trajectory. This can be traumatizing, and I am beginning to think there may be a connection between these feelings and the decisions we make - especially when we face the choice of leaving the field for "better" opportunities. Linking these two concepts from psychology offers a glimpse at how we may learn to control, or at least deal with, such challenges and perhaps quell some of the career-related fears of many artists.

Paola's session was also fantastic. I know I'm biased, but she held a crowd of 60+ people at 8am for the entirety of her talk. Blending a lecture with interactive movement experiences, I think this was perhaps the best session I've attended on movement/performance health/expression yet. We got an overview of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), Bartenieff Fundamentals, and plenty of resources on how to use those principles towards greater physical health, flexible alignment, and (most important, perhaps) more effective musical communication. I know she also got great feedback on her ideas, and can't wait to move forward with more work on Laban Movement Analysis, and hopefully more conference presentations delving deeper into how we can better couple movement awareness with musical expression to further communication between artist and audience. Brava! (Check out her website here for more info)

Now I have to tell you about Santa Fe....which was a delight in and of itself...but that will be coming in my next post! For now, I have to catch a flight. Hope all is well in Madison, could the Terrace possibly open by the time Easter rolls around?

March Musical Madness, Part 1.5: An Interlude

March 20th, 2010: Remember that great Steve Martin and John Candy movie "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"? It's one of my favorites, yet now that I am currently in the middle of such an experience, it's taking on a new meaning.

I won't bore you with all the details, but let's just say I'm never inclined to fly United again. Also, don't buy cheap tickets. More connections mean getting stuck in a city at 2am, with no hotel, no time to explore, no deodorant, toothpaste, or sleep. But it could be worse - my bags could be lost somewhe...actually, nevermind. Hence the lack of toiletries.

Anyways, at least I got to do two things I've never done before: miss the first two days of a national MTNA conference, and fight my way onto a Greyhound for an unexpected 7 hour roadtrip. OK, one of those is better than the other, but I'm trying to think positively here.

Hold on a sec, someone on the bus just asked me read his Prozac prescription for him so he wouldn't accidentally overdose...done. OK that makes three things I haven't done before. Wait, make that four, he just asked to borrow my water too.

Hmm, how do I top that? I don't know but this trip seems to have more surprises up it's sleeve. And now I can see the snow-capped Rockies in the distance. I'll let you know when I get on the train.

March Musical Madness, Part 1

It always seems like March is a period of hyper-activity, augmented by short bursts of manic breakdowns. At least with mid-terms, the fervor to get at least one concert out of the way, and Spring Break plans that never quite work out, it seems that way.

As I'm currently stuck at the Madison airport (it's March 20th as I write this, but imagine it won' get on the web for a few days) ready for two weeks of my own travelling mayhem, I figured it's a good time to recap the first two weeks of the month - which was indicated to me by a colleague to be the busiest of Year in Madison! It will also distract me from my airport stress.

While there were plenty to cover, most have already been written about (go to the Well Tempered Ear for a great analysis of everything musical going on in Madison). I'm going to focus on two Arts Enterprise Madison events that had Bren a long time in the making.

So, we'll start out with the Jacqueline Schwab workshop on living an independent life as a musician. Hers was a story of twists and turns, many of which surprised me, and gave me reason to question my values.

For example, while she has a degree from New England Conservatory, it's in folk music...not the kind of track you often hear about. Even more off beat is the fact that folk styles are traditionally learned through rote, or at least through doing rather than studying. Of course, outside the world of folk artists, having that diploma surely wields an advantage. Plus, one's network surely expands over time. She found ways of breaking ground by leveraging tradition to her advantage.

Honest in her recounts of struggling as a young artist in Boston, it was clear she had experienced much of the challenges we students hear often about. Her story showed that perserverance does pay off, and while hard-earned achievements often don't guarantee fame and fortune, one can pave his or her own way to musical success - and on their own terms.

We were lucky to follow this up with a two-day residency by the hot young jazz quintet Diverse. Their path seems different - with early successes, and a promising future, it was clear that these young musicians had only just begun their careers. It helps that they are jaw-dropping on stage!

They were also tremendously generous, delaying their departure on a hectic shcesule to offer a 75min Q&A session for students. We had a fun and inteiduing discussion, one that probed questions not only of muodcal style, influence, and vision, but of nuts and bolts career issues as well. I particularly like the notion that one member brought about creating a mission for your ensembles. This simple, oft-omitted step clarifies vision, synthesizes goals, and acts as a benchmark for success.

All in all it's been a fun couple of weeks, now I'm off to New Mexico for a research presemtation and then Texas for Anhinga Duo recitals (three down, hopefully three more to go!).

I'll be writing next from Albuquerque, with the second instdllment of March Musical Madness, and with an update about the MTNA national conference. Tip then, check out these artists on their websites:

Jacqueline Schwab Homepage
Diverse Jazz Homepage

Writing for Fun: Can It Be True?

I struggle with writing. So much of the time it feels like pulling teeth...or cleaning teeth...something very much akin to going to the dentist. Any chance to delay, distract, or disconnect from such obligations are welcome. Yet I can't help but feel the urge to complete an essay or blog, to fulfill the anticipation of satisfaction that comes with a job (hopefully well) done.

So it was refreshing to find this article on the art of revision by journalist and writer John Douglas Marshall at IndieReader.com.

Here are some of his tips, in a nutshell:

1) Revisions mean the crap you just wrote is only the beginning. Don't forget that the first draft is just that - the first attempt at making words into art. Admittedly, this is easier for some than others...but at least you can sleep on it, read over your work, and refine it. If only such process-orientation was accepted in the world of piano-playing.

2) Revising is easier on the nerves than writing the first draft. You've already broken the ice, now it's time to enjoy the nuance and unpredictability of looking at a page with new eyes.

3) Try viewing the act of writing as continual revision. Embrace the technology age...cutting and pasting has never been easier. This is one I really like, because my neurosis is somehow quelled by the idea that I can fix as I go. This rarely actually happens, though.

4) Multiple revisions mean multiple realities. So, after a half dozen drafts, doesn't it look like we have six different papers? I never thought about how good that can be - who knows where those drafts may take you for future projects.

As someone revising two papers for publication/presentation at the moment, Marshall's article helped me think of all this work as a pleasure. OK, I'm not gonna lie, it also helps that I'm at my favorite coffee shop sipping an amazing cappucino. Reading what I just wrote, I must be a writer-in-training....

Check out IndieReader.com for more articles, a blog, and lots of other goodies here.

March Arts Roundup

With the fun Jacqueline Schwab event this past Wednesday behind us (check out this multi-faceted artist's website here) I finally realized it's March! And maybe it's because of the balmy weather we've been experiencing here in Madison, but I am getting evermore excited for these upcoming events:

03/07-08 "Making the Music Dance"
8:30pm Morphy Hall (03/07) and Steinway Piano Gallery (03/08)

Pianists and dancers from UW-Madison will present two collaborative performances entitled "Making the Music Dance." The concerts are the culmination of a series of movement workshops, led by graduate piano student Paola Savvidou. You will hear piano performances with live dance improvisation; the overall effect being an aural, visual and kinesthetic interpretation of music by the great masters.

The purpose of the movement workshop and performance project is to develop kinesthetic awareness in pianists, embody the essence of the music, and find creative ways of improving alignment at our instrument, deepening our musical understanding and communication.

Pianists: Sonya Clark, Amanda Horn, Doug Jurs, Jonathan Kuuskoski, Olivia Musat

Dancers: Lissa Erickson, Jamie Landry, Mary Patterson, Carlyn Pitterle, Olivia Templin

Works: Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI: 46, Adagio (Haydn), Island of Joy (Debussy), Sonata in F-sharp major, Op. 78, Adagio Cantabile-Allegro ma non troppo (Beethoven), Nocturne in C minor (Chopin), Sonata No. 2, Andante (Skryabin)

This project is funded by the UW-Madison Arts Institute and the Steinway Piano Gallery of Madison.

For more information contact: Paola Savvidou, savvidou@wisc.edu
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03/10 Guest Artist Series Part V: Diverse Jazz Live! at Der Rathskeller
"The Professional Portfolio in Action"
8:30 pm @ Der Rathskeller, Memorial Union

This residency is a joint-effort among the Arts Enterprise chapters at University of Michigan, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. We will host the award-winning jazz ensemble Diverse on their midwest tour (comprised of UMKC students) for a concert and Q&A session (03/11 @ 11am, Room TBA for students. All events are FREE!

This project is supported by the Associated Students of Madison. For more info, email: artsenterprisemadison@gmail.com
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03/12 and 03/14 The Anhinga PianoSAX Duo Live! in Madison
12:15pm @ First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Drive, “Friday Noon Musicale” Series (03/12)
2:00pm: @ Oakwood Village-West Auditorium, 6209 Mineral Point Rd. (03/14)

OK, a bit of shameless self-promotion! My new piano + sax duo will be in Madison for two concerts as part of our inaugural tour through Wisconsin, Texas, and Oklahoma. Both concerts are FREE and will feature works by Claude Debussy, Robert Muzcynski, Frederic Chopin, and Astor Piazzolla, among others.

To learn more, you can go to: www.jonathankuuskoski.com or www.chrisdickhaus.com
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03/18 Wisconsin Story Project: March Storyshare with Volcano Insurance
7:30pm @ The Project Lodge, 817 E Johnson St.

These are always fun...come out to support the Wisconsin Story Project as they raise funds for their debut show "Cancer Stories" at the Overture Center Playhouse Theatre in May 2010! At this March installment WSP will be sharing the bill with the Surrounded By Reality Jazz series and the jazz guitar trio Volcano Insurance.

The story theme of the night will be "On the Spot." Come share, come listen, come hang out. It's not to be missed!

Check out: http://www.wisconsinstory.org/
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As always, please add those events you'd like to share that I missed...and hope to see you there!

The Academy Awards: A Measure of Artistry or Relevancy?

I always get excited about the Oscars. As far back as I can remember, I've stayed up late to watch the stars, the hosts, the drama. Maybe it helps that I've been stuck on movies since I before I started walking. In fact, I remember back on our old Packard Bell computer (the Windows 93 version) I once set up a catalog of all the movies I'd seen, categorized by genre, year, and rating (yes, I had opinions back then, too).

Anyways, every year I toil with predictions of who the Oscar-winners will be. Will it be the favorite? The underdog? The spoiler? Usually we can expect some surprises. Mostly these are good, like Juliette Binoche winning for "The English Patient" in 1997. Sometimes, though, like when "Crash" upset "Brokeback Mountain" for Best Picture a few years back, they leave a sour taste in my mouth. It is in these circumstances that I wonder: do the Academy Awards function as the measure of artistic greatness or relevancy?

I list these as mutually exclusive choices because often it seems like they do battle against one another, as if the audience-at-large tends to choose their films based on one major criteria. I watched "Titanic" because of the effects, the sheer scale. It definitely wasn't relevant to me, not even in terms of the overblown love story. On the other hand, I don't know much about the mafia, but it's hard to deny the impact of the "Godfather" parts 1 and 2, and others like "Goodfellas" and "Bonnie and Clyde." These movies had iconic visual styles, and refined narratives that communicated far more than the words on the page (er, screen).

Maybe the best example is "Star Wars," whose inspiring message coupled brilliantly with breakthrough technology to offer one of the most entertaining movie experiences of all time. "Avatar" is the latest Oscar front-runner following in that legacy. If it does win best picture, something most blockbusters have failed to achieve in the past 30 years, most would acknowledge has to do with it's mind-bending technological achievements rather than the depth of the story or acting.

That's not to say great movies can't also resonate with us, even if they are dated and no longer as socially relevant. Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" - both visually stunning and perhaps the quintessential commentary on power, greed, and the American dream - still echoes as powerfully as it did in 1941. "The Hurt Locker" is another terribly relevant movie, and I dare say it may be great...but will that be enough to overcome the "Avatar" juggernaut. And, even if "Hurt Locker" upsets the race, is that even a fair measure of it's worth? After all, many of the so-called "greatest" directors never won Academy Awards for any of their films. Cases in point: Welles, Stanley Kubrick, and Robert Altman.

We'll have to wait and see what happens on March 7th, but until then I've devised a test of my questions. Here are my picks (of the 'major' categories), based not on viewing and comparing all the eligible films, rather on my compulsive obsession with cinema news, trends, and the current buzz. If I shoot more than 50%, maybe being in the forefront of the media is more important that message, vision, and artistry at the Oscars after all.

Best Picture: Avatar
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Best Screenplay (adapted): Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Best Screenplay (original): Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Best Achievement in Cinematography: Mauro Fiore, Avatar