At the beginning of a class that I teach at St. Olaf, we hold a “focus moment” which is a guided minute of present-moment awareness, centering, and practicing some form of gratitude. I try to practice noticing gratitude for my life, and for the blessings which envelop it. However, noticing daily gratitude and sharing this awareness with my students has recently sparked something huge in me. Several years ago a few specific gifts in my life came within my awareness (health, mobility, safety, and freedom) and I noticed that without these, my life would feel drastically different. I feel humbled knowing…

I loved being a harp student. Throughout my higher education I would carefully memorize what it felt like to sit behind the harp and be taught. My teachers and I talked about phrasing, nuances, tone color, technique, solid practice habits, great performance habits, using my ear to help shape my music, special qualities of the harp, music theory, or about the composer’s intent within their piece, for example. I love the sound…

It was Easter morning a couple of weeks ago, and I drove to church at 6:30AM watching the sunrise, ready to play the Sunrise Service. I was really tired, but at the same time, I actually felt really…

Somewhere along the way within my years of teaching harp lessons and all sorts of classes, a theme has appeared between my students and me: listen, connect, reflect. 

I believe as musicians we use our ears…

I attended a choral concert the other weekend given by The Singers in St. Paul. I was blown away by their spirit, artistry, phrasing, musicality, intonation, and presentation. As an audience member hearing this beautiful music, I felt a large range of emotions like calm, joyous, peaceful, excited, and even nostalgic, too. I left the concert not necessarily remembering every note…

I teach a seminar class at St. Olaf College. As part of the intended learning outcomes I must teach about “living in community”. This season I have reflected a great deal on what this means within my own life. I have discovered that this means…