Through The Netherlands

My husband and I just returned from traveling through The Netherlands, where we also visited our daughter who is studying in Amsterdam. Enjoy!

The flower photos are untouched!!! Unbelievable scenery at The Keukenhof Gardens outside Amsterdam, which are open only in the spring. We were so lucky to have been there when the weather was beautiful.

I have tons more pictures and videos, but this gives you an idea. We traveled north to Enkhausen and Medemblik to look out over the sea, ate cheese in Edam and Gouda, and walked through Delft and The Hague. We also got to know the city of Amsterdam. We were there right after Queen’s Day, when the queen abducated to her son, and for Liberation Day. (from the Nazi Regime.)

Singing Live Vs. Autotune….

The National Association of Teachers of Singing’s May/June issue of the Journal of Singing has come out. My article,”Live vs. Autotune–Comparing Apples to Oranges to Get Fruit Salad,” is published in The Journal’s regular column, The Independent Teacher.

The article is an exploration into how advances in the recording industry over the past 20 years have shaped my work as a teacher of singing of both classical and popular music of over 30 years. If you would like a copy of this article, forward your email and I will send a copy of the text–not the actual article. Go to my website and click “Contact” to send me a message.

The Journal of Singing is a compilation of scholarly, academic and scientific articles on the act and art of singing, mostly from a classical point of view, but the musical theater and pop sectors have begun to infiltrate in the past 15 years.

Unfortunately, there is a ridiculous amount of brouhaha among teachers of different musical styles, in spite of the advances of the teaching community over the years.

It would be really awesome if this article contributes, in some small way, to building more bridges among teachers and singers, performers and scholars.

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Today I broke in a new set of tennis shoes, getting ready to walk a lot during an upcoming trip to The Netherlands.   And as I walked and snapped pictures, the words to a song from Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood came to mind.  Fred Rodgers, whose PBS television show was a staple for many US kids during the 1970′s and 1980′s, was a loving Presbyterian minister in Pittsburgh who had a wonderful magic about him.  He was quoted after the recent Boston tragedy:

“When I was a boy and I saw scary things in the news, my mother would tell me, ‘look for the helpers. There are always good people helping.”

He was someone who taught people of all ages to always look for good.

Anyway, here are some photos from my walk, and the song that ran through my mind as took them:

“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,  A beautiful day for a neighbor, Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

It’s a neighborly day in this beautywood, A neighborly day for a beauty, Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you, I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,

Since we’re together, we might as well say,
Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor?

Won’t you please, won’t you please, please won’t you be my neighbor?

Celebrating Earth Day in Refashioned Art

Celebrating Earth Day every day is a big reason why so many artisans recycle, repurpose and refashion materials. For several months I’ve been tinkering with making a series of miniature vignettes made out of old and broken jewelry. They depict animals in their environments. Each little canvas box measures 6″ x 6″ and is covered with decorative papers. Here is the one I call “Flora and Fauna.”

It features a broken dragonfly brooch.

Here is “Northern Lights, featuring an unusual white seal. It had gunk on the back, so I don’t know if it was originally part of something else, or another broken brooch.

The third one is called “Rocks and Sand” and features a piece of broken Chico’s jewelry–a gecko I believe, and two tiny brass turtles.

The set is meant to hang together on a wall or door, at viewing height. The whole series is called “WHEN WE GO, YOU GO.” Click on the photo for a larger look!