On Halloween Day I did a studio event that was an outstanding event that changed everything. My students performed Halloween type music and other songs that might represent ghosting, allergies, being a hero. The event built confidence for my students and even myself, as we shared piano and vocal music. I couldn't be more proud of their hard work. What a blessing. Huge shout out to Ashley Sharber for the fabulous, phenomenal, breathtaking pictures and a video of my performance

(This isn't a blog about how to fix tempo issues, but rather about being confident with tempos and communicating well with the band). The past several months have been extremely hectic with accompanying three school choirs, preparing for two school musicals and hopefully accompanying for the same three choirs and maybe a Band concert in December, plus teaching lessons through my studio. I've been doing all that I can to stay afloat, yet it's definitely provided an opportunity

The past several months have been extremely busy, playing for three choral music concerts, preparing for two school musicals, teaching lessons and preparing for an upcoming Halloween Studio Event, plus life. I had five of my vocal students meet for 45 mintues and in that timeframe, we learned two-part harmonies of the Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett & Leonard Capizzi/arr. Greg Gilpin from Alfred Music. Here is the link: from J Pepper: https://www.jwpepper.com/monster-mash-10453

If you know anything about me, I would be blogging like "crazy", yet in the over past month plus after returning to accompanying at the school and yearly teaching, a lot of extra work has occurred. Honestly, that's a blessing. Currently I'm preparing for 3 school concerts in October, 1 school musical at the end of October and a school musical in the middle of November, plus my students are working on a Halloween Studio Event on Halloween. I know I'm crazy. After returning fro

Last Tuesday, August 25th. 2026, the world mourned the loss of an incredible artist and human, Dolly Parton. The world is still in shock by her passing, learning of her cancer battle. Though I'm saddened by this news, Dolly Parton brought so much hope in a dark world and we can too. Her first film was Nine to Five, where she was able to write the theme song that to this day still rings true. The necessity for equality for all people. We are all created equal, so let's treat o

After teaching lessons today I took a risk and went to an audition for the play "The Man Who Came to Dinner" by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The audition was at St. James Episcopal Church. I was invited by a Previous College Professor and one of my voice students. All I know is the play is about an angry "mature" man who gets "hurt", and stays with a family in a wheelchair. Here is the FB link for Sunday's Auditions, August 23rd, 2026. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid

I'm so excited to share a short Sonatina I've created recently exploring ways to understand joy: elation, bewailing and delight. Webster's Dictionary delineates joy as: a feeling of great happiness or pleasure the expression or exhibition of such emotion While composing the short Sonatina, I felt an energy over all three movements, each one page long, 16 measures. Each movement explores ways to express delight, elation and even grieving/bewailing over joy. You, your students

For a while I've been working on these two songs and I'm so grateful to learn new piano music that is refreshing to the soul or provides opportunities for growth as a pianist. Both of these songs are amazing to learn and teach to Intermediate or Early Advanced. Hope you enjoy these selections. Refraction, created by Travis Lohmann (from a series called Portraits No. 5,) a composer in Las Vegas, Nevada and where I learned about his music through Piano Pronto, composed a song a

On Saturday I asked three of my students to create a video of vocal and piano solos and all three of them took a risk that day creating videos. Hope you enjoy. I'm so proud of them trying music "bigger than themselves". What a blessing. The song Boston by Stella Lefty is so popular not only in Country Music, yet according to my students the song is all over TikTok. IDK. Liam, an online student instantly worked on the song several times and then sent a video. He really likes t

So today I had to cancel the Sister Act 2 Show Choir Camp, as I didn't have enough participants. After getting set up and one of the girls showed up, I realized that the others were not showing up. So this brought on inquiries. There are no answers to these questions, yet I was reminded that I took a risk, that maybe others would not have tried. I had some people say I didn't know you were doing the camp until two days before. I have been sharing about the show choir camp for