Show May 31st!

And here is the facebook event invite: Katie D show May 31st

Hungry for color!

Last night as I lay in bed, I realized that I was starving for color. I can't stop thinking about them...neons, lime, yellow, corals, Kelly green, bright blues, salmon, and all those bold, bright things! I need them. Each one is like a little yelp of joy. I feel an excitement that's leading to change.
Change is good.
I totally parted my hair on the opposite side this morning. Living on the edge, my friends.

But seriously, back to color. Picture post coming soon!

My piano teacher is wise

I almost feel like I should stop the blog entry there with the title. Enough said.

But ok, I'll expand. The reason I am writing this blog entry is because of a particular piano lesson I had awhile back with my wonderful piano teacher at WOU. We were analyzing one of my tendencies: I sometimes lock my wrists while playing, in order to attack the piano. It's a result of hyperfocus...or "thinky-thinky" as my teacher describes it. I'm so much in my head, not wanting to make a mistake, that I ignore the rest of my body. And my poor hands and wrists have suffered in the past as a result. (My first college year comrades will remember the wrist brace I had to wear. :P)

As we unraveled the whys, I found myself saying something like, "But I want so badly to do it right, and I want to control everything!" (As I gestured my hands wildly in the air over the keyboard.) I was a little surprised to hear myself say that, but not really, because it was true.

We laughed at the sudden and obvious absurdity of it. My very insightful teacher commented that Of course we do! We want to control everything...but isn't that the paradox of life? But the more we let go, the more control we actually have.
(reflective pause)
And with piano especially, the more freedom of expression we have.

Oh ho!

It's funny 'cause I KNOW this, but somehow it always seems so surprisingly enlightening.

Just for fun, I used the Jaymar toy piano for part of lessons today. :) It's just too adorable to leave in the other room by itself. Thanks for letting me borrow it, Christa!
A second thing I have been pondering: my own piano students. Here comes my honesty. :) I have 9 students at the moment, and the other day I wondered why do I have so many...and maybe I took on too much...and do I have enough time?...and there was even a time in my late teens when I recall saying aloud, "But I don't want to teach piano." Haha! I chuckle at my 18-year-old self.

The truth is that I very much enjoy teaching and I have fantastic students! I feel lucky to be in a teaching position, and I love seeing the little successes that come every day.

I remember my own piano teacher when I was the age of my younger students...Maureen Beezhold, an extremely influential person of my youth! Sometimes I hear myself saying things that she said to me, to help me learn. It makes me feel warm inside.

Ah, the circle of life...

Album cover shoot

Vintage Jaymar toy piano

Thank you Becerra Photography of Corvallis for capturing what I had envisioned for the album cover. And thank you to Christa for letting me borrow her Jaymar toy piano, which is exactly like the one I used to have when I was very little:

Me and my sister, Kristie, circa 1982/83

The album is scheduled to be complete by summer! So far there are 17 songs picked out to be on the discography.

I will be performing music from the album starting end of May (stay tuned). The cover and title of album have been chosen, but will not be revealed as of yet... Here are some samples from the shoot:

Becerra Photo Shoot

And thanks to Jessica for showing up and making me smile!

< Insert your cliché of choice here >

Hey, you! Yeah, you. I see you there, all cute and unassuming.

I'll get right to the point. Yesterday was a rough day. For some reason, everything came piling down on top of me at once in my mind, and I felt pretty darn frustrated. I vent-texted many friends and family members. I recall wishing I had a punching bag. I'm not one to lament my circumstances, whatever they are. I generally like where I am (wherever that may be at the moment), and how I ended up there is nothing to regret. Life is for living and learning. Sometimes learning takes longer in some departments than others... and sometimes pride needs to go out the window so we can accept help.

And sometimes your gluten-free apple bread with chocolate chips turns out like this:

(delicious, but no beauty prize)

I have now caught up on some housework, laundry, dishes, and homework. You know, those little things that help make the rest of life a little smoother. (It's nice when I don't have to use a washcloth to dry off after a shower.)

(deep breath)


Looking forward: I have a photo shoot for the album cover coming up near the beginning of March. What to wear!!!?? It's clothes-hunting time. I don't always enjoy shopping, but this is different. I am on a mission!

And as soon as I'm done coughing (coming down with a cold = body telling me to slow down), I'll be back in the studio to give attention to the tracks that are patiently waiting...and soon I hope to have a gig set up!
One thing at a time.

As long as I can still make semi-funny faces at myself in the mirror, I think I'll be alright. And these are especially for the amusement of my family, who have enjoyed/suffered my sense of humor for longer than anyone else on the planet.

Your love should never be offered...Poem by Hafez

I saw this on Paulo Coelho's blog today, and thought I'd share it; a poem by Hafez. There is so much delicious imagery and good words in this poem:


"Your love should never be offered...(Hafez)

a poem by Hafez

Love sometimes wants to do us a great favor: hold us upside down and shake all the nonsense out.

Your love
Should never be offered to the mouth of a stranger,
Only to someone who has the valor and daring
To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife
Then weave them into a blanket
To protect you.

Stay close to any sounds that make you glad you are alive.

Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.
I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in the darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.

There are different wells within your heart.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far too deep for that

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.

Even after all this time the sun never says to the Earth, “You owe me”

There is no pleasure without a tincture of bitterness."

What do you love?

I love:

Color play
Freshly-baked gluten-free cookies (I keep walking away from the computer to put another batch in...we'll see how they turn out)
Sudden rain, and then bright sun 10 minutes later
Smooshing myself inbetween the pillows and blankies
Hot soup in my tummy
When Maritza cooks for me
An excuse to get muddy
Dark dark chocolate
Enthusiastic piano students :)
Knowing that I have people who love me all over the country/world
Foreign languages
Adjustable piano benches
The smell of freshly-cut wood
I smelled flowers this morning! That.
Exchange of creative ideas
Anything really well-written
Oregon
Grammar
Doing the monkey dance for Jrd
The playful, silly side of things
Music being everywhere
Old books and me getting my hands on them
A good pair of boots. Brown, please.
Handcrafted things
That time just before sleep when all the really cool ideas pop into my head...wish I could remember them...
(These cookies are good!)
Completed homework
Family inside jokes
Reminiscing


And here is something cool I came across today:

"Ai," the traditional Chinese character for love (愛) consists of a heart (middle) inside of "accept," "feel," or "perceive," which shows a graceful emotion. It can also be interpreted as a hand offering ones heart to another hand.

I could go on and on, but what's on your list? I want to hear.

Anyone who responds (in the blogger comment field) will get a surprise in the mail. :) The REAL MAIL. Not email. Haha!

Happy Valentine's Day! And happy birthday to Oregon! <3

p.s. here's a little visual Valentine's treat from my friend Amy: Artist in the Arctic