Thanksgiving is a time for good food, great company, and pausing to appreciate all the wonderful things in life. And if you’re anything like me, music is near the top of that list. This year, as I prepare for the big meal, I can’t help but think about the connections between Thanksgiving and the traditions … More Giving Thanks to Irish Music: A Thanksgiving Reflection
I saw a meme today that read “Is what you’re doing today getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow?”. It resonated deeply with me, especially as I find myself diving into Day 5 of my 31-day music practice challenge. This journey isn’t just about playing notes or learning tunes; it’s about committing … More Embracing the Rhythm of Progress: A 31-Day Practice Challenge
3…2…1 and it’s March 1st, the day I kick off my 31-Day Practice Challenge. Today marks the beginning of a new journey towards honing my musical skills, and I can’t wait to see how I improve. As I sit down to start, I realize I haven’t nailed down a detailed practice schedule for the entire … More Day 1: A 31-Day Practice Challenge
Recently, I’ve been following Hilary Hahn on Instagram, an award-winning solo violinist. I’ve been mesmerized by her practice process and how she learns the pieces she plays. Some days she talks about how she visualizes a piece and other days she shows you how she practices. It can be as tedious as just placing her … More Mastering the Music: A 31-Day Practice Challenge
Each year I set my new year’s resolutions to the tune of practicing more, eating right, exercising, and all the typical goals most people set. But this year, I am shifting my approach. Instead of a laundry list of goals, I’ve distilled my aspirations down to a single, transformative resolution: to live more in the … More The Melody of Now: Harnessing the Power of Music to Live in the Moment
We’ve been practicing for a few weeks now for a gig we’re playing at the Old Stagecoach Inn on Friday, October 13 (from 5-7pm if you’re interested). Aside from playing through our sets, our intros and outros, working on dynamics, and practicing all the stuff bands practice, I’ve been focused on two things; playing through … More The Key to Performing Well
Wendy MacIsaac is a highly regarded Canadian fiddler and musician known for her exceptional talent in Cape Breton-style fiddling. She hails from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, which is renowned for its rich tradition of Celtic music and dance. Wendy has made significant contributions to preserving and promoting this musical heritage. She’ll be … More Wendy MacIsaac in Vermont
March is always a crazy month for us Vermont Irish musicians. It’s usually when we play the most gigs, have the most Irish concerts to attend, and it’s when we get the most snow, making it a challenge to get to said gigs and concerts. But I won’t complain because it’s also the most fun. … More March Madness
During the holiday season, they usually play the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, over and over and over again on one network or another. For many years, I’d watch my dad watch this movie over and over again wondering if it was really that good. And then one day I sat down and watched it … More For Pete’s sake!
Fall has arrived in Vermont and though the leaves are breathtakingly beautiful this time of year, it’s always hard to transition into shorter days. Luckily I have my fiddle to get me through. … More Falling into a practice schedule
Session Obsession 