So few grains of happiness

measured against all the dark

and still the scales balance.

-Jane Hirshfield

Once, some years ago, this happened:

Some fun facts about pandemic piano lessons in the Ten Thousand Stars Studio:

It is the time of year where even the most free-spirited and unstructured among us succumb to the magnetic pull of seasonal routines and rituals.

Last month in performance classes, I introduced avant-garde musician John Cage as our new Name That Tune composer.

In the last few months, the country has been experiencing a fourth COVID surge.

Once when I was going through a particular rough period I got through it by asking myself over and over again the simple question: “Amy, right now are you okay?”

Last December, I had a routine cleaning at the dentist.

I have to admit I had almost forgotten about this one.

I had heard this at least a hundred times before.

Sitting at the piano yesterday during a choir rehearsal I was reminded of an incident that happened years ago.

Perhaps all the fiddling has finally gotten to me.

I call them “fiddlers.”

Maybe good practicing—and good teaching, for that matter —is just simple math: addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, over and over again in ten thousand combinations.

When I was a child living in southwestern Kansas, there was a huge overgrown honeysuckle bush outside my bedroom window.

Life these days is a jigsaw puzzle.

My very favorite conversation begins with the question, “So, what are you reading these days?”

Max does not like to miss piano lessons.

Like many Americans, I find myself thinking about anniversaries these days.

“We should remember that sorrow does produce flowers of its own. It is a misunderstanding always to look for joy.”