When the Cards Aren't Fair, Change the Game.
As I write these words, the sun is out, there is a bit of a breeze and it is a picture perfect late May morning in New England. Before typing, I searched "Uplifting Playlist" on Spotify. Most of it is predictable pop like "Don't Stop Believing" and "Send Me On My Way." Blah, blah, blah. … Continue reading THE SUN IS OUT
As the wise movie character Ferris Bueller once told us: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it." That movie is 40 years old. Yup, life moves pretty fast. Ferris told us this before the internet, before cell phones and before on demand everything. … Continue reading STOP AND LOOK
The title is a reference to someone passing. Yeah you read that correctly. What the hell does death have to do with lasagna? Welcome to today's lesson. Just like I used to tell my students: I'm not going to teach you WHAT to think, I'm attempting to teach you HOW to think. Today, let's think … Continue reading AFTER THE LASAGNA
Seriously. I want to talk turkey here. Real turkey, with a dialect and everything. Specifically, a New England dialect with a dollop of western New Hampshire woods and a smattering of fright from the axe of a Pilgrim. Each version of my wife is lovable and anyone who is in a relationship will tell you … Continue reading LET’S TALK TURKEY
You know that sound and feeling you get when cracking a knuckle on purpose? The little pop and a split second sensation of something inside your finger adjusting? It felt like that, but two muffled pops, a half spin as I tried to brace myself with my arms on an large instrument case, and I … Continue reading Early Days
Recently I was asked what keeps me awake at night. This question was posed to me in a group setting. Although the atmosphere was jovial, the question was anything but. As I listened to various people answer I noticed that some people fluffed off the question, while others spoke about themselves, but not one of … Continue reading It Keeps Me Awake
Christmas Day 1982, Santa Claus brought me a boombox. For those of you that are too young to know what I am talking about, check out this outstanding video. It was a Sony, and it had a tape deck. This meant that I could, for the first time, record my favorite songs directly from the … Continue reading THE WORLD WAS BRAND NEW
Late December back in '63.....What a very special time for me....I remember what a night. OK, song lyrics over. Go listen to it if you want to support that ear worm that I just gave you. For now, let me tell you about my latest travel experience. Vanessa and I travel when we can. I … Continue reading OH, WHAT A NIGHT
I think everyone remembers their first time. It can be nerve racking, and impossible to know how it will turn out when you've never had the experience before. Eyes studying you on a level that you are not used to, and being hyper aware of every movement and sound that you make, as well as … Continue reading MY FIRST TIME
As a musician and performer, I have vivid memories of practice rooms, rehearsal spaces, and stages large and small, bright and dim, organized and chaotic... and all things in between. I always tried to bring a positive, energetic vibe to all of them when playing drums or percussion. Hitting drums brought pure joy, even when … Continue reading THE MUSIC
Moeschen! 