A Country With No Music? It Has Happened . . .

No music in an entire country?

It has happened.

Under the Taliban in Afghanistan, a mother could be imprisoned for singing lullabies to her baby. There was no music, no art, no poetry.

How did the arts survive?

A more basic question is 'How did the people of the country survive?' What would life be like in a land with no art, no music, no literature?

Andrew Soloman, who writes for The New York Times and others, went to Afghanistan to find out. He told the story recently on NPR's story-telling program, The Moth. It is riveting and is an utterly engrossing, frightening, and illuminating story.

While the audio file for his story may no longer be available on The Moth's site, it's worth checking because this is a story you'll want to hear.

And, if you can't find it there, here is a good summary from Sergio Gonzales' blog. It's an amazing story.

Life without music would be like life without food or air, wouldn't it?

Christmas CD Sale Till New Years Day

Every year we have a sale on my sixteen solo piano CDs, and we're doing the same this year. It's an easy 'buy four, get one free' sale, and Priority shipping (in the US) is free, too.

Over the years, we've sold thousands of CDs for gifts during the Christmas season, and many people tell us that they do much of their shopping on our website, so it's easy and quick.

During a year when people are watching their pennies, and looking for lasting value, we know that music is a perfect gift. It lasts forever, and the power of association is so strong that the recipient will think of you each time the CD is played.


(I don't normally use this blog for any commercial purpose, but the sale is a good deal and it makes sense to share the news.) And, of course, the CDs are widely available online and at download sites . . . but the sale is only at our own website.

Hard-working Young Busker Gets Unexpected Reward

This story is too happy not to share.

Buskers who play the piano are, by definition, a hard-working group. The instrument, whether acoustic or electronic, is big and awkward to carry and set up, which is the starting point for busking.

So this thirteen-year-old kid in New York City, Jason Cordero, already gets my vote. And, he's playing classical music (though it may be a bit on the approximate side) and not just making up his own new-age drivel.

Plus, he bills himself as "the world's happiest boy." He's only played used keyboards, and it sounds like his family is not affluent.

And then, out of the blue, an executive from Casio sees him playing and gives him a brand-new eighty-eight key instrument. Here's the report from Gothamist. 

It's a great story.

Just Waiting. What Will Happen?

I've always loved the sight of an empty stage, set up and all ready for the musicians to appear. I guess it's just the potential for creativity, the promise (and the hope, of course) that something good will happen. This picture is keyboards, but I really like the sight of a nice drumset, too, with light reflecting from golden cymbals.

The process, after all these years, is still mostly a mystery to me. Some nights the music flows and seems new, and maybe even pretty good. Other times it is more difficult, and nothing "really happens." Why? Don't know.

This scene of the workplace was from a recent pool party in Atlanta. The music, with Del and Jen, was special. Who knows why? Maybe something in the air. The realized potential of the untouched instrument . . . .

It's interesting to hear about new uses for music. This morning, NPR did a piece (on Morning Edition Sunday) about a town in California--Lancaster--where the mayor is experimenting with playing quiet music and nature sounds through speakers downtown.

Here's the story. Though some residents scorn the idea, most seem to like it. And it makes sense to me. If the army sometimes uses rock and rap music at high volume as a weapon, then why wouldn't quiet music calm people in a similar way? Of course, we know that it does--and Muzak has reams of research to prove it.

So, bravo to the mayor for taking a unique step to bring a measure of relaxation and peacefulness to the people of his town. Let's hear if for a slower pace and more quiet music!

The Working Pianists' Role Model in Action

The man in the orange/salmon-colored shirt is Johnny Knapp, and he is the 'piano-player's piano player.' He is the role model for us all because he knows a zillion songs (correctly), has an unerring sense of what each event needs at evey moment, and runs the band smoothly and with good humor.

This photo is from a recent 'tea dance' at a major mall in Atlanta. Since this event caters to seniors who love to dance, Johnny matches the band and the music exactly to what the occasion needs. Here, courtesy of master keyboardist, Jez Graham, is a short video clip of Johnny's last tune on a recent evening.

When the song ends, note the interaction between the crowd and Johnny Knapp. The appreciation from fans is what every working musician wants to achieve, and Johnny makes it look effortless. Music, fortunately for us all, is an ageless gift.

Seen a Lot, Done a Lot

I  sometimes feel about like this piano looks--a bit beat-up and somewhaworse for wear. But I wonder if that's really a bad thing.

This big old Mason-Hamlin is in the Youth building at my church in Atlanta, and it's interesting to speculate on its life. Who knows how many times it has uplifted, encouraged, or just been central to a great evening of singing around the piano?

Probably people have fallen in love around this piano. Maybe it's soothed some bad times, and maybe it has inspired. I know that it has been a practice piano for talented kids with no piano at home. It has been well used, and it looks the part.

It would be nice if it were shiny and perfectly kept up. But it's better to be needed, loved, and a real part of a real community. At least that's what I think.