My 12 yo son got braces today, and he was a trooper. I’m also impressed with how responsible he is about caring for his teeth, as it’s a whole different ballgame with braces. And, thank goodness that MA offers generous dental plans through its connector; his plan helped a lot with the high cost.

Fellow musicians who majored in music, as I did— is it because of music that you were equipped with the drive and discipline to become great at whatever you ended up doing for a living? Granted most of still play, not all of us made a living in music, but we’re better off for having majored in it.

Keep in mind that Team USA Women’s Soccer has brought back four titles to date to the men’s zero championships. Let’s show appreciation for our women; no matter the job, they get it done! ⚽️

On Friday, I joined my friend’s book club, and we meet at her cafe on Tuesday night at 6:00. We are reading “The Book Club for Troublesome Women” by Marie Bostwick. It’s nearly 400 pages, but I have it on Audible for my car rides, too. I can barely put this book down! Every man should read this!

Off to the round of 16; what an absolute thriller of a game!!! See you Monday night! ⚽️

If you’re a teacher today, I highly suggest that you watch this entire video. I student-taught third grade last fall, and this is what happens when education shifts to analytics and high-stakes testing and away from accountability and respect in the classroom. EYE-OPENING! youtu.be/JtO-BxAT3zA?...

My dad and I have been working on this project little by little over the years. I’m confident to say that it has fully come to completion. It is also quite fitting that it is right in time for Father’s Day and my birthday, both of which are tomorrow. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Yes!!!

My son’s official last day of sixth grade was today, capped off with a sneak preview of Toy Story 5; coincidentally, he will begin to delve into jazz clarinet, beginning with Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend In Me,” with my piano accompaniment. The recital will be mid August and posted here. 🎼

What a nearly perfect FIFA World Cup game tonight; that was truly the best soccer game I’ve seen yet! Onward! USA! 🇺🇸 ⚽️

This week, my son will begin to explore jazz and pop music on his clarinet, beginning with initial preparations of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend In Me.” He will perform the vocal part on clarinet while I perform the piano part. We’re hoping to post our performance by mid July!

I love my birthday month even more! 🌈

Yesterday, my son had to get pulled from his clarinet recital. He had another headache that reached down into his jaw area. It’s believed to be a 12-year molar, so we’re off to the dentist this morning to get relief. His accompanist invited him to perform this Sunday at another recital. So grateful!

My 12 yo son had his final practice session today with his piano accompanist in preparation for his spring clarinet recital this Sunday. This will be the first piece he will have played that spans all three registers of the clarinet. His rhythm, pitch, and intonation were near perfection. Proud dad!

Good news, the audio version of Neurodiversity: A Very Short Introduction is out now on Audible, Spotify, etc.! I also have three codes for free Spotify copies, so we can do a competition. Just share and like this and I'll pick three people at random to get the codes this weekend.

It’ll be a busy upcoming week next week. I will be supervising the drum line for my son’s school marching band in the Memorial Day parade and helping him prepare for a major clarinet recital next weekend. Game on!

So.Well.Said

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Day! Without many of my past teachers, most notably my public school music teachers, I would’ve slipped through the cracks and achieved nothing in life. A teacher can and often does change the world for every student’s life they touch. We love and support you! 👩‍🏫🧑‍🏫

“Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.” It’s cool to be kind, everyone. No exceptions! ❤️

Simply because, we all know someone who deserves this in an email!

My eldest son finished theater camp today, which culminated in a musical performed this afternoon, one that he and his fellow students co-wrote and -produced in less than a week! Lifelong friendships were forged, and these students will also reconvene this August for another round over two weeks!

Last night, I was mesmerized by my son’s technical proficiency on his clarinet repertoire for his upcoming recital. The growth he’s shown in a little under two years is absolutely stunning.

So, when the right can’t ban the books, they’ll “ban” the librarians? Is this a new nadir? Yes, indeed.

THIS is what honor, compassion, and patriotism are, all wrapped in one. Go UM Nursing!

Victor Glover and his beautiful family. This is among the finest in American Patriotism and a humongous inspiration for us all. 🚀 🌙

Yesterday, a student panel joined seven teachers and me for lunch. When we discussed programming, they openly lamented that the music program was cut. When I told them that I intended to rekindle even a small one, cheers erupted on the last day of Music In Our Schools month. Proud NAfME member here!

I had a very nice time at my small town’s No Kings Rally. Peaceful. However, for most of it, I could count on one hand how many of the 60 or so of us were under 50. It’s the working parents who are getting hit the hardest with the rapidly rising cost of living under the orange a-hole. Get out there!

www.indiewire.com/news/breakin... Best news in cinema yet! I’ll have advance tickets as soon as they’re released!

Today, my eldest son and I saw Project Hail Mary. Despite that it was an almost three hour long movie, it had us holding onto our seats. Speaking of the seats, our local theater has heated seats that fully recline and Dolby 7.1 surround sound to boot. Ryan Gosling was the perfect fit for his role.

You’re either with or against humanity on this.

I have a piano joke, and there are 88 keys to understanding it.

K Pop Demon Hunters got both Oscars tonight; Huntr/X got the Oscar for Golden and it’s the first k Pop song ever to get an Oscar. Can’t wait for the K Pop Demon Hunters sequel! 🎼

K Pop for the win! Oscar for Featured Animated Film! Yes! 🎥 🎼

Let’s all root for Golden from K Pop Demon Hunters to get the Oscar for Best Original Song, as well as the film itself to get the Oscar for Best Animated Feature tonight; also, Netflix confirmed last Friday that the sequel is in progress! My heart is truly full in the musical sense!

We are off to our county robotics competition tomorrow morning. These kids have made us so proud. Teamwork makes the dream work. Good luck to all of the schools tomorrow!

My eldest son and I just got back a little while ago from seeing the drama department at my high school alma mater brilliantly perform Hadestown. What a production!!! 🎭 🎼 It was also my son’s first time in that building where I prepared for conservatory studies in music education.

My eldest is headed off to a theater day camp over April break where he and the other kids will play theater games that focus on acting and communication. The kids will also collaborate to create their very own musical and perform it for their family/friends on day 5. The second part is this summer.

I wouldn’t be who I am today had it not been for all of the women in my life. I fell into a slump a couple of years ago in which I brought others the worst version of myself. The women in my life showed up to help pick up the pieces and to put me back together again. I’m now at my best. Gratitude! ❤️

Did you miss last night’s side show? Allow me to encapsulate for you, to give you the “highlights”— Trump was all me, me, me, I, I, I, despite the vast majority of everything being one, big, fat lie. Rarely was there a we or an us; it’s all about him and whatever bs suits his egotistical narrative.

USA! Great playing by all! 🏒

What a wild night at my son’s school tonight. We had a fundraiser dinner, at which my eldest son and I worked the raffle table. The coordinator of the raffle allowed my son to draw the winning ticket and to announce the number. Walking up to the table with the winning number in hand was his brother!

If this doesn’t say it all, just what does?

Today was bittersweet. I sold my Saab sedan after 17 years of owning it. I brought my kids home in it when they were born. We have incoming a new SUV, outfitted for carrying two kayaks and three bikes. It represents our evolution as a family and the activities to which my kids have introduced me.

My 11 yo son is taking the clarinet to places it’s never gone before. With me on the piano, we just recently sight read Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters, where he’s playing the whole vocal part on clarinet. This is also a great exercise playing in quadruple compound meter. The energy is so real here!

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If you care about our people, then, you will be moved by this seven-minute video of Ms. Rahman’s testimony. Watch this video, because, as my dad would say, “you owe it to yourself.”