Attempts at a Sustainable Schedule
I was busy sewing away on my Halloween costume a few weeks ago. Costuming is one of my favorite hobbies. But some tasks, like gathering 9 feet of fabric into …
A Performance Observed: Fear and Elation
March 25th, 2017
Yesterday I joined a visiting wind ensemble for a concert of Navarro’s “Clarinet Concerto N. 1” and David Maslanka’ “A Child’s Garden of Dreams.” I had played the …
Moss, Wood, and Thicket: a description
All throughout high school, as I was waiting for the morning school bus, I would look east as the sun rose above the trees and sharp hills of the local …
On Thumbs and Appreciating 20th Century Music
You don’t appreciate your thumbs until you lose one for awhile.
Isn’t it always like that in life? You’ve got a good thing going – full use of all ten fingers …
A Tax Checklist for Professional Harpists
If you play harp and make some money doing it, hopefully the following list will help jog your memory as you tackle your taxes!
Obligatory note: I am not an …
Taxes for the Woefully Self-Employed
I once read the IRS’ summary of taxpayer “Filing Burden.” In it, the IRS helpfully states, “We hear from taxpayers that preparing and filing tax returns are time consuming and …
Minnesota’s Nerdy Harpist
Okay, so maybe I’m not the nerdiest harpist in the area. But I think I am the nerdiest professional harpist in Minnesota (as in, I do this and only this …
Q-tips and Dental Appointments
This November I’ve been learning some things about being thankful. As a full-time free-lance harpist, I’m careful with my finances. I’ve never yet gone hungry (except when I’m driving back …
An Artistic Process
I thought, for fun, I’d share my artistic process for my new album, Light So Brilliant: Carols and Tunes for Christmas. Make sure you read “artistic process” as meaning “a …
Eclectic, Not Electric
In the fall of 2014 I applied for my first grant, an “Arts Tour Minnesota” grant through the MN State Arts Board, and immediately determined that every paper I had …