Charlotte Sass

I teach piano.  It’s one of the things I do.

I recently had a conversation with a parent who is heartbroken because her teenage daughter won’t practice.  She doesn’t have the discipline and her mom is tired of “escorting” her.  

As my conversation with the mother unraveled, I realized her heartbreak wasn’t ultimately about the lack of “piano practice,” nor was this heartbreak singular to her.  This was…

I was out with some girlfriends the other night, and one of them asked how things were going with my music. I told her it was up and down, back and forth, somewhat of a roller-coaster ride.  Some days present set-backs, some days are super exciting, but most days, it’s just work.  I shared my internal ponderings on my fear of turning something I love so much into “just work;” and whether the correct reaction is to simply stay distanced and even-keeled through the ups and downs, or to celebrate the ups and…

So, I’m struck recently by the frenetic need to have online “likes” (yes, the omnipresent thumbs up) in order to be considered “valid.”  So much of the reality of this frenzy seems to be either something you gladly do for a friend - whether you like what they do or not - and it makes you sincerely happy to support them; or you reluctantly do for an acquaintance - who’s page/product/offering you could take or…

I've decided to start a blog…my first ever. 

So, true to the part of me that is blithe in spirit, that jumps in when inspired, I wrote what I thought was going to be my “first blog” (yes, I know, wrong terminology) the other day - a comical yet sober commentary on the Facebook “Like” button from the new independent artist’s perspective.  But then, faithful to my judiciousness, which always kicks in after the “spark,” I sent it to a few trusted souls for their discretionary input.  That’s when my expert…