The Music Teacher is Back.

Hello, everyone!

So many things have happened since I started this blog.   And much, too, has happened since I stopped updating it.  I got married, moved to a different country, became half of a performing music duo called ‘He Sang She Sang‘, moved into a new house, adopted a black cat who we call ‘Katie’, fell in love and bought our Mason and Hamlin baby grand piano who we call ‘Lord Hamlisch’.

Now that we’re settling in nicely here, I’m planning to teach again and will be offering both Piano & Voice Lessons.  This blog will have a major overhaul and will focus on all things piano and voice.  I’ll still be giving tidbits about teaching and music in general.  Mostly, though, the blog will be a go-to for my future piano and voice students.  Watch out for it.

Music on!

Dilana Needs Your Help

Short and sweet, people.

If you saw Rockstar Supernova back in 2006, you probably remember the rock giant that came in a tiny package called Dilana.  She was one of the final two vying for the prestigious prize of fronting the band.  But that went to Lukas Rossi.  Dilana, however, didn’t let this defeat her.  Even after the promises of a couple of musicians in the show who vowed to help her somehow fizzled out, she kept on going.  She’s still making music and performing around the world for her fans, often raising the money herself.  She has also released an album.  Listen to her songs here.

Now, back to Rockstar Supernova.  This is the first song she performed on the show.

That freakishly moving performance literally got me off my chair.  I was profoundly inspired by this dynamic woman and I want to give back.

If I’m not mistaken, Ellen Degeneres has put up a record label and there’s a petition going around for her to sign up Dilana.  Please help this deserving artist and sign up.  There are 400+ signatures so far and she needs more.

And keep up with what’s been going on in her life via Facebook.

Ok, that’s it.  I’ve been uber busy preparing for a performance.  I’ll be playing Mildred and singing at a little concert this July.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

For Radiohead Fans

If you love Radiohead like I do, you’ll be very happy to know that their drummer, Phil Selway, will be releasing his solo album soon, and you can download his single, By Some Miracle, for free!

Said he:

Hello

I just wanted to let you know what I’ve been up to recently in my idle moments in Radiohead.

Over the past year or so, I’ve written and recorded an album which I’ve called Familial. It will be released on Bella Union on 30th August, except for USA and Canada, where it will be released on 31st August through Nonesuch.

If you’d like to download a free track from my album then please go to www.philipselway.com. The song is called By Some Miracle and is available now.

I’m also doing some shows and there’s information about those on the website too.

Thank you x

Philip

I, personally, found “By Some Miracle”, to be deeply reflective and hauntingly lovely.   I am definitely happy he shared it.  Thank you, Philip!

The Toxic Teacher and Karma

My Philosophy in Education professor, Arthus Muega, drilled an important point into my and my classmates’ heads early on in the semester.  For our first three sessions, he repeatedly asked us: “What is an educated person?”

It seemed like the most simple of questions, prodding many of us to give the simplest of answers.  Answers that included words such as “schooled”, “learned”, “skilled”, all of which were deemed lacking by our teacher.  Though he never gave us an exact definition, in the end, he offered words like “values” and “morality” that somewhat soften our misses, or at least, gave them a deeper dimension.

When I was a student, I hoped for a few things in my teachers.  I hoped for them to be, not just knowledgeable, but passionate about their subject.  I hoped for them to be friendly and fair and fun to have around.  I guess you could say, I wanted them to be, not perfect, but ’educated’. 

Teachers are human, yes, but I’m not referring to flaws or mistakes that need forgiving.  My point revolves around Prof. Muega’s question about educated persons.  If your teacher’s actions prove to be consistently vile yet he seems not to care, then his MA or the intelligence he advertises with every opportunity, will always be overshadowed by his deceit and utter disregard for a person’s rights.  In the absence of good values and a sense of morality, his actions, then, declare him to be an uneducated individual. 

If, by now, you have an inkling that I am referring to a real teacher and not some general profile, you read between the lines well.  

 Recently, I have come to realize that a certain teacher I have admired for his intelligence and passion is as toxic as many people have avowed.   I used to look up to him and so forgave him easily for unkind remarks aimed at me or my friends.  I used to defend him from people who would call him two-faced or untrustworthy, retorting that he is, in fact, honest and unafraid to call things as they are.  I believed what he said that every one in his  former department has edged him out because they were too narrow-minded about brilliant (his word) curriculum changes that he had offered.  I applauded him for his recent promotion and wouldn’t agree with others that he had gotten it mostly because of calculated charm and insincere show of support for his superiors.   

An incident of late made me realize what a bane he really was, and how easy it was for him to turn against you when you question his “brilliant” methods.  Suddenly, I saw him for what he was and realized that everyone around me had been right:  he IS narcissistic and two-faced.  This teacher is toxic,  not only because of the things he’s said and done, but more so because he seems to think he has a right to say and do these things because he is, as he had declared so many times, brilliant.  

A friend of mine told me of the time this teacher was wondering out loud, woefully asking why his siblings had all the financial luck in the world when he’s actually the smartest and most talented one among them. 

He wondered. . .

I know why.

The answer is spelled K - A - R - M - A.

 In fact, after you so unfairly edged me out and caused me to lose my only means of livelihood (of which you were fully aware) this semester, not even a week had passed when blessings started flooding into my life.  This happy deluge has brought exciting opportunities, not just to earn back the living you took from me, but also new directions in my career both in Music and Theatre.  An overflow of love and support has also strengthened my bond with new friends, and renewed my kinship with old ones.  Despite your treachery, I feel so deeply and overwhelmingly loved by the Universe. 

Like I said, KARMA. 

So thank you, erswhile dearest teacher.  Your actions, though vile, have ushered me back to a beloved path.  No sarcasm there.  Truly, I bear no grudge.  I laugh at your continuing malicious actions without malice myself.   Though, I may never trust you again, I wish you all the best in your endeavors and pray that Karma teaches you to value the people around you and treat them with respect and kindness.

Namaste.

Pablo Answers 20 Questions

The fabulous Jovi of Girl, Interrupted tagged me to answer this 20 Questions Meme.  I finished it, actually, but then saw Pablo Honey looking all wistful that I asked him to answer it, too, which thrilled the poor dear to no end. 

Rules:

Remove 1 question from below, and add in your personal question, make it a total of 20 questions, then tag 8 people in your list, list them out at the end of this post. Notify them in their chat box that he/she has been tagged. Whoever does the tag will have blessings from all.

20 Questions Meme

1.) At what age do you wish to marry?

• Cacti don’t marry.  I would like to spread my seed, though, and produce lots of Pablitos and Pablitas.  So, pollinate me, please!!!

2.) What color do you like most?

• All shades of blue.  They make me think of the desert sky. 

3.) If you have the chance, what would you probably say to your beloved one?

• “Ah, you’ve pricked my heart.”

4.) Where is the place that you want to go to the most?

• Australia and stare at the changing colors of the Uluru.  

5.) Which part of you that you hate the most?

• My bar-b-que stick leg.

6.) When you encounter a sad moment, what would you do?

• Flap my arms around and wail.

7.) What are you afraid to lose the most?

• My flexibility.  I don’t want my rubber body to harden with age.

8.) If you win $1 million, what would you do?

• Buy a tanning bed (since I miss the desert heat).  Set up a foundation for teachers.  Buy Cabsy a grand piano.

9.) If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to her?

• Yes!  I would do even better and sing her the traditional cactus wooing song entitled, “Pulp of My Heart”.

10.) List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you.

• Witty.  Deep.  Smart.

11.) What are your requirements from your cacti half ?

• Succulent. Nice aerole and spines.  Rubbery but soft.  Has a nice pair of arms.  Good taste in hats and bandannas.    

12.) Till now, what is the moment that you regret the most?

• I don’t regret anything.

13.) Which type of cacti do you hate the most?

• Posers.  Ones who wear ostentatious hats but are without depth.

14.) What is your ambition?

• Help Cabsy reach out to more students.

15.) What is the thing that will make you think she is bad?

• If she thinks she’s too good to be called a cactus.

16.) What is it that people don’t know about you?

• I don’t have eyes — just the shades. 

17.) So far, have you had a life-changing moment? What was it?

• Meeting Cabsy and the ICAns.

18.) Name one of your body part your past significant others tells you he adores.

• My rubbery soft trunk.

19.) It would be 2008 in a few days, do you have a new year’s resolution?

• Exercise for flexibility.

20.) What did you wish for this Christmas?

• A new spine.  I’m tired of this bar-b-que stick.

Pablo Honey tags 6 of his pals: Chris, Liz, Merri, Grace, Allie, Ekang. 

Take Care

WordPress has been glitchy of late.  I just wrote an entire post and it came up blank after I clicked “Save and Continue Editing”, so take care.  Don’t end up frustrated like me: copy-paste your text before saving or publishing your entry.

 <– Totally not smiling right now.  Sigh.