My son overslept this morning and missed his online piano lesson, the one that was scheduled for noon. He was still in bed at 2:30 this afternoon, but by then was wide awake, phone in hand. His piano teacher said he should have told her ahead of time that he planned to oversleep. I don’tContinue reading “Overslept”
Category Archives: Music
O Say Can You See the Truth About Key?
There is talk of changing our National Anthem because Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the “Star-Spangled Banner,” was a slave owner, and because the song contains pro-slavery lyrics. My initial reaction was negative: I can’t see that it’s useful to erase the other achievements of anyone who owned slaves. What’s next? GiveContinue reading “O Say Can You See the Truth About Key?”
Choosing Classes
My son has chosen his courses for the fall semester of his freshman year of college. Now let’s hope the university can actually offer in-person classes safely. That’s the current plan, according to the school, but who knows what will happen with the coronavirus pandemic. It still seems odd that we’re all going ahead withContinue reading “Choosing Classes”
College Craziness: Tentative Decision
My son accepted a spot at James Madison University last week, and paid the deposit. While I’m relieved that he has somewhere to go, it’s a shame that he had to accept an admissions offer from a school that isn’t really where he wants to be, especially since he was also accepted to his firstContinue reading “College Craziness: Tentative Decision”
Taekwondo Class in the Time of Coronavirus
I posted a video a couple days ago of my teenage son’s virtual piano lesson, with him sitting at the baby grand with his phone set up nearby so his teacher could tune in via WhatsApp. In addition to being a musician, Jon Morgan is a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. Before the shutdown, heContinue reading “Taekwondo Class in the Time of Coronavirus”
Piano Lessons in the Time of Coronavirus
At first, the piano teacher wanted to keep coming to the house. After the governor’s shutdown order, I put my foot down. The piano teacher is in a high-risk age group, yet she resisted. She is using Facetime for lessons with some of her students, but didn’t understand when we said we can’t use FacetimeContinue reading “Piano Lessons in the Time of Coronavirus”
And Just Like That, High School Is Over
The governor of Virginia announced today that state K-12 schools are closed for the rest of the school year. I don’t fault him for making the decision. Our schools were already closed through the end of spring break in mid-April, but anyone who thinks this global coronavirus pandemic will be over by then is, well,Continue reading “And Just Like That, High School Is Over”
All-State Auditions
Over the weekend we drove back down to the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, for the second time this month. The first time was because my son has applied for admission there for next year and had to audition to get into the music department. He auditioned on piano, and he thinksContinue reading “All-State Auditions”
Another Weekend, Another College Visit
It was the third weekend of the month, so we had the third in our February series of weekly college, university, or conservatory interview/audition/portfolio review visits. This one was to Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. This one is in Baltimore, only an hour and a quarter’s drive from here. So we were able toContinue reading “Another Weekend, Another College Visit”
The College Admissions Process Continues….
Last weekend, for the third week in a row, we visited yet another college campus. This time, it was James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It’s not the best-known or most prestigious of the schools Jon Morgan has applied to, but it is a strong university overall, and it has an excellent music department, withContinue reading “The College Admissions Process Continues….”
