Notes from The Music Hub August 27, 2026 5-Day Countdown! There are 5 days left to join The Music Hub at founding member pricing! Tuition rates go up 25% September 1! One of the community choruses I used to accompany in Rhode Island had a "Sing for your supper" event every spring. We would gather together at a post-season party celebrating the performances. After going through all the details about ticket sales and clapping (again) for all the people who did solos during the concerts, we...
4 days ago • 2 min read
Notes from The Music Hub August 24, 2026 Notation Errors in Simply Piano I've been reading a lot of reviews of Simply Piano lately, because of course it pertains to my work. I'll be frank. I know that I am asking you to join a comparatively pricey membership with a live teacher when there are cheap apps on the market. So, I have to try and see what they offer. Does an app that uses audio technology to detect errors in your playing help you learn piano? Sure, sort of. I am not willing to spend...
7 days ago • 3 min read
Notes from The Music Hub August 22, 2026 10-Day Countdown! There are 10 days left to join The Music Hub at founding member pricing! Tuition rates go up 25% September 1! How far have you gotten in piano so far with lessons or apps or trying method books on your own? In The Music Hub, in just 24 lessons you can go from a never-played-piano-before beginner to an early-intermediate player! What does that mean? Here are two pieces to show you what is possible! This first one, Call and Response, is...
9 days ago • 2 min read
Notes from The Music Hub August 17, 2026 Inside Look at The Music Hub This is a quick email this week! I made the following video this week for people who sign up for my free mini-course on how to read music faster so they could get an inside look at The Music Hub. I thought you might find it helpful, too. If you're not already a member, you can watch this video and get a look inside Skool, how the classroom is set up, see how lessons are organized, where to find Zoom links for group...
14 days ago • 1 min read
“If a creator is so afraid of judgment that they’re unable to move forward, it might be that the desire to share the work isn’t as strong as the desire to protect themselves. Perhaps art isn’t their role. Their temperament might serve a different purpose. This path isn’t for everyone.” ~ Rick Rubin, in The Creative Act: A Way of Being We all know that criticism and adversity are part of the plan when it comes to making a life in the arts. When we face it, does that mean we should quit, or...
15 days ago • 4 min read
Notes from The Music Hub August 10, 2026 Strengthening the Left Hand One of the things I have done over the course of creating the Piano Accelerator Program in The Music Hub is to write my own pieces to incorporate into the program, along with arrangements of other songs and existing piano pieces. I just finished compiling the over 70 original pieces I wrote! I wrote these pieces to address some gaps that I have seen in other beginning piano curricula. One of the biggest gaps is a lack of...
21 days ago • 2 min read
Notes from The Music Hub August 3, 2026 Chord Charts vs. Lead Sheets I've been talking a lot about chords lately because they offer a different way of playing the piano, which can expand the types of music you play. In previous newsletters, I have talked about Lead Sheets, and I put a lesson on how to read and play those in the Scales & Chords module of The Music Hub. An alternative to Lead Sheets is Chord Charts. What is the difference between lead sheets and chord charts, and when might you...
28 days ago • 3 min read
Notes from The Music Hub July 27, 2026 Try the Music Hub for FREE! Perhaps you've been interested in The Music Hub, and you've been thinking about joining. But you have questions. How does it work?What does it look like?Is learning by video actually effective?Will I be successful? I get it. Sometimes we need to try something out to see if we like it and make sure it is a good fit. So, starting today, July 27, and going through the month of August, subscribers to this newsletter can try out...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
This past Tuesday marked three years since I became a resident of North Carolina. I feel that I am quickly becoming cemented into the local community. Just last week, I met with the executive director and conductor of our local regional symphony, the Western Piedmont Symphony. The ensemble is based in Hickory, NC. They want to partner with me in some fashion to help them with publicity online. We are ironing out the details. I am in discussions with the Burke County Arts Council about...
about 1 month ago • 9 min read