a day in the life of piano monkey

nights come quietly in the mountains. with trails of silver mist and fairest snow flakes, the dusk falls on the fragments of the day's sun- and without any announcement, it is here- night. in 2009, for both residencies, i was fortunate to have late practice buddies.  we mainly left notes on one another's doors, encouraging, nudging and joking all the way through the night, looking into this craft of arts, hoping to get closer to it, as the air cooled and the stars came up. after all these time, here i am once again, writing in the night, surrounded by big, monumental mountains. elemental. primeval.  though this time, the stay is short and i am night-buddy-less. that's alright- especially in company of greats such as mozart, poulenc... today i witnessed live arts- at the mid week series @ rolston hall. the residents show themselves to the public in many different concerts here- self-directed concerts, midweek wednesday concert, the big friday concert and yes, can...

yep. banff centre. frozen winter beauty. cannot be happier. after finishing my doctoral degree, i went and got a job at the local starbucks. i thought music business is too complicated, politically draining and the rate of success is abysmal. a kind soul saw that and threw me across the country half way to the banff centre for arts, to play the piano for the residency program participants. for most of year 2009, i was here, in the mountains, relearning about self- about what music is, who i am, what makes me happy, what i can and cannot to, etc.  after three residencies (winter, summer and fall), i was a new person. a new person with new family- yes, we are far apart most of the time, but the connections are real. this is where the magic happens. i am here for a very very short visit, just short of ten days. and being here makes me feel as if ive been punched on the stomach. so many vivid memories, thoughts, recollections, ideas, inspirations, all things that mak...

it's been a real busy period since i came back from lazy, stretched-out, belly-scratching winter break in the hazy hills of uk (saturated with rain, of course...); not that i was suffering! i was quite excited to get back into it.  you see, i believe in 'leaving things faraway' at times- just like that gigantic lindt chocolate bar, it's always better when you come back to it (rather than hogging it all throughout to the end) after the week of semi-calm (pressed and stained with many notes and administrative stuff), wknd of 19/20 january was an eventful one: 1.  utoronto symphony orchestra concerto competition- i accompanied five hard working kiddies. i am proud to say two of them not only made it to the final, but they are the winners- congrats to mike dassios (clarinet) performing nielsen clarinet concerto and biancak chambul (bassoon) performing mozart concerto.  it always is a great feeling. not to forget that little young lady ms. luzin had one of the panel me...

(adolphe willette, pierrot dances beneath the moon; detail of cartoon frm le chat noir, jan 17, 1885)  ...i suppose the weight of- or rather, the emptiness of (departed life friend) weighs heavy on your heart on such times. it does make me curious to think why or how the weather does it. toronto's been covered in snow and it does funny things to my heart, especially with he space i keep for my brother. like empty corner in a busy room, it often gets cluttered with other things, however, it is always there. just for him. the moon does it as well (darn you moon!) for me- i was in charge of getting him back home (he died far away in west coast) and helping fam with funeral, i didnt really have the room to break things down and depressurize. but it did come, couple weeks later, in june, in full moon. and as it approaches another full moon on 26th, i quietly clean away that corner again, so i may sit in the middle of it and let thoughts of him sit with me still. it is unavoidab...

dearest blog, i am sorry ive been away for so long! it's been absolutely crazy and i have so many stories, pictures and thoughts- perhaps we will get a change to catch up when i am back in the mountains this saturday. but yes, you are still in my mind (and yes, you, readers) hope everyone's having a grand start to year 2013- and yes, it's still january- fly high with hopes, much love to all!!