End-of-Summer Update + Navigating Transition
Hey everyone! I know, long time no blog (except for sheet music releases and Kickstarter stuff) - all summer, in fact!
If you’ve missed the style of writing from my usual blog posts, you can still hear from me every week in my newsletter that’s chock-full of supportive real talk about staying well while doing creative work. Sign up at the bottom of the page!
Now that we’re past the ceremonial beginning of fall, I thought I’d pop in to let you know what I’ve been up to.
If you follow me on social media, I know you couldn’t have missed the Kickstarter for my upcoming album Florescer.
(Spoiler: we did it! The project was funded, which I am SO grateful for - thanks very much to everyone who contributed!) I also did a really fun online concert to celebrate the last hour, which you can watch here:
If you did miss the Kickstarter, don’t worry, because the official album release date is coming up soon on October 24, and you’ll be able to buy and stream it through all of the usual places - stay tuned for more details on that.
And, if you’re in Minneapolis/St. Paul, you’re invited to my album release show on October 18, featuring all of the guest musicians on the album (Tim O’Keefe, percussion, Jenny Klukken, marimba, and Laura Harada, violin). I’m also planning on live-streaming it. More details here.
If you want to stay in the loop on the album and upcoming gigs, be sure to hop on my gig mailing list here!
So, what else did I do all summer?
A lot, it turns out! No wonder this summer seemed to go faster than ever. Workwise, I:
tracked and mixed my album with Steve Kaul and Matt Holmes at the wonderful Wild Sound studio
figured out some logistical stuff for the album release
planned and started rehearsing for an upcoming concert on Oct. 7 featuring the music of Dr. Chris Granias
played a couple of fun outdoor gigs with Batucada do Norte
finished teaching at Chanson Voice and Music Academy, and moved all of my stuff out
purged tons of things from our apartment
hosted a Musochat full of great conversation on the topic: The Intersection of Wellness and Creativity
hosted a women musicians meetup/jam with Lauren Husting
redesigned my website (that’s always a big rabbit hole to fall down!)
did several Virtual Office Hours appointments, which were super fun
started developing ideas about coaching offerings (coming in fall 2018!)
(NON-WORK) FUN STUFF
traveled to Denver to celebrate a good friend’s 40th birthday
traveled to New York to see Dream the Combine’s installation at MoMA PS1, which Tom spent most of June helping install, saw some college friends, and got to have a lesson with my teacher Vitor Gonçalves.
visited Tom’s family cabin in Hackensack, MN
drove to Iowa for a friend’s wedding
spent as much time with family and friends as possible
saw some great music: Ivan Lins, Bobby McFerrin, Matra, Hamilton de Holanda + Roberta Sá, and the Twin Cities Jazz Composers Workshop premiere concert
September is always a pretty crazy month, with the beginning of the school year, but this year promises to be even more so, as I wrap up Kickstarter rewards and prepare for my album release. I’m also going to New Orleans to attend the Being Boss Vacation at the end of the month, which is coming up fast! I’m really excited to connect with more fellow creative entrepreneurs, and keep living out my word of the year (CONNECT!)
NAVIGATING TRANSITION
All in all, it feels like a really big transition time right now:
I’m adjusting to a new school year, in a new teaching space
The seasons are changing (yet teasing us with warm weather, right when I was ready to be cool and cozy)
Tom is a few weeks into a new job
Etc.
I’m reminding myself:
That transitions of various sizes are constantly happening and take mental energy
That bigger and/or simultaneous transitions take even more energy
Even “good” transitions can be hard, and that’s fine
I need to cut myself some slack, generally, and especially during these times
I don’t need to start anything else new during a transition time, unless it’s something I really need
I can (and should!) do extra nice things for myself when I’m feeling out of sorts
I don’t need anyone’s permission for that...and neither do you!
If you need permission to go a little easier on yourself, here it is!
Are you going through any challenging transitions right now, school year, seasonal, or otherwise? How do you deal with it? Let me know in the comments. (You got this.)
