Music Ed Monday – The Long Game

I’m writing this as my baby is fussing in the crib beside me — not crying or screaming, just kind of whining. We’re in the midst of sleep training our seven-month old and there are many days where I feel like what we’re doing just isn’t working.  Even a week into this, there is still a lot of fussing and particularly around nap time. It … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – The Long Game

NEW PIECE – “Colossus”

Click here to purchase. Hi everybody, So, it’s been a big year.  In the last eight months, my family grew by one and I took a one-year sabbatical from teaching to pursue a Master’s degree in Composition from Brandon University.  I know, perhaps we could have timed that better but, as the old saying goes, “the right time is when it happens,” right? Anyway, I’ve … Continue reading NEW PIECE – “Colossus”

The Past Year and the Next!

How can it be that it be that I haven’t updated this website in seven months? Wow, we’d better get started. 2017 was an amazing year, both personally and professionally.  Let’s start with the personal stuff: My son was born on November 4th! He’s just the best. I started grad school and am actually doing university right.  More on that later. I made some of … Continue reading The Past Year and the Next!

Music Ed Monday – New Show, Same Nerd.

After weeks and weeks of researching, reading, recording, filming and editing, my new show launches today.  The original “Into the Score” ran from 2004 to 2007; it was a time where I was a very different person, or at least I thought I was. If anyone who’s reading this knows me personally, you’ll probably know that I’ve been interested in video game music for the … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – New Show, Same Nerd.

Music Ed Monday – It Depends on the Room

Disclaimer: I’m not a counselor nor an expert, but I talk to a lot of kids about a great many things related to their well-being.  Here are some patterns of experience paired with elements of mental health that I’ve learned from pro-counselors.  This is one perspective that may challenge you and that’s okay.  Allow yourself to be challenged, then consider it or never think about … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – It Depends on the Room

Music Ed Monday – Keep on Keepin’ On

In a really wonderful turn of events, I won a competition this past month! My very first one! It was the 2015 Canadian Band Association Composition Competition (*whew!*) and my piece for concert band “The Meeting Place” took home the prize.  I really like that tune, and so do a lot of my students – more than many of my other ones, actually. The funny … Continue reading Music Ed Monday – Keep on Keepin’ On

BEAT ALL THE FINAL FANTASIES – FFX

I’m trying to remember exactly when I was playing Final Fantasy X  for the first time.  It came out when I was in Grade 10, though I first saw it when my cousin showed it to me at my grandmother’s house in Gimli, the town where I grew up.  But even still, I don’t think I started really playing it until I was university, which was … Continue reading BEAT ALL THE FINAL FANTASIES – FFX