We're well into June now. Public schools are winding down for the year. The high temperatures in Portland have been above 70 degrees all week. The flamingos are pecking through the garden. Summer is definitely on its way. It's been a long time since I've written a blog post but I'm happy to be able to share some news with you today!
My first bit of news is that I'm going to be taking some classes at my local community college. I have been interested for a while now in developing more skills and knowledge in artistic fields I have not had much formal experience in thus far. As many of you know, I have really enjoyed producing events that are difficult to call simply "concerts": collaborations with dancers, staging, lighting, movement on the part of the performers, movement on the part of the audience, sculpture, all kinds of things. These kind of far-reaching and dynamic experiences really resonate with me and I want to do more of this kind of thing in the future, so I thought it would be nice to widen my understanding by taking some classes. So I am going to be focusing on 3D and 4D art over the course of the next year and see where it takes me. My first class begins June 27.
In order to accommodate this change, my next bit of news concerns my teaching work. I am celebrating 15 years as a music educator (where has the time gone??) and the time feels right to make some changes here too. I am stepping back from one of my teaching positions to focus on private teaching. This will give me more autonomy over how I spend my time when I am teaching and how I spend my time between lessons as well. I will be focusing on intermediate and advanced level students on instruments in the clarinet and saxophone families. So I am saying goodbye to a few students this week but also welcoming some new faces. I am also going to be returning to in-person lessons for the first time since March 2020. Video lessons have been a huge asset to me and my students over the last two years, but the majority of students crave in-person interaction during their music lessons and, again, it feels like the right time to make this change. My summer term of teaching will also begin June 27, so it will be a week of a lot of new beginnings for me! If you are interested in summer music lessons, please be in touch in the next two weeks.
Lastly, I have some music news for you. I mentioned last year that I've been working on two different solo streaming shows, but it's been taking a while to actually get them on the calendar due to some illness, injury, travel, and other issues that have pushed it back, but I'm ready to announce a date!
Saturday June 25 5pm PT (8pm ET)
I will be playing a short show of jazz tunes on an emulated Hammond B-3 organ. For years I have been enamored by the style and sounds of jazz organists like Jimmy Smith and I'd like to share some of those sounds with you. It's been a long time since I've done a jazz show at all, on any instrument, so it means a lot to me. More details and a link you can use to watch the show will follow in an email, so make sure you are on the mailing list. I am planning the second streaming show for the fall so stay tuned!
Thank you for your continued interest in my musical goings-on and I hope you have a wonderful start to the summer wherever you are!
Justin