Busking by USA Rail Pass: Kicking bass for myself on a bridge in Nashville
I did it! I busked in Nashville despite many naysayers! It was too cold, however… Here’s a link to the short video… https://youtube.com/shorts/EDyUxlWrkoA?si=Mej8GtXg4kYGlLP6
Busking by USA Rail Pass: Randos try to fix my dead amp in NYC
I am #busking across America by #Amtrak with my USA rail pass. Here’s what happened on my second day in New York City when I got all my gear from Brooklyn to Washington Square, only to find that my Boss Street Cube amp would not take power from the battery pack. Also, my Casio CT-S1...
Busking by USA Rail Pass: Dancing Bees Surrounded Me in Manhattan!
I have peaked in my #busking tour of America by rail! It’s all downhill from here… (Just joking, I’m just getting started). Thanks to NYC resident and friend John Foley for invaluable filming and spontaneous NYC moral and tour support! https://youtu.be/F5zeOTe2yPk?si=3F0sK3N5A3PGqNL- But perhaps you are wondering how these bees came to join my traveling show? It turns out...
Busking by USA Rail Pass: How I Handled a Belligerent Wino in Chicago
https://youtu.be/psf7KjiAaWU My train from Chicago to New York City was rescheduled a day later due to mudslides, so I ended up having two days of busking in Chicago. I checked a bag for 24 hours in the Chicago Union Station, and booked a hotel online. I wrangled a slightly early check in and then headed...
Busking by USA Rail Pass: Oakland to Los Angeles to Albuquerque
When a fellow student at Open Studio commented that I could stop by her place in Albuquerque on my way to the Midwest on the Southwest Chief, I phoned 1-800-USA-RAIL and changed my reservation to allow a 24-hour stopover at her place (Amtrak phone agents are extremely helpful and can help if you’re having trouble...
Busking across America with the USA Rail Pass: Life can change in an instant
I have a USA Rail Pass and I’m taking my piano and amp around the country! It’s not about making money, though that’s nice. It’s really about freedom. Giving the gift of music to the people. And making music on my terms. No complications, no band to manage, no tickets to sell, no shitty sound...
A few points to remember about CPR
I recertified for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) this week with ICE Safety Solutions in Fremont and the two hour, virtual reality-and-Zoom class flew by. The night before, a box containing all sorts of props for us to practice with came to my doorstep. Pamela Isom, the president and founder, participated in the training. She told us...
Enjoyed Oakland’s newest skating spot today!
Brooklyn Basin and the historic Port of Oakland 9th Avenue terminal there are now mostly complete. It’s a gorgeous place to roller-skate, which is the sport everyone took up during the pandemic! Here’s an article in the Mercury News that alerted me to this spot.
Kids, Come to Oakland Feather River Sleep-Away Camp August 2019
This year Town Camp offers a special sleep away camp at historic Oakland Feather River Camp, our city's own municipal camp since 1924 located in Quincy, Calif.
Oakland Feather River Camp Music Week Starts… NOW!
OFRC MUSIC WEEK boasts three professional musician guest artists, July 8-14, 2018 All ages are welcome to explore ensemble playing on a variety of instruments (bring what you have!). Guitars and ukeleles, a piano and some percussion instruments will be available. We will also offer accompaniment for singers. There will be karaoke for over-the-top fun as well...
Oakland family camp gets 4 musician teachers in 2017!
It’s my 10th year teaching (or something like that, I’ve lost count)! This year I’m thrilled that we have four (count ’em) musicians joining me (and many more among campers and jammers)! Read on! OFRC MUSIC WEEK boasts four professional musician guest artists, July 9-16, 2017 All ages are welcome to explore ensemble playing on a variety...
In which I take a ferry and discover time is the great equalizer
Sometimes I forget how much freedom I have to do whatever I want and enjoy this beautiful place I live in. Take today. I had been invited to the annual gathering of people who used to work at Miller Freeman, the company where I had my first (and last) job, for 10 years, as a...
