Upcoming gigs and lessons

Hey, y'all!

I have a few weeks off from gigs, and every-other-week lessons start in June. Ah summer! Except my day job is kicking my rear end...

Anyway, my next gigs are
- with Craig Martin Experience (CME)
--- 6/22/13, 7-9 pm at the Blue Window Bistro in Los Alamos, NM. $15 cover.
- with DK & the Affordables
--- 6/29/13, a wedding at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area all afternoon.
--- 7/6/13, 8-midnight at the Pajarito Brewpub and Grill in Los Alamos, NM. $5 cover.
--- 7/12/13, 8-midnight at the River's Edge in Salida, CO.
--- 7/13/13, TBD in Buena Vista, CO.
--- 7/27/13, beerfest at Pajarito Mtn. Ski Area, 1-5 pm.

Playing in two bands is a challenge, but I'm having a blast in both groups. Both bands are constantly changing, constantly evolving, and every show is something different. With CME, we are constantly on the search for new jazz material. A few guys in the group are becoming talented composers and arrangers. With the Affordables, we often have a drummer or bass player sitting in as our main guys are often on travel. Sometimes I cover the bass with my left hand on the lower octaves of the keyboard. It just depends.

More info-

CME: http://www.reverbnation.com/craigmartinexperience

Affordables: http://www.reverbnation.com/dktheaffordables


Still looking for another piano student or two...

Cover picture credit

I should have mentioned in post #1 on this blog that the cover picture was taken by Los Alamos's own Skip Wecksung. If you see Skip out and about in Los Alamos and White Rock, chances are he'll have his camera and be snapping quality photos. If you are on Facebook, be sure to check out his work (https://www.facebook.com/wecksung?fref=ts). He currently has some of his work hanging at the Fuller Lodge Art Center (http://fullerlodgeartcenter.com/).

My wife (Mrs. Donharl) has some paintings at the FLAC as well . Check 'em out. And we are working on a collaboration around the upcoming "Trickster" exhibit. Stay tuned...

Fly Tying Box

I built this for my dad a few years back. After he passed away, it came back to me and I use it almost daily. It's made of 3/8" birch plywood. I hand-cut the stamps from drawings I found in tying books, and finished it with 3 coats of polyurethane. The question I always get is, "did you make the foam top?" Alas, no, I bought that at High Desert Angler in Santa Fe. It would be easy to make, though!

Fly Tying: Old Patterns for New Jewelry

If you'd have asked me when I started tying flies if I'd ever be making jewelry, I'd have laughed at you. Well, the joke's on me. Britt suggested fly earrings and so I've been making some of those to sell. The picture here is the small stock I have at Warm Hearts Yarn in White Rock. I have several more pair at the Fuller Lodge Art Center and a few more in the works at home.

At first, I chose patterns that were fairly realistic both in terms of size and color. Stimulators and various streamers filled the bill. Then I scaled up some popular patterns like the Copper John, Elk Hair Caddis, and Black Ant. Those scaled-up patterns have turned out to be the most fun and most popular. Then I tied a few just to be obnoxious, like a Bumblebee with bead eyes. Of course, I needed a logo and a hang tag. That was accomplished by scanning in a stamp and putting it on business cards. I hand cut the stamp and used it for a box I made my dad several years ago. I'll post a picture of the box in another post.

My father was a prolific tier, so I think about him every time I sit down to tie a fly. When I was going through his fishing and tying stuff after his passing, I must have found 200 size 8 wolly worms. That was his fly of choice for just about every fishing situation from Idaho to New Mexico. Not a bad choice, really.

Welcome to my corner of the world, and come take piano lessons with me!

My sense of self-importance became overwhelming, hence this blah, blah, blog. I'm starting this up so I can tell you about my music, art, work, family, and life. I have lots going on and I'm excited to share it with you.

Today I'm thinking about piano lessons, which I've had the good fortune to teach over the last couple years. I've had as many as 5 students and am now down to 2. Maybe that's not a ringing endorsement, but hear me out. It's a blessing and a joy when a 6-year old who is just learning to read can name the notes on the grand staff and on the keyboard. It's amazing to watch an adult student take her classical training and learn new rules for forming chords and reading a "Real Book" chart that only has one music line and chords. I love watching this progress and sharing the joy I've gained from music with other folks.

I would like to add a few more students, I won't lie. I'm not good at self-promotion, though. There are many classical teachers in my town and I don't want to step on any toes or take students away from other teachers. I will say, however, that my experiences in jazz and rock have led me to look at music in a different way than we approach classical music. If you're reading this and you're local (Northern New Mexico, but especially Los Alamos and White Rock), and you have even the slightest inkling of playing the piano, give me a shout!