I am spending most of this week at church, teaching music to a bunch of 4-10 year-olds at Vacation Bible School. This is why my posts are coming later than usual. This is why I am making sad faces at perpetual morning person Rumple Station from 8 AM to at least 10:15. But we have […]
Category Archives: Music
A 9-Year-Old Girl’s Thoughts on a Gershwin Classic
Ruby, unlike her father, does not like stuff. She was complaining about it so much today that I put on the song “I’ve Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’” from the Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess. She definitely had some thoughts about it, and she provided a running commentary for the song, which I will now attempt to […]
I Only Take My Clothes Off for Other Musicians
This past weekend I performed in a series of concerts with the magnificently redundantly named Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont. We did some 16th century lute songs as well as the Tallis Lamentations, and it really was a fantastic show. The music was a joy to sing, and apparently to hear as well, judging […]
The First Classical Music I Ever Purchased
Back when I was in high school and excited to enjoy my new CD player I quickly began diverting all of my funds in the direction of music. I bought soundtracks of movies that I loved, I bought the latest pop hits, and I bought whatever else I could get my hands on. There was […]
Saddle Up! – New Music for Kids on Star Wars Day
Did you know that Star Wars was really just a western set in space? Seriously, the whole thing could have been set in Colorado and it would have worked. Farmhand and grizzled old hermit meet cowboy and go off to fight the government while trying to save the scrappy saloon owner’s daughter? Yeah, it works. […]
When Things Aren’t Hard Anymore
Today I want to talk about something I am going to call the “success delay.” I don’t know if that’s a real thing, since I just made it up, but is rings true for me anyway. I’m referring to the period of lag time that exists between the moment that things are no longer difficult, and […]
Top 40 Hits as Re-Written For My Children
As you know if you follow this blog, there is a trend in kids music that involves adult musicians making sophisticated albums for children. This is good, because it means parents and kids alike can listen to the same songs without anyone wanting to cover their ears. But this does not solve the issue of […]
What’s the Deal with Danny Weinkauf?
I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, “What’s the deal with Danny Weinkauf?” Who is this guy? Where did he come from? Why is he everywhere? How does he have time to be everywhere? Does he have superpowers? If so, which superpowers does he have? Can he give me superpowers? Why not? These are […]
How to Become a Household Word
We have famous people today, but I can’t think of any who are so famous as to become eponymous. Nobody goes around saying “What are you some kind of Obama or something?” or “Look guys, we got us a real Bill Gates over here!” No, maybe that will come later, after legacies are cemented, but […]
Win an Amazing Party Prize Pack from Sugar Free Allstars!
Okay, I promised you something musical and exciting yesterday, and here it is! The is probably the coolest giveaway I have ever done. I know, I know, you are thinking “But Tenor Dad, we are not here for the cool giveaways, we are here for your amusing rants and ridiculous misadventures!” I know. I get […]