~ Extraordinary Touch ~

I have THE BEST students in existence!  They inspire me every single day! : )

 

 Malia (my daughter performing "Waterfall" at the recital. 
Jon signing autographs and all of us presenting him with our gift - a candy bar poster. : )

 Beginning the concert ...

 Doing what he does best - upside down!!  : )

Jon connecting with the audience ... personal stories, humor and history of his song arrangements.

Jon asked for a random volunteer to come up and "jam" with him in the blues "key of C" ... out of everyone who volunteered, it was my dearest cousin Jonathan who flew all the way in from Missouri for the concert!  Everyone thought it was a set up, but it was the FIRST time

that Jon (my cuz) met Jon.

What a great moment! ♫

Jon's trademark smile : )

"The sensitivity of every single note

was truly taken into consideration, by his extraordinary touch."

This past weekend was without a doubt one of the top ten moments in my life thus far.  It will most likely remain there until my last breathing day.  Amazing doesn't even begin to describe it.

As many of you know, Jon Schmidt (beyond brilliant pianist) came to my private piano recital and then graced the city of Temecula with a fantastic concert!  Not only is he truly gifted and talented - but beyond that ... an incredible entertainer and one of the nicest people I've ever met.

A lot of people have asked me how I was able to get Jon here to perform.  Well.  Like many awesome things that come to pass - it all began with a thought.  Last year around April, a couple of my more advanced students really wanted to learn how to play his "epic" pieces.  So I thought, sure - why not.  They are some of the most amazing arrangements ever - would be a good challenge for my students - and a lot of fun! : )
Well, then some of my younger students, got wind of it and wanted to learn his music too.  Luckily for me as a piano teacher - this genius pianist/composer - has a book for all levels of piano students.  
 

Then, the thought came to me as I asked each one of my students: "What if we have a Jon Schmidt recital, playing only his music? ... Wouldn't that be a fun recital?"  All of them were of course 100% in agreement.  Then my thoughts continued to progress (funny how that happens along the way!), and I again asked my students: "Wouldn't it be awesome IF we could somehow get Jon Schmidt to come to our recital?"  (a total far-fetched dream of course, but asking that question sparked the same kind of impossible hope into all of our hearts).  And again they were 100% in agreement.

Well, I found him on Facebook - he accepted my friend request - I told him my little story of how all of my students were learning all of his own arrangements and how we were going to have a "Jon Schmidt Recital" in his honor, and asked him what it would take for him to come - and IF he would be interested in coming at all.  He said he would love to come, quoted me his out of state fee and then a few days passed.  In my mind I was trying to figure out how to cover all the cost's that were involved.  Jon's fee, the grand piano rental/delivery, the sound technician that Jon requires, the venue cost, etc. etc. etc.
  Then as if a spotlight (not a light bulb) instantly clicked on in my mind, with such illumination, I thought: "What if I organize a concert for him, in our wonderful town of Temecula??!!"  I presented him with the idea and he replied: "Great idea!  I am there!" : )

Long story short.  After a few re-scheduling dates, trying to secure a venue, and lining up a date that would work for both of us - it happened!  And it was a ga-zillion times beyond any of my thoughts, dreams or expectations!  Our private piano recital was so much fun as each student asked Jon a question (related to music or not), before they performed their piece, and then Jon giving them all high-fives as they went back to sit down at their seat.  He then conducted a workshop for them, demonstrating various things on the piano which my students truly enjoyed and appreciated.  I kept thinking while sitting there in awe taking it all in, a year ago what began as a thought evolved into the famous line: "and the rest is history!!"  I couldn't believe it was actually happening and that Jon Schmidt was really truly there for us.  It was so surreal.  "Pinch me, am I dreaming?" little moment for me.  All my emotions, whirlwinding around me.  Very incredible moment indeed!

Then of course his performance in the concert - was far beyond amazing!!  His humor - "magic bag trick" - personable connection with the audience - his "epic" songs - funny songs - completely out of his bench ("The Dumb Song") songs - his creative arrangement pieces ("Love Story meets Viva La Vida" - "Pachalbel meets U2" - "Terminator meets Jessica's Theme" - etc. etc. etc!!) and finally his extraordinary touch with his exquisite arrangement of "Cherished Moments" where he had such hypnotic control with every single note ... everyone was captured in the moment - you could have heard a pin drop.  Simply beautiful.  I had all of my piano students sitting in the front row.  And my most favorite thing about it, was watching their faces and expressions as they were all hypnotized by this amazing, gifted, kind artist.  What a wonderful moment.

Jon was gracious and spent time with all of his fans, conducting a "meet n' greet" session.  Pictures, autographs, questions and answers.  Very cool.  Very generous of him to do that.  We then took him to dinner and made sure everyone in the restuarant knew that Jon Schmidt was in the house! haha : )

We are planning to do this again next September with a matinee and evening concert.  I am truly - beyond any expression of grateful - for Jon and that this dream actually came true.  Time is a funny thing.  Last year when this idea surfaced and my students started on their pieces - now seems so long ago.  And now this past weekend when it all happened, now feels like a dream. I have to keep looking back at the pictures to really see if it happened! haha : )

This also taught me, that if you have any thought, desire, wish, dream - that you CAN make it happen!!  Of course there is a LOT of work, preparation, research, networking, sweat and tears, and creativity that is involved - but every single second is worth it when it happenes.  I never, never, never, EVER - in my wildest dreams - thought I would have Jon Schmidt come to one of my little piano recitals!!  Me - a little piano teacher - nobody famous ... just a wish and desire for my students, family, friends and the community to partake in his amazingness!!!  And he - thanking ME for having him there.  He, giving everything to my students, and making them feel famous and appreciated.  What an amazing person he is!

Don't EVER give up.  Whatever it is you wish for.  Make it happen.  Step by step.  With a truckload of patience sometimes.  AND the motivation to KEEP GOING when you face those obstacles in life along the way.  Look around it, get out of the rutt and find another pathway to make it happen. 
There are ALWAYS other options in life to bring  your dreams to fruition.   Don't stay stuck.  Think out of the box and put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

Here's to making what you think might be impossible - POSSIBLE today! : )

And a little something just for you!  A couple of his famous pieces recorded live from our concert.  Enjoy!  Even with the "special effects" turn of the camera that my daughter did. haha

"Waterfall" 

"Love Story meets Viva La Vida" 

♥

Some fun pictures to enjoy!!  : )

Jonathan, Jon & me!  : )

 Jonathan, Jon, me and my dear friend Julie!

 Taylor (my son), Jon & Desmarie

 Ridin' in the convertable on a perfect California day!!

 "Jon Schmidt" is in the house!!!  Having a great time at dinner!

 Hubby with Jon. 

Our best family photo w/Jon!!  : )

I had to have a picture w/Jon like everyone else was!!  I mean after all ...... c'mon! haha : )  Self portrait!

His classic trademark picture!!  Love it!  Great guy!  : ) 

Be sure to visit his website for mp3's/song book downloads.  Also for his concert schedule including his upcoming Christmas concert at Kingsbury Hall in UT (info is on his concert schedule) - and bonus ... FREE 2 hour streaming of his amazing arrangements!
♫

~ Hula ~

In celebration of "Aloha Friday" - I bring to you the wikipedia history of Hula!  Enjoy!!  : )

Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a mele. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele.


There are many styles of hula. They are commonly divided into two broad categories: Ancient hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawaiʻi, is called kahiko. It is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments. Hula as it evolved under Western influence, in the 19th and 20th centuries, is called ʻauana. It is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ʻukulele, and the double bass.

Terminology for two main additional categories is beginning to enter the hula lexicon: "Monarchy" includes many hula which were composed and choreographed during the 19th century. During that time the influx of Western culture created significant changes in the formal Hawaiian arts, including hula. "Ai Kahiko", meaning "in the ancient style" are those hula written in the 20th and 21st centuries that follow the stylistic protocols of the ancient hula kahiko.

Hula is taught in schools called hālau. The teacher of hula is the kumu hula, where kumu means source of knowledge. Hula dancing is a complex art form, and there are many hand motions used to signify aspects of nature, such as the basic Hula and Coconut Tree motions, or the basic leg steps, such as the Kaholo, Ka'o, and Ami.

There are other dances that come from other Polynesian islands such as Tahiti, The Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Aotearoa (New Zealand); however, the hula is unique to the Hawaiian Islands.

Keep those hips movin! ...
"Aloooooooooooooha!"