All I’ve been reading in the last few years were music papers, music theories, music teaching methods, music outreach literature, music blah blah blah. With so much music, a part of my brain always goes numb, withering like a tree that can’t get enough sunlight because a bigger tree has cast it into the shadow. [...]

October couldn’t have been crazier, more dynamic, more exciting, and more challenging. First, a few things: I’m so glad I play the guitar. I’m so glad gas prices were dropping as I drove. I’m so glad my car gets good mileage. Somehow I managed to drive 2857 miles, starting from Northern California, going as far as [...]

Today I’m in south central Washington. I think the plan is to go taste some wines at some local places, go see some of the local colors downtown, then maybe chill a bit. Reverend Jane Newall at the Rainbow MCC has been very gracious — we had a wonderful discussion last night about so many [...]

Scary, to think that people are out there listening and commenting! But what nice comments! http://www.delcamp.net/forum/en/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32582

I’m here at Abe Kenny’s house. I met Abe in 2006 during Boston GuitarFest. Who knew that some years later I’d be hitting him up for a gig opportunity out here. And to think, that somehow I’m so close to Idaho — never thought it possible, but here I am. Michael Millham, guitar professor at Gonzaga [...]

So my first time in Seattle and the Northwest! I spent a few days here and I have to come back soon. Oct. 8 - Did a technique class, outreach session, and master class at Pacific Lutheran for Elizabeth Brown and her students. Elizabeth Brown was also my host and gave me a nice room and [...]

I think the first 4 hours of driving are fine. You enjoy the road, love the views, wonder where all those trucks are going, wonder what they’re carrying, even smile and listen to the music. Then, after making small talk with random urinals and sneering past a couple McDonalds, a transformation occurs. Your brain starts going [...]

I love hiking. I don’t get to do it much, but with that long drive yesterday and a long drive ahead of me tomorrow, I’m glad I got a chance to hike around Crater Lake. Thinking back, the guitar has allowed me to see some incredible stuff. In terms of seeing nature, the mountain ranges [...]

Driving down the two-lane I-5, watching the fields of gold turn into tall fir trees, watching snow-capped Mt. Shasta get bigger, I managed the 6.5 hours from San Jose to Medford, OR. It was a long trip but Shasta Lake was gorgeous — the contrast between the red soil, the dark mossy-green water, reflecting the [...]

About supporting Obama — the speeches are inspiring, his values are grounded, and the policies sound reasonable. But one of the biggest reasons I’m supporting Obama has to do with the idea that “change comes to Washington, not from Washington”. In the wave of this massive grassroots-generated support and passion for Obama, I’ve come to realize [...]