An update on current activities. I’ve received a couple emails asking why I’m not blogging so much. After making it through Chinese New Year here in Macau, China I was able to take a long overdue vacation and return to the United States for the first time in two years. (Beloved Skagit County, Washington USA – I didn’t visit down in Southern California). The break gave me a chance to bring some more gear back to China and to set new goals and aspirations for myself – pretty much like starting a new year.
So here’s what I’m doing. Still doing 8-10 shows a week with Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA in Macau, China as keyboardist and assistant bandleader. Also brought an Excelsior accordion back with me so I can practice and improve my chops (along with 10 volumes of Palmer – Hughes accordion books and another 8 pounds of polkas and waltzes).
But the big excitement for me is my renewed studies in orchestration. I am studying specifically the orchestrations of Tchaikovsky, Puccini, Mozart, Mahler and assorted others. This all as background work for a personal project that I am reading on voraciously. It is all consuming for me because there is no ceiling to what can be done – it’s all up to my own focus and commitment.
I am putting a hold on working on my internet networks because frankly it bores me right now. But orchestration and creativity are what call me at the current time. So I will follow that voice for now.
And as I work in my Macau apartment at my new mega workstation setup with keyboards, computers and reference books – I can look out from my penthouse and view the water in Macau as I drink Starbuck’s coffee. I would say life is good and it would be a crime not to use this opportunity to push myself to the limits and see what I can offer creatively.
…we should talk.
Go, go gadget! 🙂