Current Projects…

So, I’m a guy who likes to keep a lot of things on my plate. I think it makes me feel better when I don’t actually get any work done on them! But kidding aside, I wanted to share some of the things I’m currently working on that I feel you’ll appreciate and/or benefit from.

1) I’m reading through the Gospels, in chunks – it’s been a good way to get a better grasp of just who Jesus was and what he did while here on earth. We are called to be like Christ, and while I felt that I knew all of the stories and the parables and miracles, they’re scattered around my brain, like so many unconnected dots. The stories, and teachings, they’re starting to come together now. It’s pretty neat.

2) I’m working on a new Piano teaching series. My goal is to eventually use this in my own studio. I’ve been dissatisfied with a lot (ok… all) of the modern piano lesson series out there. I hope my curriculum remedies some of the glaring problems. I’ve also come up with a few unique ideas: the music will be published in .pdf form on my website for my students and uploaded to special pages for each student to download/print rather than buy books; because each piece can be printed individually, I can tailor a course for each individual student, emphasizing areas that need extra attention, avoiding music that doesn’t click for the student, and allowing for personal development in desired areas; all of the entries in each category will be tied in, with real, practical application in theory, improvisation and sight-reading – the result is (hopefully) a well rounded musician who’s skills aren’t confined to a few aspects of music, but are enhanced because of intentional integration. Matthew Peiper, a friend from Cedar Rapids, is working on the visual/graphic side of the endeavor.

3) My book! Now, this has been a project in the making for probably the last 10 years of my life – the story has existed in one form or another in my mind for a very long time… but I finally started in earnest last summer, and after a restart, I’m back at it again. You can follow along with Chloe and Christopher Abbot, and Justin Lefaye as they explore a new world full of Faeries and Daemons over at my other website.