This has been a tough week in America.   In light of the horror that 2 hate filled monsters perpetrated on so many innocent folks in Boston it's easy to lose faith in humanity.  I have a young nephew who is a Junior at MIT and was so worried that he could be one of the unlucky innocents at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Then...some light appeared during one of my Senior workshops.
One of my "students", Sophie, gets wheeled in each week, eyes shut, barely moving.  I've spoken to her over the past 6 months and asked her if she enjoyed my classes and she has given me the faintest nod.  I've never heard her speak. This past Wednesday as we were finishing a new song a young woman walked into the class.  She was a lovely girl in her 20's wearing jeans, hiking boots and a t-shirt.  She excused herself and kneeled in front of Sophie's wheelchair and whispered "Nana..."  Sophie's eyes opened up and she had the look of someone who had just found out she'd won the lottery.  Eyes wide open.  She said "Where did you come from?" Her granddaughter said..."From South Jersey".  Everyone in the room watched  and one of the residents said to her that she looked just like he grandma.  She said "Oh thank you, that means so much to me as my Nana is so beautiful".  Then she said "Come on, Nana, let's go outside."  At that moment Sophie suddenly stood up as if she was ready to go and walk with her, simply forgetting that she couldn't walk.  Her granddaughter steadied her and after getting her back into her chair excused herself and wheeled Sophie out of the room.  We watched on and the joy of their love blanketed us all at that moment.

This week we are finishing up our 6 week enrichment residency for the YAC in Hohokus. We are filming a video! 3 Girl Scout programs this week as well. Gonna be great!

Last Tuesday I was lucky enough to be a part of an incredible Songwriters Circle at The Turning Point in Piermont NY.  I got to play my new song Lightning along with a few older ones from my past 2 CD's.  We had an awesome crowd for a cold rainy winters night.  Then on Friday, I went in to NYC for a scheduled audition to Americas Got Talent.  A big adventure...   We finished a great dance song in my  Middle School Enrichment Program YAC in Hohokus titled I AM ROBOT and began work on a new folk rock tune called WHEN I THINK OF YOU which is about having a crush on someone.   At my Lester Housing Senior Assisted Living Program I was so psyched to extend my program to an hour and a half for the first time.  We sang loads of great classic tunes and I unveiled their masterpiece "THAT'S WHO I AM".  We started on a new tune for Purim titled "LETS MAKE SOME NOISE".   This past Tuesday Al Green and I had the honor of playing and talking for 2 hours on the Home Grown Radio Station of NJ.  A great night.   We are expecting a huge snow storm, so it looks like I have a few days to get some tracks done in my studio.  Busy and loving it!

An amazing month of workshops is well on it's way and February is shaping up to look incredible as well. Last Friday we finished an awesome elementary school residency at the Normandy Park school. We are starting our Arts! By the people teen program out of Morristown NJ this Sunday. My middle school enrichment program is under way in Hohokus and I've signed on to bring my program to Lester house for 12 weeks. 7 Girl Scout troops have hired me in the coming weeks as well. Aside from all of these programs... My personal music seems to be taking off with radio appearances, an audition with America's Got Talent TV show, new music licensing, and live concerts. Pinch me...having a blast!

This year I co-wrote nearly 80 new songs with a variety of programs including Elementary schools, Girl Scout troops, teen mentoring, libraries,team building and seniors. My business has grown by 75% due to a bunch of hard work and word of mouth. Every single program has been a joy and I am so fortunate to be in a position to do what I love. I am looking forward to 2013 and already have the busiest month ever coming up for January. Aside from all of these projects I was able to complete an entirely new CD titled "It's all making sense". I wish all my family and friends a prosperous and peaceful new year....

My Strawtown songwriting program makes the papers again! Our song "I've gotta help out" was played as part of a fundraiser for hurricane sandy relief!
http://newcity.patch.com/articles/strawtown-s-giving-parade-benefits-staten-island-schools