I’ve just returned from Italy with a couple interesting observations… What was I doing in Italy? I was a guest performer for a music festival in the quaint medieval village of Mondaino (“Mountain of the Deer”) where I performed some of my original solo piano music. I also had the opportunity to play with an Italian opera singer named Katja Natalini – a mezzo … Read More
A Taste of Life. It was January, 1986. Only 18 years old, I had just finished my first semester at UConn where I had made the varsity ice hockey team and had quickly built a core group of friends. It was Winter Break, and I had just enjoyed “First Night Boston” with my friends. It was a crazy night of partying … Read More
Here on beautiful Cape Cod, Summer is in full swing with BBQs, sunsets and lazy days at the beach. On a particularly listless Sunday afternoon, I began thinking back to my childhood – and the perfect glass of Kool-Aid. Ahhhh, how that glass of Kool-Aid was SO refreshing when the mix was just right! …and this got me thinking about something else – technology. I … Read More
You’ve no doubt heard about the new Apple Music service – and maybe wondering “what’s the big deal?”. Well, even if you don’t own an Apple device, let me help you understand why – as an indie musician – I feel this is such an important moment in music. Important Backstory: Everyone knows Apple is one of the most successful companies … Read More
Apple Music was just released, and I’m happy to report my music has been accepted and is available through the new service. Here is the link to my music on Apple Music/iTunes:Â https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/gary-girouard/id128499651 Certainly, the future of music is heavily favoring streaming services, and I think Apple Music has created a very compelling platform. I’d love to hear your thoughts – … Read More
This is a great time of year to think about “graduations”… How to Live Before you Die In my opinion, ‘graduations’ ought to be called ‘transitions’. College grads perhaps have the most extreme transition as they go from years of “school” to full-time “work”. Commencement speakers try to help by sharing messages of wisdom (coincidentally – the best I’ve heard is by Steve Jobs to Stanford grads “how to … Read More
During my recent trip out West with the family (Grand Canyon, Zion Park, Hoover Dam), I was reminded of my fear of heights (especially, un-guarded, wide-open heights). I saw my 11-year old daughter overcome this same fear as we hiked this narrow ridge in Zion Park. That gut-turning anxious feeling brought me back to when I was 19…and one of the most difficult … Read More
I have a friend who’s notoriously disorganized – while I consider myself, well, ‘organized’. “How do you keep it all together?!” he recently inquired. With all the snow this Winter (we’re near Boston), “snow removal” wasn’t fitting into his already hectic schedule. As I often do, I referred him to a book I was reading called “Essentialism – the disciplined pursuit … Read More
I’m often asked what got me started with piano, and here’s the true story of the seminal moment, and ensuing spark… All Roads Lead to Rome… It all starts with my Nana LeConti. Born in Southern Italy (Castelvetere in Val Fortore), she immigrated to the US in 1918. She was a great cook and loved her glass of wine. We all … Read More
In my younger days, I worked at a Steinway piano store in downtown Boston. I’d bike to work from my charming little rent-control apartment in Cambridge and spend the evenings after work developing my chops on the fleet of awesome concert pianos. One fateful day, Elton John (THE Sir Elton!)Â and his band came in while on their “The One” tour. … Read More