If an artist truly recognizes the origin of his music, he has no need of human validation.

He requires only a place to pray, to practice, and to create and the trust to remain in that place with love, joy, and gratitude.

In due time, God opens the venues and brings forth the listeners to receive each artist that He has created.

Years ago I was listening to a recording of a very gifted improvisor and I was swept away by his freedom. His music issued forth from within his soul like water from a spring. I could literally hear and feel him listening deep within himself, and then instantly sharing what he heard with anyone who might discover this beauty. At the time of this experience I appreciated this beauty with a heightened awareness because I was a more mature artist in my own right, but also and especially, because I had recently encountered God personally in a way that I had never known Him before. I became then, and I am now a follower of Jesus Christ, and this has made everything that is good in life even more beautiful.

While it is true that many of my former students have excelled in the musical arts in multiple and exciting ways over the years, I find myself reflecting most upon the hundreds of students who have passed through my studio, not seeking higher art, but simply the ability to play the piano for personal enjoyment - for the sheer pleasure of making music in their own homes and on their own terms. Encountering these souls, both children and adults, and sharing in the joy that they derive from music lessons, sometimes for years at a time, has brought a deeper meaning to my life, my spirituality, and my artistry.