The Songs That Could Have Been-Interview and Giveaway With Musician/Author Amanda Wen

Professional musician, native of Wichita, Kansas, and inspirational fiction author who shares my same maiden name, Amanda Wen is an author I personally couldn’t wait to interview! Listen to the end for a special performance by Amanda and me as we “hymnprovise” on Amazing Grace!

Although surprisingly we aren’t related, she’s a kindred spirit whose books ring true and strike a chord that resonates with me, and countless other readers as well.… Read More...

Family Dynamics: Embrace Your Sound

Family, Fiction, and an adorable violin as the main character? How could I resist this fabulous children’s book by music teacher/author Courtney Woodward?

A fellow music fiction author with an amazing passion for bringing music education to students of all ages and stages, I had a blast chatting with Courtney today!… Read More...

Music of the Harp-Interview with Bestselling Author Angela Breidenbach with Full Series Christmas Giveaway!

Bonus Holiday Episode! Listen to our interview where Angela shares how music has played a role in her family and fiction!

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The Harpist’s Muse

Calista Blythe enters the first Miss Snowflake Pageant celebrating Montana at Christmastime to expose the plight of street urchins.… Read More...

Interview with Santa: His Surprising Reading List and Knack for Checking Things Twice

Black Friday Sale! Great Deals this Week!

Santa’s Top 3 Favorite Books of All Time (He’s read each of these multiple times.)

Santa’s Current Read: The Last Book of the Poldark Series

Santa’s Favorite Poems: YouTube Playlist: Some A Bit Spooky!

Santa’s Role as Proofreader for A Change in Tune (He’s checked it more than twice!)… Read More...

What is Music Fiction?

Have you ever wondered what music fiction is? Why would anyone write it? This week, I’m excited to be featured on author Deena Adam’s blog All Things Bookish. Enter her giveaway for a chance to win a FREE paperback copy of my book The Chronicles of Music Majors!

An author herself, Deena seeks out authors whose message is one of hope in spite of formidable circumstances.Read More...

The Music Mastery Experience

Concerts and auditions are coming back, and I have the perfect solution to get you, or your students, in peak performance state!

This past week, I had the privilege of chatting with one of my wonderful colleagues and fellow Francophile violinist, Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier. I have loved listening to her delightful Mind over Finger podcast for the past year, and have attended several practice workshops in her Facebook Group.… Read More...

What Does it Feel Like to Be a Classical Musician?

This week, I was thrilled to speak with Jerry Pollio from Applause to the Musician about the wonderful profession of being a classical musician. We delved into many of the career opportunities it affords, as well as how to keep it relevant and thriving in our 21st-century society.

I hope you’ll check it out, and please share feedback with more ideas on how to make classical music accessible for listeners today!… Read More...

How Do I Motivate my Child/Student to Practice?

While most people find it daunting to motivate even one child to practice regularly, my mother Allison managed to motivate all four of my sisters and me to practice nearly every day from the age of 3 until we went to college, all of us with violin scholarships in hand. As the mother of a budding music student myself, I wanted to find out her tricks of the trade, not just as a professional violin teacher, but also as a busy mom, with all of the responsibility that entails!… Read More...

Violin Book Club: The Main Dish and more!

Like many of my fellow music teachers, I’m looking for new ways to connect with students and help them connect with each other. When I found Victoria Kimble’s new Young Adult release The Main Dish with a violin featured on the front, I had to check it out.

Victoria Kimble

As it turns out, Victoria must be my long-lost twin, considering we share a love of music, fiction, faith, and sisters.… Read More...

Ruth Scheer: Musical Matriarch

4 Generations of musicians

Mother of ten, grandmother, great-grandmother, fellow musician, and author, this larger-than-life person has inspired so many people over the course of nearly a century. Today, I’m honored to talk with my own Grandmother, Ruth Scheer.

Grandma Ruth, how did you develop an interest in music?

I discovered music for myself when I was about eight years old.… Read More...