My Music

Running parallel to a 45-year career in communications is my life-long love of the piano.

Music was a core part of my family well before I came along, so it’s no surprise I began piano lessons at age 5.  By 12, I entered my first local talent content and won, then another at 13.  The next year I was a finalist for a statewide talent show, leading to an appearance on a local television station and a noon-time concert at the Iowa State Fair.  In between, I participated in music contests in high school, playing the piano and organ for Sunday church, and spending weekends playing background music at local restaurants and bars.  While I chose not to pursue music as a career, I continued to play after university, eventually composing my own music – including a valiant effort to write a score for musical theatre.

By the time I moved to Australia in 2002, I found playing the piano became an integral way to stay connected with family and friends on the other side of the globe.  I posted videos of me playing the piano on my first blog, then YouTube, and later social media platforms.  Eventually I began writing music for people as gifts for occasions that I couldn’t attend, like birthdays, weddings, birth of kids, even a funeral.

Now, as I’ve retired full-time from a wonderful career, I’ve started a new project using my piano.

Given how much Australia has given me after living here during the past 25 years, I’m now writing gifts of music to my adopted country.

Since December 2025, I’ve composed several pieces (9 and counting!) as part of an ongoing song cycle inspired by my experiences living in Australia, my extensive driving holidays visiting its landscapes and coastlines, and perhaps most of all, my interactions with the people I’ve met in this wonderful country.

The music celebrates specific places – like  Bourke, Coonabarabran and Potts Point – and individual candid moments – such as catching a postcard as it fell from an old cookbook or watching a couple surprised by an afternoon thunderstorm.  The compositions are sorted on my YouTube channel under a loose title of “Music for a Glass of Alone Time” in two formats:  a video of me performing the song on my home piano or audio-only (which oftentimes have better sound quality).   You may also find other videos of my playing, from songs as part of the Great American Songbook, my favourite classical and contemporary music, or other general works I’ve composed, including my attempt at writing for a musical.

The link to my YouTube channel direct link is here.  Or, click the  Linktree for all my social platforms, including this website.

As with every part of this website, thank you for reading … and now, listening!