What is the secret to a happy life? Music by Bach and bacon. Not just any bacon, mind you. It must be real wood smoked and thick cut like the Wright brand. Their thickest cut. Use this bacon with burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and Quiche Lorraine. What is music4Dad all about? Music and entertainment with a food and wine theme. Today's podcast was published on an empty stomach. Good thing there is plenty of bacon on hand preventing me from food shopping. It doesn't take much for this food and wine lover to spend a car payment in two trips on one day. And, that includes gourmet cheese for pizza and pasta dishes. Thank you for listening. Watch the video on my YouTube channel published June 11, 2021 with the same name: Music4Dad. Have a wonderful day made even better with thick cut bacon and piano music by Bach. 

What does it take to become a musician? Johannes Sebastian Bach believed anyone could learn to play a musical instrument if they were teachable and worked hard. The Encyclopedia Britannica published an review by an author with an opposing viewpoint including six skills needed to play a musical instrument. They are raw talent, imagination, psychological disposition, judgment, skill and experience. The author concluded that music is unteachable and unlearnable. What do you think? On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your playing skills? Read the article about Bach online at Britannica. Thank you for listening to today's podcast.

Meet the author. Thank you for tuning in to today's podcast about my life as a musician. What is that? The Internet defines it as a person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented. Example: "Your father was a fine musician." Perhaps this describes you, a member of your family, a teacher or orchestra leader. I've known two orchestra leaders in my lifetime, one from New Jersey and the other from New York who was Greek. After several private bouzouki lessons, he said to me during one of our many conversations that I was "not made for one person." He had only known me a short time but was amazed at my interest in this Greek stringed instrument. Not only was I the only female student, but the only American student taking lessons. Check out my book on Amazon titled From Piano to Puccini. Watch my favorite movie about Greek music with Anthony Quinn available on YouTube. What say you? Any comments about Greek music and matrimony? Leave a comment on my Music4Dad blog. 

Welcome to today's podcast about the role of witnessing in relationships. Everywhere we turn today there are cameras pointed at us recording our behavior. Too much or too little? Today's technology makes being unobserved nearly impossible. Watching movies is a form of witnessing. Writers, artists and musicians who live alone may want to give this matter some serious thought before partnering up with another person.  It may take longer to adjust after spending most days and nights being in the zone without being watched, distracted and interrupted by someone else. Just saying. 

Today's podcast is about romantic movies and finding love on the Internet. Here is one summary from Sleepless in Seattle with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan from Imdb - International Movie Database. Summary (edited): It was Christmas eve when Sam (Tom Hanks) pours out his heart on a national radio talk show about his magical and perfect marriage to Maggie. Sam is an architect. Eighteen months after her untimely death, he still misses her. 

Annie (Meg Ryan), who is already engaged to be married to Walter is among the many women who hear Sam's story. She is a Baltimore-based newspaper writer. Walter is unlike Annie's dream love life in the movie "An Affair to Remember" released in 1957. Annie writes to Sam proposing they meet atop the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day. Love happens at first sight on that day when they meet face to face for the first time as the elevator doors close on the ride down to street level never to be heard from again. Listen in to today's podcast about what these movies have in common and if everlasting love can be found on the internet.

There are three ways to learn to play piano. First, practice in a quiet room without distractions – real or imagined. Second, stay hydrated. Take breaks with your favorite beverage. Learning to play piano is hard work for most students of any age. Third, change things up regarding a practice schedule. Suggested ways to do this are described here and on video at my YouTube channel with the same name: Music4dad. Your playing will improve over time when you give it your all. You’ll be happy eventually and that’s what matters. Thanks for listening.

It may be difficult for some listeners to adequately define lyric and dramatic musical expression. Drama is often associated with theatrical excitement. Consider moments of great tension in movies and operas that are accompanied by music that is tense and exciting. The fire and spirit of a fuoco (Italian - a burning passion in a figurative sense. Source: Daily Italian Words) and the grandeur and majesty of a grandioso are just two ways to express drama in the language of music. In short, the music needs to suit the mood and occasion. 

Within the first year of moving to New York City after high school, I found a small apartment with a Greek family in Queens. Living in the same home with a Greek family opened up a whole new world for me. My new life was now about Greek food, soccer, politics and the Greek Orthodox church. This new world felt so comfortable from the food, camaraderie and especially the music. The only music heard over the radio in the house was Greek. I fell in love with it as I listened for hours during the weekends. 

During the week I worked in New York City as a legal secretary. On weekends I was becoming a Greek. I even took music lessons for a short time from a teacher who knew how to play the bouzouki. Not only was I the only American student, but the only female student for about six months. You can learn more about Greek and Italian music by visiting travel sites on the internet. You can learn more about my experience as a music student in my book From Piano to Puccini available online at book sites like Amazon. Thank you for listening. Have a wonderful day and stay tuned for the next episode about music.