The future of Music

Hi, I hope you are having a great weekend. I am just working on my new book The Road to a Simple and Good Life. Checking my Facebook news, a dear colleague of mine has posted this article you will see below. I so agree with the writer's thoughts on music and education. My experience working at universities was that they are like a glass house, totally isolated from real life. Most of the lecturers hold on to positions throughout their whole life and die out from that position. On a national level it's like a musical chair, one moves and everyone shifts chair. 
I clearly recognized many years ago that to stay up to date and a real musician, I will need to leave the university and work for myself. I did not want to end up rigid, dogmatic and as an administrator instead of a musician and live in a ivory tower. It was a huge risk but it was worth it. I see a clear pattern emerging in my life that shows that my own personal and professional development and growth takes number one place instead of chasing jobs for money. Now, a few years later this clearly pays back in professional growth, productivity, creativity, happiness, lifestyle and in finances. I absolutely have no regrets. I wish, I had done this earlier!
The concerns mentioned in this article you will read have been my concerns for more than a decade and I have done myself what the author suggests. That's why with great passion and happiness I post her blog article here for others to read and share. The present crisis in our education system closely relates to these thoughts in the article.
Schools and educational institutions must keep up with technology and reform their teaching style to keep students interested. How irresponsible it is for music institutions to produce musicians who won't be able to make a living? Similarly, how many The Voice and XFactor shows should the TV run to make the impression that these young people will be stars and make a living as a performer? 

Please enjoy the article!
The End of the Symphony and How Today's Music Students Should Adapt

Today 18 years ago....

Big day. Today 18 years ago at midnight that I landed in Sydney first time in my life. Arrived for a position at the Canberra School of Music, Australian National University. Some could say I was stupid and adventurous to come to a continent I knew nothing about...I was terribly lonely and homesick but faced the challenges professionally. I enjoyed the traveling and learned as much as I could about the country, the land and its people. In this process I became one of them and grew to love it. I have seen more of Australia than most Australians do. Some videos are now up on my youtube channel on vargatube. I still miss Hungary but would be equally homesick for Australia as well. 

Check out my videos on vargatube!

I flew British Airways then Ansett (good old Ansett!) to Canberra. When I saw the land from the air approaching Canberra, I knew I would like it here. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Although I have lived abroad before in Europe, I did not anticipate the hardship that goes with leaving your country, home, family and friends and coming this far in a country you don't know anyone. Anyhow, I had incredible opportunities and did some great things I could have never done if I have not left. I made new friends and established myself professionally, built successful businesses and do new and fascinating things. Presently, I am working on the some great stuff so it is 'head down' time. Reflecting about the last 18 years is pretty emotional and makes me proud that I did not give up and run home where it was all comfy! Coming to Australia provided more challenges and makes me grow faster and go further. Forever grateful to my parents who always encouraged me to follow my dreams and believing that I can do anything and my brother Varga Pál for supporting me and being my very much loved brother. Just getting started in Australia :)

Hurray! Holiday!

Every teacher prays for the break to arrive. How about teaching during holidays? Hmmmmm....I am one of those lucky music teachers who teach in breaks. It just happened, years ago that I was asked if I could give lessons in the break. Now, it is an option for my students. Many of my mature-age students don't care about the school breaks so they want to keep having lessons. However, they are not alone. Many of my school-aged students have more time to practise and the parents want some holiday activity for the kids. A few of the parents or students just want to continue and enjoy the steady progress. I have a family in Brighton that I have been teaching for a few years now.

Tonight, after lesson we were standing at the gate with the mum of the two kids I teach and we were enjoying a great chat. She made a comment that made me think about this all. She mentioned that her younger child, a boy I started to teach this year after seeing her sister excelling in piano, was really looking forward to our lesson. Ryan has practised every single day,  played even 3-4 times a day so he was keen to see my reaction to his work! Mum laughingly mentioned that Ryan is an early riser and many times he is down at the piano at 6am! Somehow I can't imagine that he would be very popular in the family!!! Anyhow, the parents have a great attitude towards this. Hearing mum's comments after the lesson, I was glad that Ryan's work attracted my cheerful and demonstrative praise with lots of fun stickers acknowledging how well he is progressing! Kids truly respond well to positive feedback and praise when it is well deserved! Hmmm. Not only kids but adults as well!!! From the teacher's side, I need to admit that a good lesson puts me in a great mood and I never mind teaching during the holiday. The rewards are such that it i worth it.

Bach

Enviable life

I got the nicest compliment the other day from a mature student of mine. He commented that in his busy week as a successful businessman the hour he spends here in "Piroska's church" learning to play the piano, is when he clears his mind and has lots of fun. He also mentioned how much he envies me because I have so much fun teaching and writing music.  He made me think. He looked like he had everything. It looks like everything is not enough.

No bake health muesli bar

I have a few favourite health food shops where I get my TJ Clark Colloidal Minerals, Udo's Oil blend, Magnesium powder and healthy, organic ingredients, fruit and vegetables. I love spending time there and discover new things. One of the shops has a nominated day of the month when they offer discount. Of course I never get there on those days! Last time I was there they had a display table with products, recipes and food. This was the recipe of a health muesli bar I really liked so I thought I would share this yummy recipe with you! Let me know how you and your family liked it!

No Bake health muesli bar
Warning contains peanuts/nuts

Ingredients: 
2 cups Carman's fruit free Muesli (or favourite muesli)
2 cups Koala Crisp Cereal
1 cup Coconut
1/4 cup Chia Seeds
2 tablespoon Linseed Meal

3/4 cup Peanut Butter
2 tablespoons Tahini
1/2 cup Rice Syrup
1/4 cup Maple Syrup

Method:
In a small saucepan heat peanut butter, tahini, rice syrup and maple syrup until melted.
 Combine with muesli, koala cereal, coconut, chia seeds and linseed meal until well combined. Press into rectangular tin lined with baking paper. Refrigerate until set, 2-3 hours. Remove from tinm slice and enjoy. Store in fridge.

New Album released

Reason to celebrate. Just less than a year that I started to write and record my songs. While I am still holding back the ones with vocals in them, the songs that are only instrumentals have been released as my first album, for children called The Mandarin. Today I submitted the electronic distribution to more than 40 sites. In a few weeks time the album will be available for sale on many sites around the world. It is an incredible feeling!
So that my dear friends and followers could listen the album first and be the first to download the songs, I included on the the sites. Enjoy the album and feel free to leave comments!
Click here: The Mandarin on Reverb Nation