Professor Carol
Trees block our view of the sunrise. What else did I expect once we left the open skies of Texas for the forested hills of Winston-Salem? No surprises there. Of the things I miss about Texas, the wonders of the sky matter the most. Serious … Read more
I joined my daughter at the YMCA last night. My version of working out wouldn’t impress anyone, but I enjoy the bikes and the treadmill. This Y has a little library in the lobby with some interesting titles, so you can scoop up a book, … Read more
I was delighted to receive this note from my colleague Dr. Shawn Eaton and wanted to share it. He comments on a topic that is central to what many of us do, and I would invite others to join in the discussion. I just finished reading … Read more
We’re organizing the library in our new house in North Carolina. While the living space is generous, the library will still consume two-thirds of the bottom floor. Right now that space is a mess, filled with stacks of books waiting to find their proper shelving. … Read more
This week brought an opportunity to help a friend by doing spot editing on his forthcoming book. His field is American art history, and it’s been fascinating to revisit this subject by engaging in an editorial volley with his mind. I choose the word “volley” … Read more
Even thirteen years after retiring from Southern Methodist University, I still dream about the second-floor classroom where most of our music-history classes took place. My memories of teaching at SMU are delicious ones. But the dreams I have about those years come sometimes as nightmares, … Read more
Berlioz, L’enfance du Christ (Shepherd’s Farewell) [We are posting this week’s Friday Performance Pick one day early so that it will be included in the Weekly Digest during the Christmas Season.] Throughout time, composers have been known to play musical jokes. Sometimes a piece merely … Read more
In my talks, I often make the point that music can be connected to everything. As it turns out, that that includes monster movies from 1954, particularly if a student takes a difficult classroom challenge and turns it into something that, decades later, still brings … Read more
Merry Christmas to you all. Remember, it’s not over. There are twelve days of Christmas. Now that I am back home for a while, there’s time to think about ways to improve what we do. We want to offer more to our readers, students, and … Read more
Ironing. That’s where my thoughts lie as we enter into the Thanksgiving weekend. Not in wrestling over the aesthetics of a flower arrangement or the culinary challenges of a pecan pie. Nope. Ironing. Thanksgiving tends to turn our thoughts towards the past. What is more … Read more