Q: What kind of music do you write?
Q: How did you get in to writing music?
Q: When was Crystal Canyon written?
Q: Why did it take you so long to do another recording?
Q: What is your musical background?
Q: Have you continued to study music?

Q: What kind of music do you write?
A: I have a hard time answering that question. It doesn't fit the categories - it's not classical, it's not pop or jazz though some of it has jazz influences. I don't like to call it new age because it has more form to it. My best description is lyric impressionism or lyric expressionism. My music describes places and people that I love and expresses my feelings about them. I encourage listeners to read the liner notes for insight into each song's inspiration.

Q: How did you get in to writing music?
A: After finishing up a ten-year jaunt into the field of politics, I decided that it was time for me to focus a little more on the creative side of my brain. Before that my life had been focused on my family and starting, working with and running the volunteer side of non-profit organizations.
I have always played the piano for my own enjoyment. Playing for others is difficult for me. And I've always loved jazz so I began studying with Steve Barta. One day, he said “I think you should try composing.” I said,“That's impossible. I don't even know where to start.” And he said,“Just try it.”
I did try and for the first couple of months not much happened. But that fall I went on a hike with my hiking group, the Wandering Ewes, in beautiful Santa Barbara Canyon near Taos. It was a crisp November day, bright sun filtered through the forest, and fresh snow marked the trail. The canyon was quite narrow and tiny icicles hung from the wall across the small creek. Parts of the small waterfalls had frozen a bit and little stalactites had formed on the sides. That day, my first piece, Crystal Canyon, was born.

Q: When was Crystal Canyon written?
A: About 1988 I think. After that, I wrote a few other pieces and Steve suggested that I record them. You really can't write music without performing it. So we did and I wrote more and recorded more and Crystal Canyon was the result.

Q: Why did it take you so long to do another recording?
A: I was busy. I've continued to do a lot of volunteer non-profit work and I have traveled to all parts of the globe. I continued to compose though. The pieces on Leda and the Swan, my latest release, span the decade of the 90's. Finally last year I decided to get serious about completing music for another recording and really focused my efforts on it.

Q: What is your musical background?
A: Music has always been a part of my life. When I was a little girl I wanted to play piano. I was eight when I began lessons. I taught myself to play my brother's toy ukulele in the back seat of the car on a hot driving trip through Utah when I was 9. But I played it upside down because I'm left-handed. At 12 I wanted to play an instrument so I went to the band director who started me on the French horn. It was love at first sight. I remember vividly the thrill of playing those first notes - the mellow tone - the fascination of playing many tones merely by changing one's lips.
French Horn became a serious passion for me. I played and practiced all the time. I wanted my own horn but they were expensive and my parents didn't think I would keep up my interest so they told me I had to pay for half of the cost. So I saved all my allowance and walked home with my books and horn from school every day so I could save my bus money to buy a horn. I finally got the horn when I was in ninth grade. That year, I was also invited to join three high school boys in a horn quartet. They were very good and we practiced a couple of times a week and played for clubs and events often. I was in good company. They all became professional musicians. One has been principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for over 40 years!
I played in the Billings Symphony all through high school and played in college as well. But I decided not to major in music so my music training somewhat stopped after that.
My piano training stopped when I was about 16. I was too busy with the French horn.

Q: Have you continued to study music?
A: Yes but not in as a concerted way as I would like. A few years ago I began studying with Carlton Gamer, a retired Colorado College professor and outstanding composer. I use the term “studying” loosely because Carlton has such wealth of knowledge and understanding to give and I've not even touched the tip of the iceberg. He has been a great mentor to me. I would like to study more seriously and perhaps will do so in the future.

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