Elegant but easy to play music from “Still Alice”

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Anne Ku

I listened to the soundtrack to the film “Still Alice” on Youtube because I missed its premiere at the Maui Film Festival last December. I became mesmerized by the simplicity and beauty of the various short pieces played on piano, violin, viola, and cello.

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How to write music people want to play

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Anne Ku

Times have changed. Perhaps it’s the instant gratification of search engines and the availability of free online videos. To write sheet music that people want to play, it has to be readable, printable, and playable.

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Maui Wordcamp: a WordPress conference in paradise

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Anne Ku

The subtitle is hard to resist. Paradise. Conference. WordPress.

For $35, you get a T-shirt, lunch and refreshments for two consecutive days. I registered when it was half-full and eagerly looked forward to it.

Part of me feared that it would be dominated by developers and WordPress pros. I would learn how much WordPress and its “affiliates” had grown, and how far behind I fell.

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Learn Piano

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Anne Ku

You can learn to read music, play all 88 keys of the piano, and get started on a piece you’ve always wanted to learn in just three lessons.

I’ve seen it happen.

For just $99, you get 3 x 2 hour workshops = 6 hours. That’s better than the going rate of $100 per hour for individual lessons. Besides, you’ll learn from your peers, too.

Register online for this non-credit course at UHMC Edventure.

Learn to play piano in three 2-hour sessions April 10, 17, 24, 2015

Learn piano on Fridays April 10, 17, 24, 2015

Read what others have said.

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Mandarin course on Maui 顧恩以教中文

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Anne Ku

I have been telling the same story for years. Chinese is much easier than English. Or rather, Chinese grammar is much easier than English. Or better, Chinese grammar is nearly non-existent.

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The two Cs

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Anne Ku

My dad warned me about the two Cs when I was leaving home for college.

“Beware of chemistry,” he said. Continue reading →

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Shock via social media

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Anne Ku

News travels fast on social media, particularly shocking news about death.  Initially it goes like this:

“Have you heard?”

“Did you know?”

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The making of a fan

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Anne Ku

As a musician, I was not aware of how to turn my audience into my fans until I became a fan myself.

As a fan, I want to support the musician or musicians I’m a fan of. I want to tell others about them. I want to see them perform. I want to “fan” the musicians. That’s what a fan means literally. Continue reading →

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Biggest Fan

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Anne Ku

When she suddenly realizes that she has lost her biggest fan, she feels lost.

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Saying no and letting go

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Anne Ku

The reading at the end of two-hour workshop on bereavement resonated with me. I finally understood the meaning of letting go. And with that, the need to say no.

She let go.

She let go.

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