Everyone Gets to Play
I have been privileged to teach at He Puaawai Young Parents’ Centre for the last number of years. I teach Science and Maths to some of the bravest, most resilient humans I have ever met. Much could be said about so many of them, but as they know, if I say too much I may… Continue reading A young mother with her young child
I wrote this poem while feeling somewhat sad at giving away a beautiful gift that a dear friend, Wambali Mkandawire, gave me. He was a musician who I was privileged to play with in a touring band back in 1984-5. He sadly passed away from Covid-19 in 2021. I never really used the hardwood, hand… Continue reading Friends Passed
On the first Saturday in December last year I woke again before the rest of the household. It was the day after I had said goodbye to my students for the year. The previous night we had done “church” at our house and my heart was still soft from a beautiful time of tender worship… Continue reading My Best Prayers
A few weeks back I woke up earlier than the rest of the house. I decided to use the “extra” time as a moment to look at my phone note where I keep ideas that might inspire a “story”. In this case, four days prior I had an idea. Those brief notes form the basis… Continue reading There is but One Bus
Here is another piece that I wrote in 2017, but have only published years later. It is another exploration in G, but this time it is expressed on my Yamaha nylon string Silent Guitar (SLG11N). We have created a new category called “Somewhat Undercooked” for pieces like this; they needed a little more work, but… Continue reading Resting
I wrote these three pieces in February 2017. Since then they have sat on the desktop on my computer “awaiting further decision”. Six and a half years later, it’s time to put them out there. I had thought I might consider the ideas and then make one piece out of the three, but I would… Continue reading Heart – Acoustic explorations in G
I wrote this piece of music around May 2022. Similar to my “Hope in the Midst” piece, I composed the steel string acoustic part and played it in using my Guild. I then more or less improvised the nylon string part (Yamaha Silent guitar). Both parts are one take, so they are not perfect. The… Continue reading The Sun Will Rise
I started writing this song all the way back in September 2022. I can’t really remember how it happened. Usually I pick up my acoustic guitar and along comes a “rumour of worship”. In this case, I sensed it was a kind of “song” or perhaps a “piece” of music. I recorded my Guild acoustic… Continue reading Hope in the Midst
The day before my birthday this year I had a moment to do some journaling. Some of you may note that we haven’t been very active on this website for a looooong time. That’s for a lot of reasons, all of which push in the opposite direction to journalling moments. Despite the struggle to find… Continue reading Unfettered Grace – A Poem
My son was working on a song that required this really cool tuning, CGCGCE. I was doodling around and ended up working on a theme around a few hymns. I kept working on it and eventually played through a mixing desk with some creative reverb. What you hear is one of the many versions that I… Continue reading Hymn Songs – When I survey & Be Thou My Vision
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