Category: MTMS Blog Posts

As of this Sunday, March 27, 2011, Potbelly Gahanna in Stoneridge Plaza is no more.

Don’t tell the manager at my Easton Potbelly Sandwich Works, but I always liked the Gahanna store better. Easton provides me significantly more visibility as an artist – after all, we get regular conventions and workshops at the nearby Hilton, tourists enjoying a beautiful outdoor day of leisure, and a variety of local shoppers, movie-goers, and business people. Easton Potbelly is busier and has more energy. But Gahanna Potbelly Sandwich Works had that cozy, small-town feel, and I loved the regulars. Continue reading “End of an Era”

First of all, I am mortified that I haven’t blogged in three months. Second, I can’t believe it’s March. Third, it’s March! Bring on the Girl Scout cookies!

Indeed, although they aren’t good for my waistline, I cannot help but munch on Berry Munches, especially since I’m surround by Girls Scouts at church and the music school. But between Do-Si-Dos and Samoas, I still play five days a week at Potbelly Sandwich Works. And as I have been playing guitar professionally for over a decade, you would think I’m pretty good at it. Continue reading “Continuing Education”

Michelle Tuesday Music School held its first annual Holiday Recitals at Potbelly, Gahanna this past weekend, on Saturday, December 11, and Sunday, December 12. Keep an eye on the News page for photos, which will be posted by the end of the week. But in the meantime, let’s talk about the performances and what they mean.

Every performer has to start somewhere. Do you think Taylor Swift was born with a guitar in her hand? Of course not. She took lessons. She took them from a private music studio in Pennsylvania. And at some point in her earlier childhood, she played – and sang – in front of an audience for the very first time. Continue reading “Destiny”

October and November are a blur. MTMS opened on 9/26/2010 and skyrocketed to well over 100 students in two months. Our Holiday Recitals are already upon us, and compared to our 1-hour Spring Recital and our 1.5-hour Summer Recital, our Holiday Recital will consume 6 hours crossing two days. Once again, we are enormously grateful to our host, Potbelly Sandwich Works at Stoneridge Plaza, and we encourage you to buy lots of steamy soup and tasty milkshakes for you and your hardworking performers.

Personally, the business has consumed my time. My Potbelly performance schedule has dropped from six days per week to five days, and I passed up a great opportunity to perform again for Sunny 95’s Girls Night Out event, which was so much fun this summer. And I haven’t added a single new Christmas song to my holiday repertoire this year, nor written a new original song in over a year. And clearly, blogging has taken second place to hiring teachers ,scheduling students, and planning events like the Mifflin Township Fire Department Open House, the Gahanna Holiday Lights! Festival, and our 2010 Holiday Recitals. Make no mistake: Starting a small business takes up all of your time. Here are a couple of tips that I have found help make a business start-up successful: Continue reading “Fall 2010”

When I mention mixed tapes, any readers over thirty know what I’m talking about. Those of you 29 and younger, besides being chronologically blessed, are wondering what the heck a mixed tape is. For those, like me, less chronologically blessed, allow me to take you on a journey down memory lane.

My father had has a reel-to-reel in his stereo system dating back to the 70’s. Believe it or not, the thing still works. Back before dual tape decks, which were before CD players, which were before MP3 players, which were before iTunes, a reel-to-reel was the only way to make your own mix of music. Continue reading “Mixed Tapes”