mmuskens

Greetings everybody!

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? Time flies, doesn’t it?

Things have been very busy, both in music and in my life. But I am pleased to say that my music rehearsals with Cynthia Ganga on the lullaby project are going very well, and we are almost ready to start recording! We will have some great music coming your way in the new year, so stay tuned!

Greetings everybody!

In my last post, I promised updates, and I told you to stay tuned. Well, I think I have kept you all waiting long enough. Here we go!

I am excited to announce that I have begun a new musical project! I am currently working with soprano Cynthia Ganga on some lullabies. The lullabies range from classics like Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and Brahms’ “Wiegenlied” to modern lullabies like Menotti’s “Lullaby” from The Consul and Fauré’s “Pie Jesu”. Later in the year, Cynthia and I will record the lullabies. We are very excited to work together on this wonderful mix of music.

Also, Cynthia has quite a beautiful voice! She is a wonderful singer, both to listen to and to play for. Before you go, make sure to check out this video of her performing “One Kiss” by Sigmund Romberg. It is from the musical New Moon.

That’s all for now! Until next time, take care!

Greetings everybody!

It’s been a while since my last post, since I’ve had more changes happen in my life. But now, I’m starting to get back into music and a couple of projects. Stay tuned for more on those!

In the meantime, I discovered this interesting and entertaining YouTube channel hosted by David Bruce, who is a composer himself. This particular video that I am going to share is about the best and worst endings in classical music. In this video, Bruce gives a lot of insight and in-depth analysis on how to end a piece and the different ways that composers did so throughout history (as well as what works and what didn’t quite work, from a compositional point of view). I definitely gained a lot of insight and thought more about the little details and nuances of the endings of pieces that I never noticed before. Give this video a watch; it’s worth it! And while you’re there, check out more of Bruce’s channel; I know I will!

Greetings everybody!

After a long hiatus, I am finally back! Things have been very busy lately, especially in my library program, so I have taken a break from music. This semester, I had three amazing library experiences. Along with coursework, I worked as a shelver at MacEwan University, worked as a Library Collection Assessment Intern for the Alberta Museums Association, and did a fantastic practicum at the University of Alberta Cameron (Science and Technology) Library. And now, as of today, I am now a shiny new graduate of the Library and Information Technology (LIT) program! I feel amazing, like I am ready to take on the world!

Despite my new blossoming career, I will definitely continue taking on music gigs and being there for all your music needs. Remember that for a wedding, show, or concert, if you need a pianist, I’ve got you covered!

And in the meantime, make sure to check out my latest video, “Let me call you sweetheart”.

Greetings everyone!

It has been a long time since my last blog entry.  I have been focusing on my career.  But now, I am back!

Very soon, springtime will be upon us, and we know what that means.  Wedding season!!  I am very excited to be practicing some old favorites but also learning new wedding music as well.

On that note, I have a treat for you!  Recently, I recorded a classic song, “Let me call you sweetheart”; composed by Leo Friedman in 1911 with lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson, it is the perfect wedding song; vintage, classic, and romantic.  I have uploaded my recording to this website, both as an MP3 file and as a YouTube slideshow video.  You can listen to it here.

I hope to have some more recordings for you in the coming months.  Until then, take care!

Hello everyone!

It has been a long hiatus since my last blog entry. I’ve put music aside for my post-secondary studies, but now, with recent performances at the 2018 Edmonton Kiwanis Festival, I am back in it!

Next month will be the month of May, which means that wedding season is upon us! I am available to play at weddings, both for the ceremony and for the reception. If you know someone who is getting married, they can contact me by email or through my Facebook page (links on the website).

Also, I am hoping that I will be able to make some recordings and upload them to Youtube. I will keep you posted on the process.

That’s all for now. Until next time, take care!

And so, the curtain has come down on Murder Mime the Musical! Working on this show has been a blast; it has truly been an amazing experience.  This year is my twentieth year of music, so this opportunity could not have happened at a better time.

First of all, I would like to thank our wonderful writer, lyricist, and director, Erin Hutchison, for her hard work, energy, and commitment in bringing this show to life. Erin, thank you for giving me the opportunity to play for this show and for trusting me with playing great music that was so worth working on. You were great to work with.

Come see Murder Mime the Musical at The Backstage Theatre.  We will be running from October 26 to November 1.  All our performances will be at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of our October 29th show, which will be at 2 p.m.. It’s a good show, so please come out and see it!

Twenty years ago, I took my first piano lesson, with my brother following soon after. At the time, I can’t say I enjoyed it; in fact, I downright hated practising. But somehow, I stuck with it and kept going. And now, I can honestly say that I’m glad I made that decision.

Now, I can officially say that I have played piano for twenty years, and it has brought so much to my life. The past two decades have been full of many amazing musical opportunities and accomplishments, and I hope that over the next twenty years, I’ll have many more.

So, here’s to two decades of music! I can’t wait to see what the future will bring.

Hi everyone,

The cast and crew of the upcoming musical, Murder Mime the Musical, will be hosting a fundraising event for the show on September 15 at 7 p.m.. This event will take place at the Naked Cyber Cafe. We will be previewing two original songs from the musical. There will also be refreshments and a silent auction. For more information, click the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1995420767396717/