longing for a small life
+ upcoming performances
Upcoming Performances (more info on these events down below) —
Jan. 26 at Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College, Saratoga, NY
Jan. 28 at Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, San Diego, CA
Jan. 29 at 2220 Arts & Archives, Los Angeles, CA
Feb. 15 at Little City Concerts, Falls Church, VA
Feb. 21-21 and Feb. 28-March 2 at Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth & Dallas, TX
I was tuning my portable piano the other day (a sentence I never imagined I’d write), and I thought to myself: This is it. This is all I want.
No, I don’t mean tuning specifically (my piano technician is my ride or die and I keep her on speed-dial). I mean the slow, process-oriented, un-sexy work of making music on a day-to-day basis. It’s the small things, like tuning a piano before practicing. Writing a set list in my notebook. Listening back to a demo recording to see if the piece is “working”. Dialing in a monitor mix. It’s my fingers on the piano, hesitating because they’re not totally sure of what’s next. None of this is particularly interesting or grand. None of it gets documented and shared. It’s simply the work of making music in my small world.
Yesterday, when I was tuning my piano, I was content.
I’m saying this here, perhaps for public accountability: I’ve been wondering why I’m on instagram more seriously than I ever have before. Name a reason, any reason. Mark Zuckerburg, for one. I don’t know how much longer I can stomach it.
Being on social media has had the opposite of the intended effect on me. It’s making me hunger for a smaller life. A smaller scope. I don’t want to be able to reach thousands of pseudo-strangers with the stroke of a button. I want nothing more than to sit in a room together with people I’m intimately connected with and experience music. I don’t want to worry that I’m not making enough content. I just want to make my art, at a slow pace, at the pace that feels right.
If you know me in the slightest, you know that I’m already doing those things. And yet, social media has a nasty way of subverting our perception of a “successful” life.
And so, if you’re on my email list and you’re reading this, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here. I am thinking very seriously about leaving instagram, and in the meantime, I will be moving “my village” — the folks who want to stay with me — from there to here. Platforms come and go, and we have no ownership of our data in those spaces. But an email list stays with me.
A gentle ask: Do you know anyone who might enjoy my music? Or perhaps you know a piano player that might be interested in my sheet music? Or someone who might be in a position to help me book a concert? (Do you want me to perform in your town? Let’s talk! I have a goal of traveling and performing more this year.)
If so, forwarding them this email, maybe with a tender note, would mean the world to me.
xoxo
sophia
Upcoming Performances —
Jan. 26 at Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College, Saratoga, NY
My next solo performance, on the brand new Surround Series. These shows are impeccably curated, intimate, and visually gorgeous. There will be multiple pianos :) and I’ll be trying out some new material. Tickets are $22.
Jan. 28 at Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, San Diego, CA
NOW Ensemble performs my music, commissioned for the ensemble’s 20th anniversary season. Presented by Art of Elan. Tickets.
Jan. 29 at 2220 Arts & Archives, Los Angeles, CA
NOW Ensemble performs my music, again! Tickets.
Feb. 15 at Little City Concerts, Falls Church, VA
A solo concert in partnership with OAR (Offender Aid and Restoration). Tickets are $25 with 50% of ticket sales going to OAR. OAR is a community-based nonprofit organization that envisions a safe & thriving community where those impacted by the legal system enjoy equal civil & human rights.
Feb. 21-21 and Feb. 28-March 2 at Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth & Dallas, TX
Multiple performances of Lamentation Variations, a new work choreographed by Alexandra Light set to a recording of music by Lili Boulanger that I made specifically for the project. This event is part of Graham100, a worldwide event and ongoing project of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Tickets.
Thanks for mentioning your piano tuner... someone near and dear to my heart. I JUST deleted all of my META accounts. It was hard and it still is, because the friends, family, groups and events are great. But the problem with Meta is that it is abusive, anxiety producing and steals your identity, data and soul, not to mention it is run by an Oligarch that proclaims genetic superiority to the masses.
And I realized for arts and music, it really did nothing for me even though Instagram is "the" place to share arts stuff. But it is good for sharing and publicizing events.
So whether or not you leave META, your gut reaction is correct. It is not a healthy place. The difficulty in leaving is keeping in touch. If you can find other ways, that's better.
See you at Zankel. I'll be with the piano tuner!