it's VALENTINES

It's Valentine's weekend.  In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14  
to honour St. Valentine. Today, I have three videos to share. Last Valentines,
I made a silly love song about a fellow who was rather ... zealous.. with his
love-at-first-sight experience. He get's "stung" but, never the less, remains
determined that's he's found his true love.

This year, something different happened. Now, as you know, I have a strong affinity
for those who are "different" in society both visibly and "invisibly". I combine that
with a sense of humor and the result seems to keep me wondering and laughing
simultaneously (hey i didn't need spell-check for that word!..lol). The creation of a
"new" kind of, shall we say, "dating" site is the end result. My room mate Tom and I
created this and , as always, we take our laughing seriously ; )

enjoy....


I Love You I Do





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INTRODUCING www.15seconddreamlover.com

Growing talent...

I had a great experience sharing my music at the Waldorf School of River Valley, Bucks County PA on Dec 11. It was WSRV's annual WINTERFAIR and there was featured some pretty fine young talent that day. Talent in music AND in food... At both the Schools (Bucks and Chester Co...Kimberton PA) there is clearly a knack for the preparation and presentation of ..dam great deserts! FORGET picking one and sticking with it in this place: there were just too many palette-pleasers to settle for such a limit!

I have to say that I don't remember ever experiencing such food at the schools I attended. I DO, however, identify with the support for talent, as I was fortunate enough to have lots in that department while in that formative time.

In High school I had access to a 9-foot Steinway Grand! Yes THAT was a good thing! That ALONE was inspiration enough to stay in school! In my senior year I had 15 study halls a week..ALL of which were spent playing that piano!!

Unlearning.

I've recently had the great pleasure of attending a meeting for the bloggers
on the Daily Local News of West Chester's 'Blogtown', of which I am the newest member . The day before this meeting, I watched the video below: Sir Ken Robinson regarding a "new" educational paradigm. The correlation for me between the two is the amazing spirit of unity between the "empowered" individual and the "health" of the community on a local level ( and beyond).

As a person with a visible "difference" myself (and among those who, in the classroom setting, had a substantially challenging time),I am considerably blown away by this video and Sir Ken!! Major kudos, Sir Kenneth! I can't help but feel I've found the Holy Grail of Validation, in the sense that I have (and probably MILLIONS of others!) felt this way innately as a child and thereafter for years hence.

I feel very grateful for Sir Ken's work and feel that it is part of my own "effort" when I create, perform and pursue what is most precious to me: individual, creative expression/learning tailored to suit my 'style': my 'way'... as part of the rich community of life on Earth...and beyond.

And a Happy.... New ....Year...

And a Happy.... New ....Year...

How many times have you heard these words..and what do they mean ?
With each new year we resolve to make a change, a commitment, a move...
or... not. I mean we may NOT go for anything specific. We may actually avoid
the enter event and carry on as we always have.

I have done both, as I imagine many folks have. I now feel, personally, that each moment asks of me the same thing really. No matter what the current event, season or situation:
Am I happy or not? If I'm happy, why change? If I'm not, THAT's why! Of course this way of thinking can create many questions. I hope you all will post your thoughts on this. Happy Hollandaise and ..enjoy the view...see you on the "other" side : )

best wishes
Stephen DiJoseph

And So this is Christmas

.... A time of endings and beginnings for me.
My first European performance was Dec 2. My first time to Boston was Dec 5. Michael Hedges (my favorite acoustic guitarist) died Dec 5. John Lennon (my childhood inspiration) was murdered on Dec 8. My first record deal was Dec 12 (so was my last one...lol). My first instrument came on Dec 24.

This DEC 4 and 5, I had the privilege of showcasing my new CD at The Prallsville Mill Annual Holiday Craft Show in Stockton, NJ. In the video below, I'm going to feature just a few of the amazing artisans I got to know. They are true masters of their craft and inspire anyone who sees their work! They certainly inspired me to tell you about them! And... one of the high moments for me was: On Sunday the 5th in the AM there was a plumbing problem at my place so, I was detained from my arrival to the Fair. When I arrived, all the vendors told me how they were missing hearing my music. A great way to start my day for sure : )



Music from The Snow is Dancing and Urban Celtic

Refering back to Blog 1, beginnings, I'll continue with the story of the "Dan's" but first, I need to mention that I showed symptoms of Tourettes Syndrome between age 6-7: One year before the Magnus organ, the same year I started drum lessons. It seemed like Kind-of a blue-plate special: "one order of musical drive with a heaping side order of Tourette's please!"

In the April 13, 2010 edition of the Washington Post I read " [TS] is also associated with creative personalities: Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, writer Samuel Johnson and jazz great Thelonious Monk may have had it."
Well... I for one, will not argue with that possibility since being creative has been an obsessive urgency with me ever since I popped out! I mean.... I clapped out a rhythm while the delivery doctor slapped my hand-sized posterior! ....now at age 5, I FORCE-FED my parents ( and ALL who came across the threshold of our front door) a veritable variety show in which I played MC ( dressed like Mitch Miller including the diablo-like Go-tee ) and performer (lip-syncing to recordings.. playing air guitar and air keyboard).

OK so, back to Dan no. 2..Desiderio. He was very wise in that he demanded I practice what he gave me. You see..well..I kept getting ideas for compositions every time I would work on a piece of music, a piece of course that I DID requested, but NEVER-THE-LESS I COULDN'T resist what I heard! I did however still manage to learn the pieces. Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Mendelssohn, Liszt.IN fact, I was seriously working towards the classical concert stage...with frequent foray's into
creative urgency's mind you. Dan and I would/argue about whether or not a successful pianist could ALSO be a composer. He was thinking classical, while I was thinking Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson. My thinking won out. I felt that there were enough classical pianists in the world but there was only one me...
besides... I couldn't stop the ideas! :)o

Here is a video I quickly put together in order to share my first recording titled
'Journey of A Soul' JOAS was recorded on a reel to reel 4 track at 15ips
in one take. It's a bit dramatic, but hey...hope you get a kick... as I did!

THANKSGIVING

One thanksgiving i drove my father's father
to be with my father's..brother, Louis, in Darien CONN.
Born in 1928 in Philadelphia, Louis Dijoseph was a graduate of
the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After graduating,
he headed to NYC to embark on what became a highly successful
career as an art director in advertising.

Now Louis (and Aunt Nancy's) house was like an aftermath of props
from all the commercials he was involved with: Dr. Pepper, Eastern
Airlines, Japan Airlines, AT&T International, 7-11 Stores, General Foods,
Kentucky Fried Chicken and Adidas athletic shoes to name a few.

I was really so awe-struck by this man who seemed to be doing exactly
what he wanted to be doing. He told me stories of working with
Paul McCartney and Bill Cosby. Larger-than-life to me really at that time.

What I'm thankful for today is what Louis once said to me:
"I always listen to your music, Stephen. It brings me peace.
Keep doing it... because you love it."