Bar Scott

A week ago, I took my first official piano lesson in Denver. I’d studied violin as a kid, and I sang in choirs through high school, so I know how to read treble clef, but my piano playing has all…

I’m a big fan of a book called Art and Fear, written by David Bayles and Ted Orland. Whenever I lead a workshop I inevitably read from their book to writers or songwriters who come to my house to…

I love when writers are here. Every summer for the last four, writers from around the country have spent a week at our house. We usually have three teachers and three separate workshops. This summer, though, it’s just me, and…

(If you haven’t read Part One, you might want to scroll down to the next post and read it first)

I recently taught a couple of Personal Finance classes at the local high school. The teacher wanted me to talk…

Last week a friend of mine asked how the fundraiser for my new CD had gone, which led me to describe the overall cost of the project. She was surprised by the numbers. Most people are. I told her I’d…

Yesterday, two journalists from the local newspaper came by to interview me about a concert I’m doing next weekend. When they left, I thought of all the things I wished I’d said and all the things I wished I’d said…

I love walking on the beach. My thoughts go all over the place: From the opening paragraph of another book I could write, to deciding whether it’s worth stopping to write down the words of the opening paragraph of the…

Journey, the new CD, is finished. I left Dave Cook, the engineer, in his studio about an hour ago. I love being in his space. I love working closely with him; listening to every phrase, every note, every pitch,…

Five years and twelve songs later, I can finally say, this recording is done…almost. What I mean is that all the lyrics are written, vocals are sung, piano and guitar parts are recorded, and there’s nothing more I can do.…

Two weeks ago, my friend Cathy gave me a book called How to be Idle: a Loafer’s Manifesto. I can’t remember what prompted her to lend it to me, but I must have been fretting about my tendency to be…

Last Friday I decided to avoid the phone and stay off my computer for the whole weekend. I’d spent too many hours at my desk last week and needed a break. It was the right thing to do.

Today, after…

Yesterday was the 12th anniversary of Forrest’s death. I always take the day off. It’s not a particularly sad day, just one that I like to separate from the rest. I don’t do email or anything else on the internet,…