Hello from Maria Schneider

mariaschneider@artistshare.com

to “roberto@barahona.com” <roberto@barahona.com>

date Wed, Dec 15, 2010 at 3:50 PM

subject Hello from Maria Schneider

Dear Roberto,

How did we reach the end of 2010 so fast? My 5th-grate teacher told me I’d come to notice years accelerating as they pass, but I never expected exponential rates of increase! Wherever you are, I hope this letter finds you feeling creative, strong, thankful, mindful and looking forward to restful holidays, so you may step energetically into the century’s second decade, ready to make your mark of beauty, goodness and truth on the world!

I have many things to enter in my 2010 gratitude book: the commissioners of my new piece Lembrança, Bill and Carol Bloemer, Justin Freed, Paul James and Little Johnny Koerber as well as all of the ArtistShare participants who played an integral part of bringing this piece to life. I met several of you this Thanksgiving at the Jazz Standard here in NYC–thank you again! We’ve been steadily performing the piece as I still make tweaks to it. We are also still watching The Thompson Fields grow as we perform it (no pun intended) commissioned through ArtistShare by Christophe Asselineau.  The band had the distinct pleasure of performing it for Tony Thompson, the farmer who inspired it. These pieces are now out of my hands and in the creative hands of the orchestra, who ultimately shape and develop them, bringing them into ‘their own.’ I’m grateful to all the musicians with whom I’ve had the pleasure of making music with this year, from students at Rangsit University in Bangkok, Thailand and Boston’s Berklee School of Music, to the wonderful musicians I recently worked with in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And, I’m grateful that I got to go birding in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and see Earth’s magnificent creatures .

In Oprah fashion, I’ve got a gift idea! Looking for inspiration, or still looking for a holiday gift?. Barbara Feldon of “Agent 99″ fame, wrote a powerful little book called “Living Alone and Loving It” that inspired me several years back. But she’s now done an audio version (CD mail order) on ArtistShare! It’s very empowering for those living alone. And for those who don’t, it might be every bit as important. It opens your eyes to the opportunities you may be missing for connecting and being inspired beyond your own most significant relationships. It is truly life-enhancing. I now have the audio version and love it. In ArtistShare fashion, her project is embellished by additional essays about her love affair with New York. They’re little jewels–the one about the pigeons is my favorite! Barbara is every bit as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, having a wonderful way of seeing the miraculous in everyday life, and putting it in words. She’s one gifted writer, and when you hear her speak, you’ll instantly recall all memories of her beautiful voice. I encourage you to indulge yourself or a friend. You can find it here http://www.artistshare.com/news/?pt=3027

I feel inspired for the new year and hope you do too. Soon I’ll let you know what’s in the future in this neck of the woods.

Warm wishes to you all!

Maria