Dana Putnam
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Why YOU need to join us this July at The Complete 21st Century Flutist!
Anyone who knows me, knows of my endless love for CSU Summer Arts. With the unique distinction of being a student and TA during my grad school years, I learned early on about this magical and transformational two-week summer intensive. Imagine my joy when I was invited to return in later years as a guest…
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Gratitude
Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. The end of another academic year and orchestral season has come and I feel extraordinarily grateful to be able to do what I do. I love being a musician, inspiring students, and helping others. It seemed appropriate to express these…
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The Positive Side of Injury
I’ve been thinking about repetitive injuries lately – particularly the recovery, rebuilding, relearning, and finding the silver lining part of them. Last week, my boyfriend John, who is a lifelong die hard Cubs fan, shared an interview with me about Kris Bryant and his injuries this season which have landed him on the Disabled List.…
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“You don’t take a trip, a trip takes you.” John Steinbeck
It’s another gorgeous morning here in Martinique. I’m sitting on the lanai, drinking a pot of tea, watching the waves crash below, the nearby roosters keep butting in with their two cents. I’ve come to appreciate daily rain showers on a whole new level being on a tropical island. The beauty and juxtaposition of pouring…
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Why I do what I do.
I’m reading two inspiring books right now: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, and my friend and colleague John Mayer’s new book The Steppenwolf Theater Company of Chicago: In Their Own Words. Although on the surface it would seem neither has anything to do with music – one is about a writer, her…
Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear, Classical Musician, Create Yourself, Elgar Enigma Variations, Elizabeth Gilbert, Festival Mozaic, Flute, Greg Bishop, James Paul, Jeff Perry, John Mayer, Mahler Symphony 4, Oregon Coast Music Festival, Prokofiev Classical Symphony, Rachmaninov Symphony 2, Santo Urso, Steppenwolf Theater, The Nutcracker, The Steppenwolf Theater of Chicago In Their Own Words -
Being a Good Colleague: A guide to getting the hang of “the hang” for newly graduated music students
There’s a fair amount of advice out there these days for young musicians as they graduate from their beloved universities and conservatories and start the next chapter of their lives as professionals. Navigating the murky waters and slippery slopes is not an easy task, and many might not have the courage to ask for advice…
Rena Urso 