2011 has been a landmark year in so many ways.  Everyone I know seems to be leaping forward in their fields of interest and their passions.  It was a year when we all came together as a community, due to personal as well as larger scale reasons in the world.  We grew together, laughed together, and realized our connections with each other are more important and beautiful than ever. We’ve helped each other break out of our shells, emotionally and mentally supported through so many changes.

We’re more willing to take the leaps, to try new things, to put together events to bring ourselves together in new combinations and permutations.  Again and again, we meet in art galleries, clubs, dance floors, parks, the desert, and each others houses to discuss what comes next as well as living in the moment.

Danyavaad and the Shimmy Sisters continue to be my greatest teachers;  their sense of professionalism on and off the stage give me goals and new heights to attain.  Their willingness to try new things, invite another violinist on the stage with me, record me on songs I’ve never tried to master before, keeps me on my toes and helps me realize ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!  I’m looking forward to all the new challenges and possibilities coming in 2012, with my soul sisters and brothers.

I’ve progressed in breaking into the electronic music scene.  I was shyly moving in that direction, when Preston Grover and Michael Mannino chose me to play in their “Evolve” show at the Kava lounge March, 2011.  Preston and I worked out 15 minutes of music, and when he spun through those tunes I played music I never thought possible.  I learned that practicing is just a way of pushing the logical mind aside when the live performance happens.  The song is in my ears;  then I leap musically with everyone in the audience and the dj together, into a different place.

Since then I’ve played out at various venues with Philly B, Michael Mannino, Joe Osal8, Lisa Ubiquitous, Dj. 42, and Duckman. I’m trying to learn about as many electronic music genres as possible;  it’s so VAST!!!  The possibilities seem to be endless.  We create our reality, and I’m honored to be a part of such a widely knowledgeable group of musical masterminds.  Thank you!!!

I’m very excited to start teaching at the Electric Music Studios in Ocean Beach, California. It’s a rock and roll school, filled with guitarist, keyboard, vocalists, drummers, and bassists…I’m going to be teaching violin and viola!!!  I’m so excited to teach there;  it is such a wonderful opportunity.  I only played off the written page until I was in my mid-20s, I didn’t “know” how to play by ear.  I’m excited to teach improvisation and “speaking” with the instruments to children; showing things I didn’t know how to do until much much later.  I’m very excited for the possibilities in this realm!!!  It’s time to get the word out!!!

The first gigs I’ve booked in 2012 are all weddings and birthday parties.  I LOVE celebrating with everyone these amazing rites of passage!!!  Music brings people together in so many beautiful ways;  I’ve played at weddings since college.  It’s such a fun process to talk to the couple and decide the music which will mark their special day, then share the moment with their friends and family.  It takes a lot of energy, but it is SO worth it!!!  Birthday parties are fun because the festive atmosphere has everyone in a great mood, and the violin is able to speak out and bring everyone into the moment together.  Keep those ideas flowing my way, please!!!  I truly enjoy sharing music in those special times.  It’s blissful for everyone involved!!!

And for something in an entirely new direction we’ve started a band called “Austin Space and the Robot Dinosaurs.”  We use mixers, ipads, iphones, keyboards, so so many apps, (especially Bebot) along with live violin, vocals, random percussion, and audience participation. The music never sounds the same way twice;  we’re still “gathering” all the sounds we like.  Then it’s also time for Austin Space, our frontman, to take center stage and say and sing things we never thought possible.  His imagination is only limited by the amount of laughing he hears from the audience, and from us.  Duckman keeps the foundation solid;  spinning beats and running the mixer;  bringing different people in and out of the musical form to make it cohesive.  Ruben Valas (Dr. 42) is madly spinning so many apps I can’t keep track, and mixing the synthesizers and beats into magic.  I dabble in the electronics, and also imitate the sounds on the violin, adding to the texture and phrasing.  Sometimes we sound like jazz, sometimes minimal, sometimes we are DEFINITELY in outer space.  We boldly going where no robot dinosaur has gone before!!!

Come on 2012!!!  Let’s continue to create our realities!!!  Have a Happy New Year, and I’ll be seeing you soon!!!  The musical magic will FLOW!!!