One More Sing For Hope, Play Me I'm Yours, Thing

Musical family time!!! Jeffrey Biegel is a cousin of mine - I think we share a great-grandmother? We've gone over it many times but I can never remember. But the musical genes are in there and he got a TON of them. I remember going with my aunt (and no doubt my parents and brothers, but for some reason I remember only my aunt) to see him play at Carnegie when he was 18 and I was about 12. Anywhere, here he is now, at a Sing for Hope, Play Me I'm Yours piano. Incidentally, I believe this is the first time I'm "seeing" him play since then. Click through to YouTube if the blog format cuts off the video frame. Enjoy!

It's Skypulous!

I have a distant cousin who is a talented pianist, arranger, teacher and general all-around supporter of the arts. His name is Jeffrey Biegel. He is always looking for new ways to share his enthusiasm, and he turns to the internet for inspiration. Or the internet turns to him! Last month he was called in last-minute to replace a pianist in Bogota, Colombia, all because someone knew someone who was friends with him on Facebook. The organizer sent him a message and the next thing he knew he was on a flight south. But he also takes the initiative - in this case, with Skype. Skype is a messaging system that has real-time audio and video, and after successfully giving piano lessons to a student in Singapore, he has set himself up to give lessons via Skype. How cool is that? So innovative! It opens up such wonderful opportunities, for example, for people who for whatever reason are unable to travel. Or it could be used for a regular student who is traveling and either doesn't want to miss a lesson, or wants a refresher before a performance or audition. Bravo, Jeffrey, for implementing this fabulous idea!