Solo Piano Sheet Music

A lot of people have been asking me lately about getting sheet music for my solo piano CDs. The good news is that all of my solo piano CDs now have sheet music books. And the good news keeps coming. The books are available in e-book form as a simple download for $25. I was thinking about reducing the price of the e-book to make it more attractive. I would love to hear feedback from all you solo piano players out there on what you think a good price for my solo piano e-book should be. I am selling the spiral bound hard copy for $25 plus $5 shipping and handling. Here is the link if you are interested in purchasing the sheet music. Go here.

I would recommend Solo Piano for Peace if you are not a great sight reader. The unwind and Peace Revolution! sheet music books can be difficult reading.

Does cell phone use increase risk for brain tumors?

I recently sent this to some people I care about. Thought I would put it out there for everyone. Here is the link to the article.

Here are some highlights if you don’t want to read the whole article:

“What makes me worry,” she stated, “is that the higher quality studies [seen here] did indeed show an association.” Dr. Deepa Subramaniam, director of the Brain Tumor Center at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C.

“I would not allow children to use a cell phone, or I at least would require them to use a separate headset,” Moskowitz said. “It seems fairly derelict of us as a society or as a planet to just disseminate this technology to the extent that we have without doing a whole lot more research of the potential harms and how to protect against those harms. Clearly, we need to learn a whole lot more about this technology.” Joel Moskowitz, the study’s senior author, said that “clearly there is risk.” He’s director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health.

Specifically, the more robust studies found that using a mobile phone for a decade or longer resulted in an 18% increased risk for developing a brain tumor.

Some studies also showed that brain tumors were more likely to appear on the side of the brain where the cell phone was used.

“I do encourage people to use the speaker phone or a hands-free device if they can, and I definitely do not encourage children to use cell phones because then there’s a much longer lifetime risk of exposure,” she said.

“In my opinion,” she said, “the question remains unsettled — and unsettled always carries with it likelihood that we might find an association.”

In addition, this is coming from me:

I personally knew someone who talked on his cell phone a lot and who died of a brain tumor on the side of his head where he used his phone.

With Virgin Mobile, for example, Richard Branson took the unusual step of giving away an earpiece with a built-in microphone with each of the company’s mobile phones, so users do not have to hold them to their heads. ”A friend of mine got a brain tumor, and before he died we had dinner and he said his surgeon was convinced that using a mobile phone may have been a factor,” Mr. Branson said, raising a product-liability specter that the head of a public company might be likely to suppress. (the guy got it on the side he used his cell phone on)

Use a headset or blue tooth. The signal that blue tooth emits is miniscule when compared to the amount of energy the actual cell phone emits into your brain.

If you trust your government, cell phone companies, or cell phone services to tell you what is or is not safe about cell phone use, well… if you know me, you know how I feel about that.

Wishing you love and peace and a long life free of brain tumors.
Louis

Why I Do What I Do and Special Thanks

There are times when I wonder why it is that I have to follow my heart and passion and be a pianist for peace. When I take a good look around, I see many paths that would be much easier to follow. Paths that require so much less effort, time, and focus. And then I experience a weekend like my Washington DC area tour, and I understand why it is that I do what I do. And, of course, I have no choice. This is my calling.

The level of appreciation and support of the people who made the effort to come out and hear my music was at times overwhelming. At this stage of the game, I don’t attract large crowds. However, what I don’t have in quantity, I have in quality. Amazing people who, not only support me and my music, but who support my mission of peace. I am grateful and I feel blessed.

Some very special people who helped make my weekend possible and magical: Antoinette and Bob Purdon, Lezlie Lawson, Rob Barnwell, Ann Petersen, Mary Beall Adler, and Kathy Bacon. Your generosity and support are deeply appreciated.

Chicago Area Mini-Tour Oct. 2nd, 3rd, & 4th

Very excited about my return to the Chicago area October, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. This will be a whirlwind mini-tour that will include 5 concerts and an Improv Master Class.

Solo piano concerts will include solo piano and vocals at Lucy’s Cafe at The Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake, IL on Friday, October 2nd at 8:00 pm, a solo piano concert at Steinway of Milwaukee with Joe Bongiorno in Wauwatosa, WI on Saturday, October 3rd at 7:30 pm, and another solo piano concert with Joe Bongiorno at Schaumburg Library in Schaumburg, IL on Sunday, October 4th at 2:00 pm.

On Saturday, October 3rd at 1:00 pm, I will lead an Improv Master Class and then perform a solo piano concert with Joe Bongiorno.  Special thanks to Tim Paul of Piano Trends for providing pianos for all Chicago area concerts except the Steinway of Milwaukee concert.

If you can help get the word out about these concerts through your social media network, friends, and family, I would appreciate it.

love and peace always and everywhere~

Washington DC area Concerts – Sept. 18, 19, 20

This is the info for what’s coming next weekend. If you are not from the DC area but know people who are, please forward this to them. Thanks!
love and peace~
Louis

Friday, September 18th 7:30 pm Concert at the Washington Waldorf School, Bethesda, MD Tickets are $15 general admission $10 students with ID Online tickets. Or call [24/7 Ticket Hotline] 1-800-838-3006

Saturday, September 19th 2:00 pm I will be teaching a Master Class called “The Art of Improv” at The Piano Company 1065 Edwards Ferry Road, NE Leesburg, VA 20176
call 703.771.8119 to reserve a spot. Class will be limited to 20 people

Saturday, September 19th 7:30 pm Concert at The Piano Company, Leesburg, VA
Tickets are $15 general admission $10 students with ID Online tickets. Or call [24/7 Ticket Hotline] 1-800-838-3006

Sunday, September 20th 4:00 pm Concert for the International Student House, 1825 R Street, NW Washington, DC 202.232.4007 The International Student House invites students from around the world to live together in order for them to have greater respect for cultural diversity, the appreciation of forming lifelong relationships, and the ability to celebrate their differences. They are strong supporters of peace.

Solo Piano for Peace – Review by Bill Binkelman

from the 2009 holiday issue of New Age Retailer

Solo Piano for Peace

Louis Landon

Landon Creative, Inc.

www.louislandon.com

Pianist Louis Landon continues his quest to furnish the world with music meant to guide us toward a more peaceful existence. Solo Piano for Peace is the follow-up to Peace Revolution! and is his eighth album overall. Working with the noted guitarist Eric Tingstad, who here rides the producer chair, Landon wends his way through 13 warm melodic tracks, from the flowing whims of the opening “Seattle Morning” to the closing power and drama of “Resolution” with stops in between for low-key reflection in “Centering,” cheerful exhuberence in “Skater Girl,” and neoclassical romanticism in “New and Old.” all the songs are originals except for Landon’s well-done arrangement of the John Lennon classic “Imagine.”

The Missing Blog Post from July 7th

July 7, 2009 10:17 pm

On a Continental flight from Seattle to Newark. I have just had one one of the best weeks of my life. Flew out to Portland last Tuesday and then drove down to Eugene, OR to spend some time with my Aunt Harries, my cousin Ellen, and her husband Ed.

Got in about 5:30 pm. Went out for a nice walk with Ellen before dinner. The weather was magnificent. One plus of going to the NW during the summer months. Had a really nice dinner and then cooled out for the night.

The next day, I got up when I got up, and went with Ellen down to the Willoument River to run on the woodchip trails. Again, perfect weather and an amazing run. Went back and had some breakfast and coffee. In the afternoon, My Aunt, my cousin, and I drove over the mountains to the Oregone shore. As we got closer to the ocean, the temperature dropped down quickly until it reached 53 degrees at the shore itself. It was foggy and very windy.  We went for a beautiful hike and I took a lot of pictures of the amazing trees, canals, and dunes. My Aunt and cousin dropped me off for dinner at Kathy’s and they went out to dinner. Played a very relaxed house concert at Kathy’s. Small but appreciative crowd. Had a really nice time. Then I drove back to Eugene. Had a semi close call with a big buck in the middle of the road, but all was well. Had another run the next day, and then headed back up to Portland to fly to Seattle.

My good friend and fellow Whisperings artist, Joe Bongiorno, picked me up at the airport. From there, we drove to the restaurant that he manages, and had the nicest dinner. The great thing about the NW in the summer is that it stays light until about 10 pm. Joe, his daughter Taylor, and I hung outside under the stars. It was magical. Went home and hung out for a bit and then went to sleep.

Then next day morning I went for a really nice run around Joe’s neighborhood. There is a state park very close by, and Joe told me about a path to run on. I ended up running down to Lake Washington and running over an hour, which is a little more than I’m used to doing. Didn’t have a problem with it except for some of the steeper sections going back up from the lake. Got myself together and packed up and headed up to Bellingham for my first concert with David Lanz at the Amadeus Project. I wanted to get up there earlier, but I was running later than I had anticipated. I had a plan to meet up with a very old and dear friend, Alan James and his wife Eve. Alan and I go back to LA when we were both in our mid teens and going out to rock concerts. He was a writer for a New Zealand teen paper and he used to get us backstage to all these cool concerts. I saw Keith Moon dancing around naked on acid at the Shrine Auditorium. Saw Peter Townsend’s Strat with blood on the fingerboard. Got into the dressing room at the Forum where Cream was making their first appearance in LA, I believe. Was backstage with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce. It was so cool. Anyway, Alan, Eve, and I went out to lunch. Had a good old time. Got back to meet up with David at the Amadeus Project at 5:00 pm. We talked about a few things and then David suggested we go out to coffee. We had never met before, so it was a good chance to get connect. David is really the trailblazer of New Age solo piano, so I felt honored to be playing the concert with him in the first place. We went back to the venue and got dressed and ready to go.

I have to say that I had one of the best concerts I have ever played. I was so relaxed it was weird. I really was happy with my playing. Watching David perform, I learned so much. He is really an outstanding writer and performer. How he talks about his songs and how he stands and deals with the audience was educational. I usually sit at the piano to talk to the audience. So, I took a cue from David and stood up to speak during the second half  We were able to get two two piano improves in.  It was great fun. Really enjoyed listening to David’s music. A pleasure.

After we cleaned up most of our stuff, David was going to go out for a beer with some friends of his and invited me. I would have loved to go, but I had an hour plus ride ahead of me to get back to Kenmore and the idea of going out to drink beer and then having to drive didn’t suit me. I had a feeling that we would hang more on Saturday night, which we did.

Awakening, Thankful, and Living in the Moment

I came across this blog post that I never got around to posting. It’s from Monday, July 20, 2009  9:57 EST

What an amazing experience I have just had. I jokingly say that I was on vacation, ahem, I mean tour. I love being in new places, meeting new people, and most of all, performing my solo piano music and spreading my peace and my love through my music. What an incredible feeling to touch people’s hearts and souls and share the love and peace that I am so fortunate to have. I feel Blessed. There have been times in my life where I have felt cursed. I have managed to rise above those very difficult times and I am now enjoying the fruits of my labor. Still, living in the moment always presents such incredible challenges. Every moment IS a challenge. In this moment, am I Awake, or am I asleep? And here comes another moment and another struggle to be awake. Right now I am very Awake. I am also very Thankful.

It’s always easy to compare oneself to people who have what appears to be more stuff, or happier families, or success in the world. To be able to look the other way and compare oneself to the have nots, and begin to see all that we do have, and how lucky we are, is much more humbling and much more rewarding. To be Thankful. To accept exactly what one has and be appreciative and thankful is what it is all about. It does not mean that we need not strive for more success, or a better income, or to be more loving. What it does mean is to accept exactly what we have been given as perfect for our personal evolution. The attitude that we bring to what we have been given and how we deal with whatever we have been given are two very important subjects in our effort to Awaken.

Which brings me to the idea of acting and reacting. I see that so much of my behavior is nothing more than stimulus response. So often someone says something or does something, and I very quickly react both emotionally and intellectually to what someone has said. In order to act, instead of react, one must be present, in the moment, Awake.

Concerts in July and More…

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I sat down and wrote a blog entry. I have had things to write about, but nothing could stop my momentum. I’ve been really busy. I did my a triple gig this past Saturday, which was really biting off more than I could chew, but I went for it. After all, I’ve only had two other triples in my life, and I’m someone who likes to work. What can I say, I like playing music. Anyway, what I’m really thinking about are the wonderful concerts I have coming up in July.

On Friday, July 10th, I’m doing a concert at the Cape Cod Conservatory with Gary Girouard. For info about it, here is the link. The following week I head for my Portland/Seattle/Bellingham mini-tour. I’m not actually playing in Portland. I land in Portland and then drive to Eugene to visit my cousin, her husband, and my aunt. I will also be playing my return engagement at Kathy Parson’s house on Wednesday, July 15th. I love Kathy’s house concerts because I love her, her house, and her piano. She has a beautiful Yamaha that is a joy to play on and the acoustics in her living room are super good. On Thursday, I drive back to Portland and then fly up to Seattle. On Friday night I head up for a very special concert with David Lanz at The Amadeus Project. I say that it’s very special for a few reasons. One reason it that this will be my first concert with David Lanz, a pianist who is really at the very top of the genre that I now play in. Also, this concert will be in David’s hometown of Bellingham, a beautiful little city about an hour north of Seattle. What is especially cool is that the concert room at The Amadeus Center has two grand pianos and we will be doing some two piano improvs at the end of the show. That should be so much fun. Really looking forward to that. And David and I are both donating money from the concert. I will be donating to The Amadeus Project and David will be donating to Sustainable Connections. If you know anyone in the Bellingham area, this is a concert not to be missed. The following night, on Saturday, July 18th, I will be playing with David Lanz again at my good friend, and fellow Whisperings artist, Joe Bongiorno’s Piano Haven Studio House Concert Series. This concert will be recorded on the same piano that I recorded Solo Piano for Peace. I am hoping for a live CD if I get lucky with my performance. We’ll see how it goes. Nothing planned for Sunday and I return to New York on Monday. The following Wednesday, the 22nd of July, I am doing a Solo Piano for Peace concert at the Crawford Library in Monticello.

I am extremely happy with 5 solo piano concerts for the month of July. Plenty of other gigs as well, but nothing worth mentioning. Just the usual musician in the trenches kind of gigs. Baby needs a new pair of shoes. Thank God one of my babies is 20 years old and the other is turning 18 in a week. Babies may be cute, but I’ll take teenagers over babies any time. I know there are plenty of people who would think I’m crazy for saying that, (and they would be right) but the baby years gave us 4 years of sleep deprivation, two cases of whooping cough, asthma, and ear infections, to name a few things. Glad those years are long gone. Now will ya just look at what happens when I say a simple phrase like “baby needs a new pair of shoes”?

New Improv for Peace, #112, coming tonight.
love and peace~
Louis

Positive Gig and Life Attitudes

I keep starting blog posts and not finishing them. It’s been so long since I checked in here.  I am determined to blast past this block right now. It’s funny, I don’t have the same difficulty with music.  I can come up with a new piece of music at any time. In fact, going to post a new Improv for Peace tonight, number #108. Wow, that’s a lot of Improvs.

I think I will just write about what has been going on with me lately. Been busy with work. The gigs have certainly picked up, and that’s a relief after a long cold winter. Granted, I did put my new Solo Piano for Peace CD together, so I spent my down time well. Now that I’m back to a decent amount of gigging, I have noticed that my attitude has changed in relation to gigs. I am going into the less artistic gigs with a positive attitude that I will still have fun playing music. I’ve been very successful with this idea. It leads me to believe that attitude and one’s state of consciousness in any given moment, is the key to all happiness, not just gig happiness.  I also found that there is a delicate balance between acceptance and making efforts to make things better. Being thankful and appreciative of what one is given is a big step towards a positive feeling of well being. And it is possible to accept where one is while still making efforts to be even more conscious and awake to what is happening at any given moment.

I know that I keep harping on this awareness of the moment. That is because I see the present moment as the key to Higher Consciousness and Enlightenment. Bringing attention to the moment is a starting point for so many possibilities. When I am where I am, not lost in the past or the future, everything is perfect. Even negative experiences take on new meaning in the face of clear presence to them.

So, I would ask you to remind me whenever you can, to be where I am, and if you’d like, I will remind you as well.

I wish you love and peace always and everywhere…and especially right now, as you read these words.