My Pursuit of Happiness

Out With The Old and In With The New A New Year's Reflection/Resolution Commentary by: Robin-Louise Burkitt  Here it is the last day of 2011, which I might say was not such a bad year compared to some years in the past.  As I sit here writing this blog and thinking of all that has transpired over the last 364 days, it is brought to my recollection the time I was studying to be a music teacher.  My music education professor would always sit us down after a Practicum lesson and have us evaluate (or should I say reflect) on our progress.  He would always ask us to list one strength first and then follow it by one thing to work on for next time.  I have always found his approach to self-reflection so positive especially when you are thrown into a harsh and cruel society of negativity and demands which at times gets you into a point of doubting your ability to do what you are truly talented in.  I have experienced the latter part of the previous statement on many accounts.  But, tha

What would happen if you combined ocean, cliffs, the smell of sea air, with Romantic architectural exquisite mansions from the turn to the 20th century and the lush melodic sounds of classical music?  You get a magnificent presentation of an earthly manifestation of heaven known as The Newport Music Festival.  The Festival has been celebrating the geniousness of every composer who has survived the test of time for 43 seasons debuting (and bringing back) 58 artists from 17 countries.  Their music can be heard in the beautiful venues, such as the Breakers Mansion, The Elms, Portsmouth Abbey, Crosspoint Church, etc....  After the untimely passing of the artistic director, Dr. Mark P. Malkovich III, last May 2010, MPM III's son, Mark IV took over and modernized the Festival to attract a new audience of all ages to classical music.  During the 43rd season people were able to listen to American music, such as "Yankee Doodle"  with different variations from different composers

Many years back in high school, when my parents/family knew I was officially going into the music business, I remember them buying me a whole myriad of CD's from a wide range of musicians and musical artists.  One CD in particular I enjoyed the most due to the style of music.  I felt like I was in heaven with angels playing their harps of joy and peace or near a waterfall hearing the rush of water falling down onto earth.  This individual CD is called "Romantica" by the legendary pianist extraordinaire, John Bayless.  If you have ever heard the piano duo Ferrante and Teicher, you will recognize the powerful and gallant playing where every piece of music played was full of pomp and circumstance.  But John Bayless didn't need a duo.  He made the music powerful and gallant by just him playing.  He would take popular music such as pieces from movies, "Cinema Paradiso", folk songs, "Santa Lucia", or even Broadway musicals, "Tomorrow", "So

My name is Robin-Louise.  Not only am I a musician/music teacher, but I am also a native Aquidneck Islander among all else.  My native roots date back long before I was born and even long before my grandparents were born.  Let me just say that my family has been on Aquidneck Island (which is technically THE State of Rhode Island and once you leave Aquidneck Island via the bridge/ferry that is Providence Plantations)....sorry for the digress....my family has been living on this island since John Albro settled in Portsmouth, RI in 1638.  They've been in New England since the Mayflower docked at Plymouth Rock in 1620.  But, I'm going to leave my genealogy for another blog another day.  Summer in Newport is nothing but a lot of festivals, clambakes, beach time, shopping, and touring the great mansions that once belonged to the rich and famous of the prestigious 400 club, such as the Vanderbilts, Dukes, and Stanford White (you know, the man involved with the girl on the velvet swi