I wrote A LOT of music during the short, but full 6 weeks at Civitella. Actually, more than I could have even anticipated. There was something special about having such a quiet, beautiful space to welcome me to my work throughout each day, that the lines between play and process and just getting the work done to meet deadlines often blurred. At first I did what I often do: make breakfast, make coffee, journal, explore improvising and Bach at the piano, and then start writing. But then, somewhere around the end of the first week I found myself singing: Singing old spirituals I grew up with that I forgot I knew; Improvising on old Motown songs I grew up with, but was now inspired to reinvent. Even in the final week I found myself remembering old piano pieces that I hadn’t touched in at least 10 years, being delighted and amazed that it was all (or mostly!) still in there, ready to be called up and used as inspiration. I think that pretty much sums up what happened for me at Civitella, at least as music composition and my work as an artist is concerned. The silence, the space, the beauty, and the amazing support from staff and the Eccola Foundation was just what I needed in order to be the empty canvas through which so much new work was born.