Music

Day 4999: The Best Teachers

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, in Lugano, Switzerland, I had the good fortune to witness one of the best teachers and performers of opera, Thomas Hampson, give Master Classes to aspiring stars.

Here are some of the notes I jotted down while listening to one of the best teachers.

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I met Mo and Frank from Germany at the afternoon Master Class with Thomas Hampson …

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… and the three of us decided to come back for the evening Master Class, too.

I took a lot of video of the best teacher teaching, including this,

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… this,

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… this,

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… this,

… and this.

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As the best teacher Thomas Hampson says there, you have to be prepared for anything. Are you prepared for these responses I got on Twitter last night when I asked a question about best teachers?

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Experience is one of the best teachers and here are more of my experiences from yesterday.

I look for the best teachers wherever I go. This sign says “People with light luggage travel better through life.”

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On Wonderful Weirdoes Day, I’m remembering the birthday of my late father, who was a great teacher and a wonderful weirdo like me.

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Thanks to all who are here for this best teachers post, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism, travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Day 4950: Inspiring

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Last night, at the first anniversary show of Which Side? (A Protest Music Teach-Out) I heard and saw many inspiring people.

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It’s very inspiring (and unbelievable) to me that I will be sharing my original protest song You Don’t Scare Me! at a future Which Side? show.

I think you’ll find my images for today inspiring.

It’s Victor and Adi from the ACLU!
It’s Paula, who is inspiring in her dedication to these inspiring monthly shows!
It’s the inspiring Joyce Linehan and James Sullivan, who organize and host these shows!
It’s the inspiring Rubin Brothers!
It’s the inspiring Brandie Blaze!
It’s the inspiring Todd Thibaud and the house back-up band, The Paid Protestors!
It’s the inspiring Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Kim Driscoll!
It’s the inspiring Melissa Ferrick!

It’s the inspiring O.G.’s (Original Gentlemen), who met in prison after wrongful convictions!

It’s the inspiring Ted Landsmark, educator and lawyer!
That’s the inspiring Ted Landsmark in that well-known image of racism in 1970s Boston.
It’s inspiring how much Ted Landsmark has done in his long life.

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I look forward to inspiring comments, below.

Thanks to all who helped me create this inspiring post, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Day 4905: Favorite Lines

Posted on June 7, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Last night, I asked a question on social media about favorite lines.

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Do you see more favorite lines in my other images for today?

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When I search for favorite lines on YouTube, I find this:

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… and this:

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One of my favorite lines is Thank You!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Day 4895: Memorable

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Ann Koplow

My first memorable concert was Simon & Garfunkel at Boston’s Symphony Hall when I was in my early teens.

My most recent memorable concert was Jacob Collier and the Boston Pops last night, where I could see my seats for that first concert.

Jacob Collier is so memorable because he somehow makes the audience part of his impeccable, soulful, magical performances.

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Here are some memorable comments about that memorable Jacob Collier video:

What’s memorable about today’s blog post?

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Thanks to all who make my days memorable, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Day 4891: The Things You Think Are Useless I Can’t Understand

Posted on May 24, 2026 by Ann Koplow

“The things you think are useless I can’t understand” is a line from an early Steely Dan song.

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I think about this line a lot because so many people seem to think that

  • empathy,
  • justice,
  • kindness,
  • logic,
  • diversity,
  • intelligence,
  • compassion,
  • speaking up,
  • integrity,
  • curiosity, and
  • openness

are useless, and I can’t understand.

I hope the things you think are useless don’t include today’s blog.

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As always, thanks for your understanding!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Day 4882: Which Side Are You On?

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Which Side Are You On? is a 1931 protest song written by Florence Reece, a book about protest songs by James Sullivan, and a popular local monthly performance/“teach out” about protest songs organized by James Sullivan and others.

My friend Carol heard an NPR program about Which Side Are You On? and, because she is on my side, suggested I send my protest song — “You Don’t Scare Me!” — to James Sullivan.

Which side are you on when you look at my images for today?

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Here is “Which Side Are You On,” written by a 12-year-old Florence Reece when her father was on strike with other coal miners and then updated by her in 1931 during the Harlan County strikes, which her father helped organize.

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Which side are you on?

Thanks to all who helped me create this which-side-are-you-on? post, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Day 4841: Security Joan

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Security Joan, one of my favorite songs by Donald Fagen, is about a TSA agent named Joan.

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I have my own Security Joan, who’s been inspecting my luggage as I start packing for my trip to Spain.

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I’m so glad I have a Security Joan; she helps me feel more secure as I make my way through this world.

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Secure thanks to Joan, Donald Fagen, my friends on social media, and YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , | 4 Comments

Day 4794: Rejection

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Ann Koplow

We all deal with rejection, which often lowers our self esteem.

A patient recently shared this helpful reframe about rejection.

Lately I’ve been feeling rejection because of lower numbers for my music.

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If I use that rejection reframe, I can practice prevention with redirection: writing new songs, marketing my music differently, and NOT equating lower numbers with rejection.

Do you see rejection in my other images for today?

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Here’s what I find when I search for “rejection” on YouTube.

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There are several TED talks about rejection, including this …

… and this:

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I won’t feel rejection if you don’t comment, below.

Thanks to all who have dealt with rejection, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Day 4745: Mood music

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Today’s blog title is “mood music” because

  • My son Aaron, my husband Michael, and I spend our evenings together sharing favorite music with each other,
  • We saw the movie Marty Supreme yesterday and Michael’s only criticism of it was that he thought the music didn’t fit, and
  • I asked this question on Twitter last night:

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Last night Michael shared this song:

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I shared this song:

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And Aaron shared this song:

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Aaron said that I should listen to that Moondog album, because some of those songs remind him of the songs I’ve written, which put me in a very good mood.

Here are the rest of my images for this mood music post:

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Here’s the music I hear when I think about Tick Tock Day:

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Thanks to all who are here for this mood music post, including YOU!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Day 4744: Foofaraw

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Ann Koplow

Because of my history of needing hospitalizations for heart issues just when I started feeling confident and positive about myself at an early age, I unconsciously expect disaster to happen if I am feeling very happy and secure. This relates to the word of the day: “foofaraw.”

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After spending a fabulous day yesterday with my son (who is visiting from graduate school) and my husband, I do not want to make a foofaraw about a minor medical issue I am experiencing today.

Also, I talked to my son yesterday about my music and how I avoid adding foofaraw when I’m recording my original songs.

Without any foofaraw, here are my images for today.

I don’t want to make a foofaraw about the fact that they’ve changed the eggplant fries at the Deluxe Town Diner.
This is a new dish at the diner that I love!
Without any foofaraw, Aaron and I got new shoes yesterday at the Shoe Barn in Newton.
Here are my husband Michael and son Aaron, without foofaraw.
We got plantain chips on the house at Comfort Kitchen!
No foofaraw in this delicious seasonal salad.
The fish curry.
My favorite dessert at Comfort Kitchen.
Tiramisu!

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Do you think there’s any foofaraw in my Holiday Song?

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Thanks to all who are here for my daily foofaraws, including YOU!!

Categories: Music, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

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