Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog http://betsystern.com/blog.html Betsy Stern: Blog Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:34:19 -0800 Almost 2012?! http://betsystern.com/blog.html/almost_2012 This has been an extremely busy year, full of gigs and teaching. I spend a lot of time on the road, but am doing so closer to home (played as far east as St. Louis, but didn't get back to France this year) in the Bay Area. When one's life is filled with so much music and such amazing people, from the youngest to the oldest, it keeps one's heart so warm and a smile glowing. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to do what I do for a living and to be able to work with such wonderful musicians, educators, audiences, and students.


Happy, safe, and heartwarming holidays to all.

]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/almost_2012 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:34:19 -0800 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog Kitsch 'N Sync http://betsystern.com/blog.html/kitsch_n_sync Jerry and I just finished a fun photo shoot, the results of which are on my photo page, http://betsystern.com/photos.html. We're just about to start recording again and I will post our music as soon as possible.


 


Kitsch 'N Sync plays music for all generations and we have particular appeal to baby boomers celebrating all sorts of events. We play a lot of private events for birthdays and other celebrations, bringing back lots of good memories for people and getting them up and dancing. From Johnny Cash to Jim Croce to Bread to the Beatles to Tennessee Ernie Ford to all sorts of other gems, we have a great time playing this music and people always sing along.


 


Jerry is an absolutely killer harmonica player -- and he's so humble! He grew up playing with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and has played with other musicians of that stature throughout his career. Last night he told about a gig he did where Nina Simone walked into the club, right up on stage, took the mic, and started singing, "Trouble in Mind." When he's on harp, the world stops to listen.

]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/kitsch_n_sync Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:56:19 -0700 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog Music from Around the World http://betsystern.com/blog.html/music_from_around_the_world I've just updated my calendar here, which is quickly filling up with more private and public events, including more programs at public libraries. I just played one at my home library in Berkeley, which was a lot of fun. They are closing two branches for renovation, and what a closing celebration it was!


 


When my kids were little the libraries sponsored a Summer Reading Program, which continues to this day and for which I will be giving special programs locally and in St. Louis to match this year's theme of world culture.


 


In addition to the gigs I list on my calendar here, I teach 21 classes a week to very young kids (from age 3 months to 5 years) in five international preschools to introduce the kids to world culture and literacy through music. We have so much fun and I see some absolutely amazing musicianship in tiny, tiny kids. It's very exciting to see this generation starting to play all sorts of music from such a young age.


 


I also work with Alzheimer's patients, with whom I share music that they remember from years past. It's incredible to see how they react and how clearly they remember the lyrics. Music provides a very special experience for them.


 


Additionally, I do a lot of solo performances and play with my duos and other groups. Very busy schedule, but I'm doing what I love so much. I think everyday of my dad, what he taught me about music and life, and am so happy to be able to keep his dream alive.

]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/music_from_around_the_world Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:41:32 -0800 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog From my new kids' CD... http://betsystern.com/blog.html/from_my_new_kids_cd The following are links to the songs I've finished for my new kids' CD. All songs will be available for download from iTunes.


 


http://betsysternkidsmusic.com/audio/Au_clair_de_la_lune_hifi.mp3  (If you like French, you might like this one!)


 


http://betsysternkidsmusic.com/audio/Mary_Mack_M1b-f-Q6C4S1X-16_hifi.mp3

]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/from_my_new_kids_cd Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:54:15 -0800 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog Winter...almost! http://betsystern.com/blog.html/winteralmost We're into our rainy season here now (which, in this part of California, isn't bad...so I'm not complaining), a good time to be in the studio when I'm not gigging. I'm recording my second kids' CD and having  a lot of fun with it, gigging with Jerry in Kitsch 'N Sync, with Kevin in the Smith/Stern Duo, planning a CD with Pierre for Betsy & the Frenchman, and doing between 40 and 50 live events a month. I have come to believe in naps whenever possible! Most of all, I'm having so much fun sharing all this with such wonderful people, musicians and audiences alike.

]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/winteralmost Sat, 30 Oct 2010 11:35:27 -0700 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog Betsy & the Frenchman Tour http://betsystern.com/blog.html/betsy__the_frenchman_tour Just arrived in windy and warm Wichita, and everything else arrived too...the suitcases, guitar, dobro, and the Frenchman. So glad it all went smoothly. Driving to Missouri tomorrow for the first concert and very much looking forward to it.

]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/betsy__the_frenchman_tour Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:07:58 -0700 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog Winding up the summer and starting fall http://betsystern.com/blog.html/winding_up_the_summer_and_starting_fall One of our gigs in Missouri

]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/winding_up_the_summer_and_starting_fall Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:14:15 -0700 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog Still in Paris http://betsystern.com/blog.html/still_in_paris
I've added a lot of new tunes on the Music page and links the new videos on my Links page.

The weather here is superb and I'm about to go out with my camera and take some photos and absorb the incredible beauty of Paris. I thank all of my wonderful friends here who have made this trip so amazing.]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/still_in_paris Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:01:56 -0700 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog April in Paris...and chestnuts are starting to blossom http://betsystern.com/blog.html/april_in_parisand_chestnuts_are_starting_to_blossom http://betsystern.com/blog.html/april_in_parisand_chestnuts_are_starting_to_blossom Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:53:23 -0700 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog In Paris! http://betsystern.com/blog.html/in_paris
I love being here!!!!]]> http://betsystern.com/blog.html/in_paris Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:55:19 -0700 Betsy Stern Music : Jazz, Blues, Motown, Swing, French, Pop, Rock, Traditional - Betsy Stern - Blog