LeslieUpchurch.com

My Musical Home - the building where Bob Abramson once gave a Dalcroze Workshop!

It is true - of all the buildings in New Jersey I chose the one where Bob Abramson gave a Dalcroze workshop.  I did not know this of course.  I moved in after working with a rental agent who showed me two really lousy apartments and one cute studio.  I found this apartment on Craigslist.  I worked at a school in Hoboken, New Jersey, the first year I was here - meaning the first year when I moved back to the NYC area after 13 years in Vermont.  There were a number of after school teachers who came to the school to do lessons.  One of these teachers was a pianist and teacher who had studied with Bob and she also lived in my building.  After I knew her for a while she told me about the workshop that had taken place in her apartment.

Yesterday I was having my second rehearsal in a row in my apartment.  I had one Friday evening with Manuela and we were playing jazz.  I have been interviewing roommates and one came during that rehearsal.  Then yesterday I rehearsed with Charles.  We were playing our planned improvisations.  I suddenly realized that my apartment finally felt really musical.

I have lived in this building for a little over 4 years and not done that much musically in my aparment.  The first year, in a smaller apartment in the building, I had one student for part of the year.  The second year I moved to my current larger apartment and had no students. The third year the same.  Last year I had one student and I have one student this year.  The rehearsals have made me feel like there is music in my place.

As I have been trolling through potential roommates I realized that even though in the moment I could definitely use the money, I can use the extra room to teach classes to young children or even offer Dalcroze classes for adults.  There is not enough room for much gross motor movement, but the room has potential. 

I pulled my ad from Craigslist and posted one about music classes in my town - West New York - which is only 10 mintutes from some very prime markets for this type of thing.  I am going to go for it.  I can first of all write off the room on my taxes - a HUGE amount - because I rented it to someone for quite a bit - $850 a month.  The market is down for rentals and I had to lower it to $725 to get responses.  Then, I started thinking.  What if  - I use the room for business and write it off?  That would save at least $300 a month in taxes - probably more.  And it would help me to build a base in the NJ area where I live - for getting students and then I would not have to have a roommate at all.

Now, I just remembered Stephen Neely's magnetic wall.  I am planning to paint the wall, so I will find out where to get the magnetic shavings.  What a great way to teach - use the wall to post things.  I will also get a small white board.  And, I need a rug.  But first - put up fliers!

Funny how a "hole" finds a way to fill itself up.  I am very excited about having use of my entire apartment!

I am excited about his.  I am also applying for a job at a music school for a couple of mornings to fill in the income gap.  On my way with a few twists and turns - all part of the way to be able to teach music on your own terms.

So much to do!