I was very moved by what Ms. Edie Schmoll had to say, in her interview, below. Here is a woman who has experienced pain, great pain, and yet has processed that pain in a way that builds character and displays its artistry in her painting, her writing, and her music.

As years have progressed, I have realized that we don't get any younger and that we need to seize the moment, whatever that moment presents to us, good, bad, or otherwise. Ms. Edie Schmoll has inspired me and now, when I look at her art, not only do I see beauty, but I see a deeper meaning, something that speaks to my heart and soul.

When did you first decide that you wanted to be an artist?

I started painting about four years ago. Following the loss of my husband, I returned to school to brush up on my musical skills (classical piano solos on www.trinityhemet.org/ : Edie's Page). Following the resumption of a career in performing, teaching and composing, I took a semester of Watercolor and Oil Painting at a community college. I had a painting nominated for National Artwork Award in 2011 by American Mensa. The painting, "Glow" is seen here. I won their National Poetry Award in 2008 for "And Now."

I have always been fascinated, truly fascinated, by the art that can be created out of other objects. I didn't know the term for it, necessarily, but I knew when I saw it. Hailing to us from the wonderful industrial city of Pittsburgh, comes Mr. David Calfo, giving us his own brand of salvage art and teaching this musician what the meaning of "salvage art" is and a bit of the process of the art.

I am so thrilled to be able to feature David Calfo and his salvage art, a mixture of art, history, and memorization of the past, in Mr. Calfo's creation in the present, for the future to enjoy and remember with us. Read and learn with me.

Ms. Tourdot's paintings are peaceful and yet emotion-evoking. I could gaze at them for hours, taking in the artistic way that she creates a movement in her paintings. And, yet a serenity, at times.

I enjoyed learning about Ms. Tourdot's routine, as well, not unlike the way I approach my art (writing and music), and appreciate what she says about her painting be an intimate moment, even though the next moment she can be a socialable as a social butterfly.

Come, meet Ms. Tourdot and her beautiful expressions of art.

Many people wish that they could play a musical instrument, but assume that they have left it too late. Of course, if you are lucky enough to have learnt as a child then you shouldn’t have any trouble picking it up again, but if you have never played a note in your life then you may just think that it’s not for you. This is completely wrong – anybody can learn any instrument they like at whatever time of life they like and probably the most accessible instrument is a piano. Here are some of the many reasons why you CAN learn the piano, no matter what your age!

Adults Put the Effort in

Children have the advantage when it comes to learning, but only if they are keen. Most parents have to pressure their kids into regular practicing and this can become a chore for both parties. Of course, there is a small minority of children who are passionate about music from the beginning, but for the most part learning an instrument is something that kids want to do on a whim and before you know it, they’ve lost interest. The great thing about learning as an adult is that you and only you are making yourself learn. You will put more effort into your practices and you won’t miss your lessons (because you’ll be paying for them!)

Modern music-listening methods give us the MP3 file format on phones, music players, tablets, computers and all other devices, allowing us to listen to our favourite tunes wherever we are. Connoisseurs, however, say that nothing can top the sound quality produced by genuine vinyl records, which also happen to have a collector’s value.

So if you are a collector yourself, or if you have a friend who is, how are you supposed to differentiate between the original, valuable records and the sea of counterfeits out there?

First of all, you need to carefully research the price of the record you are searching for, or the price of the one you have your eye on. This information can be found in many places around the web as collectors have blogs, forums and so on, and will be happy to help you on your quest for the truth. Of course, this is not a certain factor for determining originality, but at least it provides a guideline, as an original Beatles record will probably not cost any less than $100. On the other hand, a counterfeiter will probably sell his fake records at the price of the original ones so, again, remember that this is not the only thing you should look out for.

Are you in a band? If so you’ll know how crucial videos are to your success. If you get a quality video together that captures the imagination, you’ll find your friends want to share it across social media - meaning it could even go viral! A professional video is great for people that have just discovered you for the first time – it will show that you are serious and you mean business. It’ll help push all those rubbish video clips that people have uploaded with their smartphones down the list too – they might mean well but poor sound and visual quality videos can do a band more harm than good.

A video needs to show you and your music in the best possible light. Here are some things to think about.

A Theme

Don’t just opt for a static video of you and your band mates playing your songs. Make it interesting! Recruit someone who understands camera angles to film it for you. Choose a theme and make a storyboard – everybody loves a story! Keep it simple though – you don’t want it to be so confusing that people miss the point entirely. Go for a colour scheme too – think about what the band will be wearing.

Listening to Xenia Sky is an experience. There is a raw edge, reminding me of some of the music that I love to listen to, from the 1930s and 1940s, when music was raw. Then, with "Adam and the Fire" in mind, a rock edge emerges and that toe tapping turns into a desire to move, and yet, at the same time, to contemplate the lyrics that Xernia Sky has creatively woven within the tapestry of her music.

Come, meet Xenia Sky.

When did you first decide that you wanted to be a musician?

I started singing and writing songs when I was 14. I never made the conscious decision to be a singer/songwriter, it just evolved out of one day picking up my father's stratocaster and putting words to a very sad melody. I can say that every time I tour or write it is a way of saying to myself "I'm going to keep doing this." I cant imagine doing anything else.

Music teaching is one of the most interesting professions. You get good pay along with the opportunity of making your hobby music as your profession. If you are also planning to become a professional music teacher, consider the following points.

First, you need to be double assured of your musical ability. Remember that you are considering taking up music professionally. Thus, it is important that you are capable of talking up this challenge. There is no point of becoming a music teacher when you are still learning about music. The best way to evaluate your talent is to ask your friends and family members. They will tell you your strong points and flaws (if any).
Consider your qualification in music. Look at the various music certificates and awards you have won. Looking at these things will show you your true ability. Based on your music knowledge and years of experience, you can determine other thing – type of music lessons.