Tag Archives: Bach

Fun With Blogging

Posted on by
Reply

balloon

At the beginning of 2016, I began a personal experiment. I decided to challenge myself by writing a short daily post on my favorite composer, J.S. Bach.

My original goals were these:

  • Post daily (So far, I haven’t missed a day!)
  • Learn as I go
  • Share what I learn
  • Enjoy myself

Some of the other benefits I’m enjoying as a result of regular blogging are:

  • Learning to write more quickly
  • Becoming more adept at conducting research online
  • Making interesting new friends all over the world
  • Having thoughtful conversations with other Bach-lovers via social media

I was even contacted by American Public Media and invited to do a couple of interviews as to why Bach is my favorite composer. The result is two features being streamed nationwide on APM’s YourClassical.org.

Anyone can be a blogger. My best advice is to start with a topic that you’re passionate about. Set a few goals. Make blogging a part of your routine. It doesn’t have to be daily. A weekly or monthly schedule is totally acceptable.

With regular blogging and creative sharing, you will begin to position yourself as an expert in your topic. If you incorporate your blog within your website, your regular content updates will help keep Google and other search engines interested in your site resulting in higher search rankings.

There are many, many more benefits to blogging.

The #1 benefit? Having fun!

Day 121

Posted on by
1

by Rebecca Cochran

Bach logo

At the beginning of 2016, I began a personal experiment. I call it My Year of Bach. As a flutist, for as long as I can remember, Johann Sebastian Bach has been my favorite composer. I’ve written about Bach several times here in this space.

I decided to challenge myself by writing a short daily post on some aspect of Bach and his music. Otherwise, I didn’t set too many more rules. Like I said, this is an experiment, and I think we all need to experiment more.

My original goals were these:

  • Post daily
  • Learn as I go
  • Share what I learn
  • Enjoy myself

Now, 4 months in, I can report that I’ve achieved my original goals and more! I have posted daily, mostly “living in the moment,” rather than writing and scheduling posts ahead of time. This approach challenges me to be more observant, remaining on “high alert” for anything even remotely related to Bach that crosses my path each day. I’m conducting quick research, online and off. I’m asking more questions. I’m starting conversations with strangers. I’m listening more intently and attending more concerts and recitals. What I discover today will probably end up in tomorrow’s post. Bach is everywhere.

I’m learning to write more quickly. And, more importantly, I’m learning to trust what I write, rather than second-guessing myself. (There’s no time for that!)

I’m maintaining focus. Rather than going down rabbit holes in search of photos to accompany my posts, I’m staying focused on my writing.

I’m learning a great deal about my favorite composer. Every day, I seem to have yet another “aha moment” about some aspect of JSB. The more I learn about Bach, the more I want to learn.

In sharing my daily posts via Twitter, I am making new friends all over the world. I’m receiving wonderful comments (“Thank you, your latest post has helped me finish my term paper!”), great questions (“How do you recommend I start building a Bach listening library?”) and words of encouragement (“Wow! Keep up the good work; I know you can make it to Day 366!”).

Most importantly of all, I’m having fun!

A Personal Experiment

Posted on by
2

by Rebecca Cochran

As 2016 emerges, rather than setting resolutions, I’ve embarked upon a personal experiment. I’m calling it My Year of Bach.

This particular experiment is very near and dear to my heart. As a flutist, for as long as I can remember, Johann Sebastian Bach has been my favorite composer. I’ve written about Bach several times here in this space.

My experiment, or challenge, was partially inspired by Austin Kleon, a writer who draws. I heard Austin speak at the Hopscotch Design Festival in Raleigh last summer. I’ve since read his books, Steal Like An Artist and Show Your Work! His suggestions to “share something small every day,” “send out a daily dispatch” and “share like an artist” immediately resonated with me.

With My Year of Bach, I haven’t set too many rules for myself. Like I said, this is an experiment, and I think we all need to experiment more.

My goals for this experiment are:

  • Post daily
  • Learn as I go
  • Share what I learn
  • Enjoy myself

So, here goes!