My Musical Musings Blog | betsyleebaileymusic.com - The Music of Betsy Lee Bailey

Stunning Scandinavia

3/7/2026

Friday night's concert of the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra (TSO) truly lived up to its hype "Stunning Scandinavia." We in the audience got to enjoy some of the most beautiful and representative pieces from the Scandinavian masters such as Edvard Grieg and Jean Sibelius. The Grieg Piano Concerto played by Dr. Scott Holden was a highlight. Very enjoyable!

When I was a freshman at BYU, I was in the A cappella Choir that toured Scandinavia that year. We carefully learned a few phrases in each language and prepared folk songs to sing from each of the countries we visited. We sang in cathedrals and other venues in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. We mostly traveled around by boat, which we learned, is the most economical mode of travel in the region. And we got to see gorgeous scenery!

When we visited Bergen, Norway, the birthplace of Edvard Grieg, his music came alive to me in a special way. After touring Grieg's house and viewing the spectacular scenery of the fjords and mountain peaks, no wonder his music was so unique. It truly reflects the nature of Norway. So stunningly beautiful!

One fond experience we had on that tour was staying with hosts in Finland. Another soprano and I went with this cute Finnish lady back to her house for the night. She didn't speak English and our few phrases of Finnish didn't go very far. But we managed. She didn't have a car, so we traveled by bus. While waiting for the bus, we shivered in the cold. So to warm ourselves up, we sang the few folk songs we knew in Finnish. The lady smiled broadly and began to teach us dance steps to the songs. That warmed us up in more ways than one. So happy to have had that sweet experience in Finland.

That trip was so memorable for my 18-year-old self. I will never forget the beautiful scenery, sweet people, and music that reflected each country. Scandinavia was truly stunning!

While in Norway, it was hard not to imagine Trolls hiding behind every tree and rock. Several years ago, I decided to use some of Grieg's music as inspiration to write a Children's Theater Show about "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." Enjoy!

Instant Ingraciation

3/4/2026

Carolyn Thompson Lee circa 1966

My mother didn't have to flatter or butter up people to instantly make herself indispensable to them. Case in point, in about 1970 our family moved from Houston, Texas to Dayton, Ohio. My dad's new job was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He had done a little research to find suitable schools and had located the nearest Church building all within a decent distance from his work. But he had not located us a house, as yet. He knew my mother would have definite opinions on that score.

Anyway, we had been traveling all the previous day and through the night. But before we went to find a hotel, my mother asked him to drive us to the Church building. It was 9:00 am on a Saturday morning in October. She suspected that some kind of activity would be going on and there would certainly be people there who could answer our questions about the area.

Sure enough, the parking lot was filled with cars. Youth were milling about outside. We decided to go inside. In the gym were a lot of people, but one woman was walking around wringing her hands lamenting the fact that she just learned that the pianist was not coming to the rehearsal. Well, that was all the cue my mom needed. She sat down at the piano, played a flashy arpeggio, and said, "I'm here. What do you need?"

The director woman was dumfounded and practically bowed in obeisance. After some quick introductions, they began the rehearsal. My brother and I were quickly cast for this Stake Youth Standards Night program as well. Afterwards, my mom asked questions about which neighborhoods were in the ward boundaries, what time Church was the next day, and where to find a hotel. Well, the director lady would have none of that. She said that we would all be coming home to stay at her house. (We were a family of 7 at the time.) We did stay a couple of days until we could find temporary housing, and we actually ended up buying the house two doors down from that good lady.

My mother had a way of jumping into situations and using her considerable talents to save the day. It happened so often that we in the family never questioned how she did it. (Okay, sometimes, we'd roll our eyes...) She loved people so much. By just being her naturally charming self, she could get invitations to dinner, to parties, and even to stay at people's houses. People just instantly loved her. It was amazing to watch. She had no agenda. She was completely genuine. People just loved her and she loved them.

She also loved rehearsals. She thought rehearsals were a great way to meet and get to know people. Her bubbly personality made her a "people magnet." She didn't have to do much to attract people to be in her choirs or shows. She never advertised, and yet, she was always being asked to sing, accompany, or teach piano and voice students. She always gave so much of herself in everything she did.

Living up to my mom's standards is not easy, but we, her children, do try. One way is to sing together. Here is one of the songs that our mother arranged when we were young and I updated just a little for us siblings to sing together at her funeral.

"Love At Home" SSATBB

When Simple Isn't Easy

2/26/2026

A kind of entertaining moment happened at Church last Sunday. I was determined to go to Church after being gone for four weeks on kind of a stressful trip, but I really shouldn't have. I came home from my trip exhausted, but trying not to give in. Then I had a fit of chills and shivers through the night on Saturday. (Likely a fever, but I couldn't tell because I was so cold.) By morning though, I thought I was fine, so I went to Church.

I began to lead the opening hymn, but felt faint by the end of the second verse. A woman noticed my distress and jumped up and took over for me. I was still feeling weak for the next hymn, so my granddaughter led that one. Then for the closing hymn neither my granddaughter or the first lady knew it. So they passed the duty off to another lady across the aisle.

Needless to say, many people came up to me afterwards --- very worried. I got a lot of advice. "You should rest. You shouldn't try to do too much too soon. You should simplify your life right now." But what I really needed was to go home to rest and recuperate.

They couldn't have known it, but that word SIMPLIFY has always irked me.

Sometimes in this busy world of ours, we are asked to SIMPLIFY. You know, to stop filling our lives with non-essentials that make us crazy or to stop taking on so many projects that we are constantly burning the candle at both ends. But some well-meaning people will take that to mean "just do what is SIMPLE and EASY -- you shouldn't have to work too hard." For a musician, the word "SIMPLE" can be mystifying.

I have always had a hard time with the word SIMPLE when it comes to being a musician. Most people equate SIMPLE with EASY. In my estimation, there is nothing SIMPLE or Easy about learning to play or sing or conduct or compose or engineer sound. We musicians value quality so we practice until we get it right. That takes work and many hours of diligence.

Practicing to play a hymn

What do we answer to the Church leader who says to "keep it simple - just play a hymn." They have no idea that playing a hymn takes years of practice to acquire enough skills to do the job. That request is never SIMPLE or Easy! And what about conquering the nerves to be able to play in public? That may be even more challenging!

Okay, when non-musicians ask musicians to do something musical, many times they put the musician on the spot. The musician is expected to perform without any preparation. They may rightly even refuse to do it. (Like the ladies at Church did.) And yet, when the musician asks for an opportunity to perform (with enough time to prepare), they are brushed off. It seems that people in charge of some activities do not want to plan ahead enough to insure the quality of the entertainment. They know that they want entertainment, but they don't know what it takes to make it happen.

Possibly, we musicians make singing or playing or conducting look effortless, so it looks like we do it so naturally that a beautiful performance happens spontaneously like in the movies. But that isn't reality. In real life, we cannot get around the fact that we need PREPARATION and PRACTICE. So, in my opinion, where we still have to work to prepare and practice, we can SIMPLIFY by carefully choosing the projects we take on and the methods we use to do those projects.

We can SIMPLIFY by EDITING. It still takes work (and that is not EASY), but it does strip away the non-essentials that clutter up our lives.

I can live with that definition. (By the way, I am feeling better now.)

Hard Is Fun

2/26/2026

Dr. Amy Lee Gabbitas

My niece was interviewed recently for a podcast. She spoke about having a brain tumor, a delicate operation, and a long recovery. She is such an inspiration! She has worked to re-learn life skills such as walking and feeding herself to being a performing clarinetist and musician once more.

After such tremendous battles, she says she has become a better teacher, especially, because she understands through her own experience, that hard things can be overcome. She helped some sixth grade clarinet students who were having a hard time mastering a difficult piece by inspiring them to tackle it taking one step at a time. After they learned the piece, they couldn't stop saying, "Hard is FUN!"

Life isn't always easy. It is so good to have inspiring people around to help motivate us to continue "continuing on." Dr. Amy Lee Gabbitas is one of those people. Check out her interview on the podcast "Trust the Process":
A Clarinetist's Tale: Surviving and Thriving After Brain Surgery ...

Another inspiring story I heard recently was about Dylan, a voice actor, who reads and records children's books for a living. He thought he was just a voice making children's picture books and young reader's novels more accessible. He thought he was just helping out parents to manage long car rides.

What he didn't realize was that his readings were being heard by neglected and abused children in a foster care facility. Those children asked for his readings specifically, particularly for bed times. They called him the "story man." Many of those children had no father in their lives. His voice had become the father they had never known.

He was asked by the foster care workers to come meet those children. When he did, it changed his outlook on the importance of his work. Where he thought he was just being an anonymous voice, he learned that his readings were providing a service to kids who really needed a kind, safe, "father" in their lives.

Tom Lee

My own father Tom Lee died 10 years ago. But before he died, he recorded the story "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" for his family. Although the recording doesn't have great fidelity, it still brings me so much joy.

Hearing my Dad's rich bass voice brings back all those feelings from childhood that made me believe that all was right with the world. I can understand the foster care children's desire to have Dylan read to them.

Grandma with baby Roman

In January, my 29th and 30th twin grand babies were born --- too soon.

I hurried out to Albany to help take care of the other three kids so that my daughter could go every day to the NICU. One baby died, but the other has been making steady progress and may be able to come home in a few weeks.

Fiesty Margot

In the meantime, one of my tasks was to see that the 2 1/2 year old would take a nap every day. She is just old enough that she doesn't want to. She fights it forcefully. Then I discovered that she likes watching and listening to Grandma's picture books on my YouTube Channel. It makes me happy to think that my stories can help my granddaughter calm down and feel comfortable getting ready to take a nap.

A friendly voice, an inspiring story, calming music --- these are so important.

Never underestimate the power of your creative works.

Children's Picture Books by Betsy Lee Bailey on YouTube

How Can I Keep from Singing?

2/19/2026

The Flute Flock of Gettysburg is a community of flute players of all levels -- professionals, educators, homemakers, and interested others. They come together to learn music to perform for concerts, events, and Church services whenever and wherever they are asked. My daughter Kathryn plays with this group and has even coerced me to write a couple of arrangements for them. I happened to be visiting Kathryn's family for a few days last week and got to tag along to rehearsal. How surprising it was for me to have some of the women recognize me and welcome me with open arms.

The first song they practiced was John Rutter's "For the Beauty of the Earth." They are preparing their flute choir part to accompany a local choir ensemble to sing on their concert. It was a beautiful arrangement, but a few of the ladies were having trouble envisioning how their flute accompaniment would fit with the choir's part.

I really couldn't help it. I jumped in and began singing. Of course, I have sung this piece with the Tabernacle Choir many, many times. (I confess that I messed up the words on the men's verses a bit. After all, my soprano part was just "ahs" through their verses.) Anyway, the conductor wasn't mad and went to her stack of music and pulled out a choral copy with the words and handed it to me. Apparently she thought that having the melody of the choir part was indeed helpful.

That was so fun! I really couldn't keep myself from singing. It brought me so much joy.

Doing what brings such joy was something I hadn't felt in quite a while. (I've had quite a stressful month.) Part of it was feeling welcome and respected. Another part was feeling useful towards making the rehearsal go better. I really do love the process of music-making and rehearsals are my favorite.

Musicians understand the work and commitment it takes to create pleasing performances. Many people in the audience don't understand what it takes to bring music to a high level. They may think that some musicians are so talented that they hardly have to work to be able to pull off a performance.

That is so NOT TRUE! You ask professional musicians who play at an elite level and they will always tell you that they couldn't do it without PRACTICE, and a lot of it!

I was so happy to join in the beautiful music-making and find such joy in rehearsing!

Here's a fun piece you might enjoy for Piano and 4 flutes, "Beautiful Savior"

Listening as a Singer

1/20/2026

When attending a band concert the other night, it occurred to me how I must listen to music differently than instrumentalists. A few of the band's concert pieces used folk tunes as the basis of their composition. Because the music separated melodic phrases with wild experimental flights into rhythmic and tonal fantasies, I found myself angry with the composers that they messed with those beautiful folk tunes.

Now, I usually enjoy developmental instrumental sections, but not when a beautiful, poignant, longing folk tune such as "Shenandoah" is torn apart so abstractly!!!

Is this just a singer's "thing?" We like to be able to sing the words or at least hum the melody in our minds as we follow along. For singers, the words are inseparably connected to the notes. (Okay, probably more so for sopranos who usually carry the melody more than other choral sections. )

It is true that I never learned to play a band or orchestral instrument, so I admit that I don't think or listen in clarinet or viola terms. I don't geek out on repeated percussion or strings accompaniment patterns. Experimental sounds just for effect are great for movie scores, but I have trouble sitting through entire concerts of abstract or techno music. Those effects may be great fun for the instrumentalists to play, but I am grateful when they are not the main attraction in the concert.

Let's just face it, I like melody. I like melodies that soar and have words that give meaning to and paint a picture to go with that melody.

Most Americans know the folk song "Shenandoah." As choral or solo singers, we probably know at least three or four arrangements of "Shenandoah" we could sing at the drop of a hat. The words and music just stick in the memory no matter which composer's rendition is done. The marriage of melody to words in that song is that strong.

Perhaps I am just a singer who enjoys folk hymns. Perhaps folk hymn tunes have lasted so long because they have that something that invokes deep meanings that cannot adequately be stated any other way than through music. Perhaps I am moved when the text and melody pair so well that the Spirit can witness eternal truths when I sing or hear them.

Unfortunately, sometimes, a hymn text gets paired with a hymn tune that doesn't really match. The words may be joyful and soaring, but the tune is slow and plodding. "Come All Ye Saints Who Dwell on Earth" by W.W. Phelps is one of those texts that really needed a more soaring melody, more like a folk hymn tune. Here is my attempt to give this text new life.

Yes, I adore folk hymn tunes. This upbeat, praising hymn could also be sung for Easter.

An Accidental Composer

1/14/2026

Many composers discover their ability to write music in their early years. Some have musical parents and teachers who recognize their gifts and supervise their educational paths. They may study piano from childhood. They may be involved in orchestras or band ensembles from Elementary school on. They may have early opportunities to get recognized for their genius. (We all know the greats...)

Then there are other composers who find out later in life that they have a desire and innate ability to write music. They may even arrive at the idea that they are composers accidentally.

Carolyn Thompson Lee

My mother was a very talented singer and pianist. She was always rehearsing, performing, and teaching. She grew up in a very musical family out in the isolated ranch lands of southern Idaho. The way my grandmother guaranteed that her children would develop their musical gifts was to lock the piano. Naturally, they all learned to pick the lock, play the piano, and sing. (Reverse psychology?) They didn't get the chance to have any lessons until they went to college. Still, some became celebrated Opera singers and musicians anyway.

Lee Family in about 1966

Growing up in a musical family, my mom just assumed that her children would have musical gifts, too. My mother's method of employing reverse psychology was to make it nearly impossible for any of us children to practice playing the piano. She taught 30 students a week, plus her own rehearsing. The piano was occupied nearly every moment that we were home from school and not sleeping.

Mom often told me that if I couldn't pick up playing piano by OSMOSIS, then I was no daughter of hers. Sure, I knew where the notes were, but I rarely got any practice time on the piano. So, I decided that I would be a singer. That way, I carried my instrument with me wherever I went.

We all had natural abilities to sing. Beyond singing, my three brothers and one little sister decided to play band instruments. (Very sensible of them.) Our mother groomed me and Barbara as singers. I could sing high and Barbara could sing any low notes --- lower than our brothers when we were young. (That was extremely valuable to our mother when we sang as a family.)

Cornerstone Band about 1975

I struggled to learn piano skills through college. I even played keyboads in a dance band. (In this picture I held a flute only because I couldn't carry my keyboard up the mountainside.) But it wasn't until after I got married that I developed any real piano proficiency. My in-laws gave me a piano that became my muse and confidant for next 31 years. I found that I had to actually accompany my voice students, so I did a lot of practicing.

Bailey kids singing about 1991

I also directed church choirs and led the music in Primary. I became known for being able to "fix" the music so that whatever group was singing would sound good. (Transpose, add parts, rearrange the parts, add accompaniment, etc.) I directed Roadshows, Youth Standard Night musicals, Primary Presentations, Talent Shows, and even a Broadway Musical or two. Then once my kids got into school, I started doing Holiday Shows there. (In California, there was no music in the schools, so we were "volunteered.") I had to do a lot of "fixing" music during those years.

After a while, I noticed the growing stack of original music on my piano --- choral arrangements, Christmas songs, vocal solos, and such. "Huh," I said to myself, "maybe I'm a composer." It took me a while to figure that out, but it was good to know.

Sometimes we get to where we were meant to be by accident.

"Forget Me Not, O Lord" SSATB is one of my favorite original chorals. Enjoy!

The Plight of a Small Choir Choral Director

1/6/2026

Very often I hear about the plight of a new Choir Director that is charged with getting a small choir up and running. This person may not have training beyond a few piano lessons plus a few years of singing in school choirs during their youth. They may have sung in some Church choirs, but really don't know where to start.

"How do I choose music?" "I don't feel confident teaching parts, what can I do?" "If I don't know what I'm doing, how can I inspire people to come be part of my choir?"

My advice is to start small. No use trying to start with elaborate SATB choral pieces by the Great Composers if you have only six women and a couple of men. Fortunately, there are many beautiful hymns and sacred songs that can be sung unison or two part, or possibly SAB. Start there and build your skills as well as your group's skills.

Work on Breath Management, Posture, Matching Pitches, Unifying Vowels, and Phrasing. Sometimes a choir director has to use Strange Analogies to get his singers to understand what to do. A song sung in one or two-parts beautifully is more satisfying for the congregation to listen to than a sophisticated piece done poorly. Keep focused on the most important choir goals. The point of preparing choir music for Church Services is to invite the Spirit into the meeting and to testify of Christ.

Another problem I hear about is that it takes too long to prepare pieces to perform. Well, obviously, if the choir members are having trouble learning --- the music chosen is too difficult. Choose something else more in keeping with their interests and skills particularly as you are building your directing chops. (The inexperienced director can take workshops in person or online or maybe get some individualized training.)

One wise choral director said that planning the choir's schedule was like juggling balls of different sizes, keeping them all moving through the air and dropping none of them. The key is to have variety in the mix. Have several straight-forward easy pieces to balance having a couple of "challenge" songs.

With that strategy, the choir can perform consistently and work up to some more interesting music, while building their skills. Unfortunately, I hear of many new choir directors who give up before they even give their group a chance to have any success.

Here's a place to start: Hymns arranged for Easy 2-Part Mixed Chorus

Hymns Based on Psalms

12/27/2025

When choosing choir numbers for next year's study of the Old Testament, the choir director may wonder where to start. Well, one tried and true method is to go with hymns based on the Psalms. So many hymns quote famous passages from the Psalms and are definitely Christ centered. We all know many versions of The 23rd Psalm (The Lord Is My Shepherd), but there are many other beautiful, praising quotes that have been used to inspire hymn texts, as well.

"Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." --- Psalms 32:11

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power... Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." --- Psalm 150: 1, 6

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people...For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord." --- Psalm 117

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." --- Psalm 55:22

"I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel... I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, and I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh shall also rest in hope." ---Psalm16:7-9

"For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds." --- Psalm149: 4-5

Here are a few choral selections from my catalogue:

"Rejoice, the Lord Is King" SATB ---Psalm 32

"With All the Power of Heart and Tongue" 2-Part Mixed --- Psalm 138

"I Need Thee Every Hour" SATB ---Psalm 143:1

"Lead Kindly Light" 2-Part Mixed --- Psalm 43:3, 119: 132-135

"Did You Think to Pray" SATB --- Psalm 5: 3, 12

Disappointing Children's Christmas Sings

12/18/2025

Once again I was underwhelmed by a Christmas Sing concert at my grandson's school. In fact, I was very disturbed hearing most of the Elementary School classes singing to pre-recorded music with vocals. Why would that be a good thing? Don't we, the parents, grandparents and interested others, come to hear our own children do the singing? This can be irritating to view the program where the little children cannot even match pitches with the pre-recorded vocals!!!!

The Kindergarteners were first. They looked cute, but couldn't match pitch. They sang a song that was very repetitive and used just the lowest five notes of the major scale. That is a good idea since little children have trouble matching pitches beyond an octave. However, those 5 notes were TOO LOW for them. A G below Middle C is 'way too low for 5 year olds!!! Any notes below Middle C are too low for that young of children.

First graders were next. They sang a rap song and did cute actions, but also could not match pitch. Their song used just six pitches, but also most were below Middle C. Obviously, the songs were in a comfortable range for the adult teachers, but not for the children. Like the Kindergarteners, they basically yelled in monotone. No wonder the teachers thought they should use the vocal track of the song.

There were just two grades that actually sang without a vocal track and they actually sang songs that fit their vocal ranges. The 6th graders were grown-up enough that they could sing in a broader range. Then, the 2nd graders sang a song that was pitched appropriately for them -- one octave between Middle C and Treble C.

I just wonder why songs labeled FOR CHILDREN would even be pitched out of their range in the first place. It doesn't do the children any favors to have them shout in monotone and not even try to learn to MATCH PITCHES.

The contrast of the lighter, higher voices of children against the lower, heavier voices of adults can be so charming. This recording of "The Christmas Alphabet" is from our family Christmas show. Our little kids and grandkids may not have come in right on time or sung the right words, but they could certainly MATCH PITCHES!

The Music of Betsy Lee Bailey copyright 2020