Oh that Mary Oliver...

Yesterday I felt like this: "Sometimes I get in these moods that feel so strong and so black... I've come to realize that instead of blackness it is a bold creative force desperate to express itself through me. Now when it comes I feel thrilled and feel blessed - before it consumed my light and I felt doomed...."

Today I feel like what she said: 

Source: misswhistle.blogspot.com via Alabama on Pinterest

Sweet Quote

I got this sweet quote from one of the brilliant women who run the Creative Collaborative Women's Retreat I performed at in October. What a wonderful group of women were present and presenting.

I love performing at retreats - the open-hearted space that is created is such a perfect forum for sharing my songs and listening to Serenity Fisher and Heidi Howes share theirs as well.

Here is the note she sent for me. I'm a lucky duck!

"April plays with so much heart and truly has a unique capacity to positively ignite a group through her songs, her stories and the power of her voice.  Her ability to evoke deep emotions, both joy-full and sorrow-full, helped to create a safe environment at our weekend retreat, setting the stage for transformative, sacred connections with ourselves and one another." ~Robin O'Neal Kissel, Creative Collaborative Retreat 2012

Daydream Doodle

My secret life as myself...

New Thoughts

I'm really excited to share my Songs and Stories "My Secret Life as Myself" this Saturday 1/26 from 5-6 at the New Thought Unity Center. New Thought Unity is doing a cool series called Infusion Cincinnati, "inviting local guests to share inspiring talks and great music every Saturday from 5-6 pm at the New Thought Unity Center"and they invited me! 

There is even CHILD CARE, people! So come on out, it will be fun, and it is only an hour.

2013 - Refining What I Know is True

Happy New Year!

2012 was challenging and empowering for me and so many people I know near and far. Now here I sit, refining my songs and stories today, on New Year's Day. How lucky am I? In the last few weeks I've had a chance to think carefully about who I am, what I have to offer, who I know myself to be. I'm getting clearer and I like who I'm turning into ;-). More please! I'm looking forward to sharing "My Secret Life as Myself - Songs with Stories" with all of you in this new year that is now, finally, upon us. I know some songs will fall away and others will be written and I will love the process of it all because I'm finally getting the clue that nothing else thrills me like writing a good story full of songs. May all our beauty shine brightly, may our gifts be shared, may our time together be joyful. I'm excited about what is to come, and I'm a-ok with what has passed. Let's do this thing! xoxoxoxox APRIL

Writing Your Way Back to Your Self Workshops Coming Up

I'm looking forward to teaching my new workshop "Writing Your Way Back to Yourself" at the New Thought Unity Church at 5PM on January 26th and at the Leo CoffeeHouse at 5:30 on March 3rd. If you've had the experience of losing your identity and your inner voice as you've gotten busier, older, had children, had a complex job – you-know-what-I'm-talking-about – then this is the workshop for you.

I'm really looking forward to presenting this material in the workshop format. It has been great fun to write songs with kids, but sharing my songs and songwriting techniques with adults is also incredibly rewarding. Hope to see you soon.

To book a "Writing Your Way Back to Yourself" workshop please contact me at aprilcombsmusic @ gmail (dot) com and we'll make a plan. I have so much to share with you and your wonderful group.

Performances and Workshops

I love performing and I love leading workshops. When I'm doing both, I feel like all is right in my world - that everything I'm truly good at is right there in my pocket.

I had the pleasure of performing a songwriter-in-the round session with the mega-talented Serenity Fisher and Heidi Howes at the CREAtive COLLABORAtive ReTREAT last weekend. The leaders and retreater were an amazing, funny, gracious, and open-hearted group of women and I adored every minute that I was with them. To be in this sort of setting: intimate, quiet, contemplative, expansive and creative, joyful and meaningful is such a treat for a musician. To share songs with people who are excited to hear them is the greatest of all pleasures. 

Love to all these women, and all of you who are reading this now. May our paths cross in a quiet, kind room full of songs. Bring your guitar, and I'll bring mine. ;-) oxoxoxooxox!

p.s. I lead songwriting workshops for adults, teens and kids as well as women's journalling workshops. Send me an email to schedule me in for your next event!