Author | Lightnews

Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 2d

A custodian at the university where I work moved away this week. I missed saying goodbye to him but found this note on my desk. Meant the world to me to receive this.

Never question whether you should take a moment to leave words like this to someone. ❤️

Handwritten note that reads:

Your music & demeanor inspire. Rest as often as you work. You & your student’s music enlivens these halls.

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 4d

I keep thinking of @joycewhitevance.bsky.social with this holiday chicken dress. svahausa.com/products/chr...

Christmas Chickens Long Sleeve Twirl Dress

A festive twist on farmhouse charm! This dress brings together cheerful chickens and classic Christmas symbols in one playful print. A lighthearted way to celebrate the season—because who says chicken...

svahausa.com

Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 11d

The more we can see mistakes as stepping stones to solving problems and getting us to a better place, the easier we'll be on ourselves.

Closeup of a person's hand holding three wooden cubes, each with a different facial expression. One is sad, one is neutral, and one is happy.

Accompanying text says, "See mistakes as opportunities to problem-solve rather than negative reflections of yourself or baffling mysteries that you're hoping will solve themselves."

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 12d

A favorite find on this past Sunday's sightreading show were some Toccatas by Leonardo Leo. Bright, bubbly, energetic, and not too difficult to read.

www.youtube.com/live/jXWiVbj...

Sightreading Maverick LIVE - Sunday, October 12, 2025

YouTube video by Erica Sipes

www.youtube.com

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 14d

Starts in 1 minute! Join me LIVE or watch anytime after I've streamed.

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 14d

Sightreading Maverick show is ON for tomorrow afternoon...same place...same time!

And as always you can watch anytime after the show has streamed live.

www.youtube.com/live/jXWiVbj...

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Reposted by Erica Sipes

Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 16d

I traveled to Kentucky to see for myself what conductor Teddy Abrams is doing there. My conclusion: In a time of extreme division, he and the Louisville Orchestra are forging common ground in rural communities—& pointing a way forward for our embattled nation.
www.americaamerica.news/p/can-music-...

Can Music Help Bridge America's Divide?

In a time of extreme division, The Louisville Orchestra forges some common ground in Kentucky—and points a way forward for our embattled nation

www.americaamerica.news

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 21d

Starts in 20 minutes!

Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 21d

On today's sightreading show will be works by Henri-Joseph Rigel, Richard Langellotti, Lodewijk Mortelmans, and Daniel Steibelt.

Join me on my YouTube channel at 1pm ET or watch anytime afterwards.

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 21d

On today's sightreading show will be works by Henri-Joseph Rigel, Richard Langellotti, Lodewijk Mortelmans, and Daniel Steibelt.

Join me on my YouTube channel at 1pm ET or watch anytime afterwards.

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 22d

My sightreading show is on for tomorrow! Same time, same place! Not sure what will be on it yet so it'll be a surprise for us all.

Makes sense. It is sightreading after all!

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · 24d

For what it’s worth, I find this way to notate a key change frustrating. Especially when I’m sight reading, which I do a lot to make a living, it takes too much energy to time to discern if the black is a natural, sharp, or flat.

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Reposted by Erica Sipes

In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · Sep 22

Timeline Cleanse

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Reposted by Erica Sipes

womensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · Sep 14

Silk embroidered fox created by Helen Richman, professional hand embroiderer, based in Somerset, UK #womensart

Embroidery of a sitting fox facing forwards with head looking up tobthe left

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Sep 14

Yes! Just got done with the show! Very interesting little set but a bit daunting to sightread. SO MANY FLATS!

And I thought of you when that was requested. I wondered if you'd catch that it was on today's show.

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Sep 14

Show starts in 15 minutes! Please drop by or watch anytime afterwards!

Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Sep 13

Sightreading Maverick, my weekly sightreading show, is on for tomorrow at the normal time - 1pm ET. Tomorrow I'll be sightreading piano music by Henri-Joseph Rigel, Franz Joseph Haydn, Mikhail Glinka, Robert Schumann, Paul Ladmirault, and Edvard Grieg.

youtube.com/live/nQgNFGn...

Sightreading Maverick LIVE - Sunday, September 14, 2025

YouTube video by Erica Sipes

youtube.com

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Reposted by Erica Sipes

c @3boxesofsighs.bsky.social · Sep 14

soft water, the perfume, the warmth. i take on the colors of the flowers, the bloom, the delicacy. it becomes me.
- anaïs nin

dahlia with pink outer petals surrounding dark pink with green center

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Sep 13

Sightreading Maverick, my weekly sightreading show, is on for tomorrow at the normal time - 1pm ET. Tomorrow I'll be sightreading piano music by Henri-Joseph Rigel, Franz Joseph Haydn, Mikhail Glinka, Robert Schumann, Paul Ladmirault, and Edvard Grieg.

youtube.com/live/nQgNFGn...

Sightreading Maverick LIVE - Sunday, September 14, 2025

YouTube video by Erica Sipes

youtube.com

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Sep 6

It is sad.

Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Sep 6

I do feel very lucky. Every day. 😊

Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Sep 5

So thankful for the beauty of where we live. ❤️

Pine tree in foreground with Blue Ridge mountains with blood red sun setting in the distance.

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Aug 31

I had a good time on my sightreading show today! I especially enjoyed this set of pieces by Peruvian composer, Manuel Lorenzo Aguirre. Always refreshing to read music by a new-to-me composer.

www.youtube.com/live/u8T_W9n...

Sightreading Maverick LIVE - Sunday, August 31, 2025

YouTube video by Erica Sipes

www.youtube.com

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Aug 31

Starts in 30 minutes...please consider joining me LIVE as I'm streaming or watch anytime afterwards.

Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Aug 30

Join my tomorrow at 1pm ET to discover some music that's definitely new to me! Always fun to sightread in a livestream. 😱 But why not? It's a new sort of fun.

Drawing my daughter did of me holding a tarot card with a musician on it. (Inside joke with her.)

Also lists the pieces I'll be reading on my sightreading show tomorrow:

Henri-Joseph Rigel
Johannes Brahms
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Anatoly Lyadov
and
Manuel Lorenzo Aguirre

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Aug 31

My work at Radford University in southwest Virginia has started back up for which I'm grateful. Summertime is always a mix of relaxation but also mind-boggling confusion as to what I should be doing with my time. Always glad to be back in a routine and working with students who inspire me daily. ❤️

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Aug 31

Dear musical friends here and folks who have a love for adventure and traveling, especially in Italy, do consider following @zenebabowers.bsky.social . She's a talented, thoughtful, adventurous one. She & her husband have written a book about their move to Italy.

www.thriftbooks.com/w/i-cant-bel...

I Can't Believe We Live Here: The Wild... book by Matt Walker

Buy a cheap copy of I Can't Believe We Live Here: The Wild... book by Matt Walker. In the fall of 2019, symphony musicians Zeneba Bowers and Matt Walker quit their jobs, sold their house, got rid of t...

www.thriftbooks.com

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Erica Sipes @ericaannsipes.com · Aug 31

@zenebabowers.bsky.social , and if it helps at all, here's a link to the musical folks I follow and converse with here. I'm sure I'm missing folks but maybe it's a start?

bsky.app/profile/did:...

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