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Eric Pazdziora

@ericpazdziora.bsky.social
106 followers 132 following 43 posts

Composer, educator, pianist, &c. This is what I'm doing with my doctorate in music. My cats are unimpressed. www.ericpazdziora.com Likes: Vintage vinyl records, fountain pens, cats, books Dislikes: fascism

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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 21h
Usually snobs at least *attempt* to put sleight of hand on the argument “high standards = music I like, therefore music I don’t like has low standards,” but here that’s apparently their central thesis. Also fascinating how nobody studied jazz until after it was written! bsky.app/profile/patr...
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 21h
Now if someone wanted to make the argument that there’s “deterioration in scholarly standards” on the grounds that anybody in academia thought this slish was publishable, they might have a case. I wouldn’t let a freshman paper get away with any of this!
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Anyway I recommend BRIAR ROSE any week of the year-- it's shattering, had me crying openly within the first ten pages-- but especially when there's folks around who don't want us to know about things like the Holocaust, or the existence of LGBT people, or the power of fairy tales to mediate trauma.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"Reading a book -- and understanding it -- takes time, attention, honesty, clarity, and an open mind. None of these are definitional as far as book censors go." --Jane Yolen #BannedBooksWeek www.underdown.org/yolen.htm
underdown.org
Interview with Jane Yolen about Briar Rose, and a Review of this Controversial Book
An interview with Jane Yolen, author of many novels and picture books.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Have to give a #BannedBooksWeek shoutout to Jane Yolen, whose Holocaust novel BRIAR ROSE was banned in several places, even publicly burned by a Westboro-type group, because one of the characters is (gasp) a gay man. Yeah. www.janeyolen.com/briar-rose/
Cover of Briar Rose by Jane Yolen, showing a rose wrapped around barbed wire.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Obligatory “well that blew up” post Hi, my name’s Eric and I’m a composer! (Including one opera although we’re still working on getting it staged!) www.ericpazdziora.com/project-type...
ericpazdziora.com
Vocal – Eric Paździora
Posts about Vocal written by Eric Pazdziora
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"Opera doesn't make money. Opera’s what you spend money *on*.” “But . . what do you get out of it?” “You get opera. You put money in, you see, and opera comes out,” said Salzella wearily. --Terry Pratchett, 'Maskerade'
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
It‘s far too early for Christmas music of course, but it is Bandcamp Friday, so you could always buy it now and listen to it later! www.ericpazdziora.com/portfolio/ch...
ericpazdziora.com
Christmas Piano Improvisation Albums – Eric Paździora
One evening each year at Christmas, I sit down at the piano at my church with no idea what I am going to play until the congregation and I have heard it together. Amidst the busyness of the season, th...
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The late (alas) great Jane Yolen gave us about 450 books to choose from, including multiple YA fantasy series Back in the 90s Westboro folks had a book burning of one of her titles because it included LGBT representation
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
ICE cowards, get out of our town. bsky.app/profile/miss...
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
static.klipy.com
Star Trek Picard: Jean-Luc Picard Says 'I Did'
Alt: Star Trek Picard: Jean-Luc Picard Says 'I Did'
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Terri Windling @terriwindling.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
I'm glad to see this fine appreciation of #JaneYolen in The NY Times. We can keep her work and memory alive by reading, re-reading, recommending and passing on copies of her gorgeous novels, stories, picture books & poems, and her nonfiction on folklore, fairy tale, and the art of crafting stores.
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Terri Windling @terriwindling.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
"Stories," he'd said, his voice low and almost husky, "we are made up of stories. And even the ones that seem the most like lies can be our deepest hidden truths." - Jane Yolen (from Briar Rose)
Photograph: The original edition of Briar Rose (in The Fairy Tale Series, 1992), and two subsequent editions, all published by Tor Books.
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Jarrett J. Krosoczka @studiojjk.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Beautiful Jane—how sad I am to say farewell, but how lucky I am to have called you friend and mentor. Jane Yolen left us with 450 published books, but perhaps her greatest legacy will be the love and support she shared with so many of us writers and illustrators in the children’s book community.
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William Alexander @willalex.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
"I believe in story. It helps us make sense of the world in all its messiness, glories, mismatches, and marvels." - Jane Yolen, 1939-2026
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Terri Windling @terriwindling.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
"Get up from your desk and wander outside occasionally. To be a good writer one needs to be a good observer, and there isn't a lot to be observed at desk level." - Jane Yolen Lottie and I wish you a good weekend. I'll be back in the studio, and back online, on Monday.
Photograph: Lottie, our young brown spaniel, in the courtyard behind our kitchen. The statue is by Wendy Froud.
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
#FoolHatOff: Believe it or not I was lucky enough to get to get to know Jane Yolen in real life. As you would guess from reading any of her books—450 BOOKS(!)— she was a delight, wonderfully kind and incredibly brilliant. I can’t find any words right now. A problem she never, ever had.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
I was so lucky to get to know Jane Yolen. One of the most brilliant, kind, and generous people you could ever meet. Heartbroken.
Book and musical score of Elaterinoslav, poems by Jane Yolen
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SCBWI @scbwi.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the children’s book world, is saddened by the news that author, mentor and friend, Jane Yolen, has died. She was 87 and her loss cannot be measured. Please find the full obituary here: www.scbwi.org/remembering-...
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Worldcon In Memoriam @wcinmemoriam.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Author Jane Yolen (b.1939) died on June 11. She wrote books and novels for all ages, including Briar Rose, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, and The Devil’s Arithmetic. Yolen won 2 Nebulas, a World Fantasy and was named Grand Master by SFPA, SFWA and World Fantasy. She served as SFWA President.
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Locus Magazine @locusmag.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Jane Yolen (1939–2026) locusmag.com/2026/06...
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A Christian Resistance @xianresistance.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Screenshot of twitter account "MisterRogersQuotes":

“His name was King Friday XIII. We just thought that was fun because so many people are so superstitious about Friday the 13th that we thought, let’s start children out thinking that Friday the 13th was a fun day. And every Friday the 13th would be his birthday.”Color photo of Mister Rogers wearing a red sweater & holding the King Friday puppet. His hand is resting on a smaller model of the Castle. Golden text says: "Happy Birthday King Friday XIII"

📸 PBS
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
And here's the Boss showing us how it's done: take whatever you're feeling and make it into Art. It's cathartic for you, it's a morale boost for whoever else is feeling the same way, and it's inspiring for the rest of us... Your turn next. What will you make?
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Wisdom. www.cloudway.live/blog/zenshin...
cloudway.live
Ten Practices for Frightening Times — Cloud Way, Rev. Zenshin Florence Caplow
As our world turns upside down, and the waves of shock and horror keep coming to shore, here are my ten practices for navigating through…
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Washingtonian @washingtonian.com · 27/01/2026
Philip Glass withdrew his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” from the Kennedy Center, telling the center’s board and the National Symphony Orchestra that the work is a “portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony.”
washingtonian.com
Philip Glass Pulls Symphony From Kennedy Center - Washingtonian
The composer says the center's values "are in direct conflict with the message" of the work, which is based on an Abraham Lincoln speech.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Penny says stay warm out there!
A little black cat with a red collar is huddled in a corner next to a heating vent in a bathroom. She looks dramatically forlorn, clearly hoping that her owner will feed her a second or third dinner out of sympathy.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Abolish ICE.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 24/01/2026
"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."
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the babahuck @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
the virgin "mister rogers would never get political" vs the chad "mister rogers would be here right now"
Meghan McCain: "Wanna know one of the best things about Mr. Rogers growing up? I never knew anything about his political opinions. He just entertained kids. That's it."Minneapolis protester: "They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take are of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mister Rogers said look for the helpers, and right now, the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mister Rogers woule be here right now too, so I'm here."
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
My gravy doesn’t know it’s rude to get political over dinner —A True Story
A white china plate with a fork and mashed potatoes with brown gravy. In the upper corner of the potatoes is the unmistakable profile of Donald Trump. 

I solemnly insist this is a real photo I took today that was not altered in any way.
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
What is Art if not a bumbling person bringing their best effort to God, no matter how failed it might be, and saying “here, look, I made something just like you do”
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
ME: I was so disoriented, I wasn’t even aware I was performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s entire “Well-Tempered Clavier!” DOCTOR: You were in a prelude and fugue state
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
There is the anxiety of influence, and then there is the joy of it “I only want to see you laughing In the purple rain”
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
ericpaz.bandcamp.com/album/comfor...
ericpaz.bandcamp.com
Comfort My People: A Contemplative Christmas Piano Liturgy, by Eric Pazdziora
23 track album
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Just released: 3 album set of Christmas piano improvisations, recorded live in concert! Favorite Christmas songs in a peaceful and contemplative setting, for those who are in need of some tidings of comfort and joy. Available on my website or on bandcamp: www.ericpazdziora.com/portfolio/ch...
ericpazdziora.com
Christmas Piano Improvisation Albums – Eric Paździora
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
Because how often do you get to say this: Happy 100th Birthday to the one and only Dick Van Dyke, and many many more! Here’s the man himself presenting a classic lesson and master class in how to perform sophisticated comedy: youtu.be/sRaF4gk1yhY?...
youtu.be
Slapstick by Dick Van Dyke
YouTube video by Jon Davison
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Without any further fanfare, let me announce that all our trumpeters are on strike
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
I had fun improvising this unconventional take on Little Drummer Boy. New live Christmas piano improvisation albums available now! ericpaz.bandcamp.com/track/the-li...
ericpaz.bandcamp.com
The Little Drummer Boy, by Eric Pazdziora
from the album Holy Nights, Volume Two: Contemplative Christmas Piano Improvisations In Concert
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Hey, I think this is ready to announce: I’ve put together some albums of previous highlights from my contemplative Christmas piano improvisation concerts! Check them out on my BandCamp: Album one: ericpaz.bandcamp.com/album/holy-n... Album two: ericpaz.bandcamp.com/album/holy-n...
ericpaz.bandcamp.com
Holy Nights, Volume One: Contemplative Christmas Piano Improvisations In Concert, by Eric Pazdziora
12 track album
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
A couple years ago, I got to compose a Christmas cantata for my church— the result was some very offbeat pieces for choir and orchestra. Latin rock Gloria, Scots-language Lutheran chorale, Flamenco Magnificat, Sacred harp Victorian hymn…. This was a lot of fun! www.ericpazdziora.com/portfolio/vo...
ericpazdziora.com
Voices of Adoration (Christmas Cantata for SATB + Orchestra) – Eric Paździora
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
With musicians it’s harder to find people you *can’t* hop to. I studied with a teacher who studied with Nadia Boulanger who also taught Quincy Jones.
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K2S0-scare-a 🎃🍁🍂 (still hypernarcoleptic) @oharawe.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
wake up babe, new key signatures just dropped. [Adding an AI policy to my syllabus this semester, and wanted an illustration so I went to ChatGPT. Now I'm really considering just making the policy, "If you'd like me to give you grades based on stuff like this, knock yourself out"]
ChatGPT's diagram of the Circle of Fifths. Many wrong key names (including two Bs, and the enharmonic pair C-sharp, G-flat, and 100% incorrect key signatures, mostly mixing flats, sharps, and the occasional double sharp)
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand: Great opportunity for exposure!
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
“That’s not right. That’s not even wrong.” Seriously though. Usually a student who is BSing their way through a forgotten answer manages to get *something* right just as a lucky guess.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
ME: I have perfect pitch. THEM: Oh, really? What’s this note? ME: It’s an A but about 15 cents flat. THEM: But I didn’t sing it yet. ME: Details, details. (In real life I am polite and let them sing it first but for some reason everybody goes exactly there)
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St. Simeon the Holy Fool @simeonthefool.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
God bless the grass that grows thru the crack. They roll the concrete over it to try and keep it back. The concrete gets tired of what it has to do, It breaks and it buckles and the grass grows thru, And God bless the grass.
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
I am not surprised at all that Sean "Jesus Christ Superspreader" Feucht is being credibly accused of multiple kinds of abuse-- financial, emotional, spiritual, and otherwise-- but I'm impressed by the extent and amount of detail documenting it in this whistleblower site. bsky.app/profile/matt...
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Eric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
This is absolutely brilliant. bsky.app/profile/raha...
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Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
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