Building with Many Numbers

As I got to the turnstile at the subway station near me, I could hear the train pulling into the station. I still had to go through the turnstile and climb up two flights of stairs, with my heavy busking gear. As I rushed up the stairs I could hear the announcement “Stand clear of…

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Introducing the Musical Saw to Kids

Last year I was filmed for ‘Meet Me at the Corner’ – a website for kids. The taping took place immediately after my lecture/demonstration about the musical saw at the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts. In this video I was interviewed by a nice kid named Peter: (Please turn off the player on…

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Old Man in a Village in Jamaica

It was raining. On the platform of the 59th street subway station a trumpet player was playing “New York, New York”. There were some small puddles near the Music Under New York busking spot, but not too bad. This spot is known for having rain come down on it whenever it rains outside. Photographer: ©…

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My Bow Got Caught on My Pants

On the subway platform at 59th street a guy was playing accordion. On the subway platform at 14th street the Chinese dulcimer player who never says ‘hi’ was playing. On the mezzanine at the Music Under New York busking spot Sixto and Louis were playing Andean music. I haven’t seen Sixto in the subway for…

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Adventures of a Homeless Lady

The Chinese dulcimer player was playing on the platform when I arrived at the Music Under New York busking spot at Times Square. Rich, who is a photographer trying to get a job as one, told me he was told by a newspaper that in order to be hired as a photographer he also needs…

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Saying ‘Hello’ in NYC

It was raining when I left to go busking. The train to Manhattan wasn’t working, so I had to take three different trains to get into the city. A guy told me that his great grandfather got a medal from the Kaizer of Austro-Hungary for playing Klezmer music. Now he is the only musical person…

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A Little Mermaid

Walking towards my busking spot at Times Square, I ran into Erubay, an Andean busker who told me that there will be a memorial concert at the Grand Central Station for Arturo, the Andean busker who died recently. I was on my way to the Music Under New York spot by the mosaics, while Erubay…

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Busking in Staten Island

Waiting for the ferry to take me to my busking spot at the terminal on the Staten Island side, I had an excited feeling of an adventure. I’ve only taken the ferry once before and that was many years ago. When the ferry boat left the dock, we passed by Governor’s Island. What fun it…

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Buskers Look Out for One Another

When I got to the Music Under New York busking spot at 14th street there was a homeless guy looking inside the garbage can. On the bench a man and a woman were displaying posters – probably religious. An older guy carrying a heavy load took the stairs and not the elevator. I often see…

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Journey To and From

I came across a beautiful Haiku poem titles ‘Cold Front’ by Nora Wood. I identify with it: cold front– in the busker’s guitar case five copper coins © Nora Wood As I was changing trains at 14th street, on my way to the WhiteHall ferry terminal, three Nortenos were waiting for the ‘R’ train. One…

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