Homecoming with Jessica

A reflection on my father, his life, his gifts, his challenges, and his enduring love...revelations that came to me shortly after his passing. Piano music: "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

At the threshold of a new decade, I stand at edge of the ocean, and at the edge of a new life. The constraints of a previous existence have fallen away. A cocoon that both constrained me and incubated me, the past has dissolved as the butterfly within takes flight. Piano Music: "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

Each year on the day after Christmas, one of the world's most challenging sailing competitions takes place: The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As I sit on the shores of the harbor waiting for the boats to start their journey, I contemplate the sailors who will make their way 1,000 miles, sailing from Sydney across the treacherous Tasman Straits to Hobart. This race, it seems, is a microcosm of human...

On this quiet Christmas Eve, I imagine the evening millennia ago when Jesus came into the world. You'll hear my interpretation of the beloved Christmas carol, "Silent Night." As my fingers touch the keys, I imagine playing a lullaby to a baby, innocent and sleeping in the stillness of the night. Piano Music: "Silent Night," arrange and performed by Jessica Roemischer

At the beginning of a six-week holiday, I ponder the experience of living far from the place of my upbringing. As I sit by the ocean's edge, facing the horizon, my mind wanders to the land that's beyond vision, but held in memory. Piano Music: "Haven," composed and performed by Jessica Roemischer

At the end of a wonderful day, I reflect on gratitude. It's begun to dawn on me that when one lives consciously in the midst of God, in the midst of this infinite expanse of love, gratitude is like a portal that opens to even greater blessings and wisdom. Piano Music: "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

I had a dream. There were many children. They were beautiful in their innocence. In my dream, I could feel that quality of innocence. I could feel it because, finally, my heart was undefended. My heart was free. It is free. This podcast explains why... Piano Music - "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

In my little music school, students learn in a variety of ways. One is to create improvised music on the piano. This afternoon at our end-of-year recital, a piano ensemble of six girls playing improvised music occurred. It was completely spontaneous, and the result was astounding. Piano Music: "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain," traditional. Arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

On the last full moon of the year and the dawning of a new era, I pray for guidance. What is my life's purpose, really? What does God want me to do, to be? Where am I heading? Here's what came to me as I sat at the edge of the Australian continent, overlooking the vast Pacific. Piano music - "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

Amidst difficulties, I find guidance and comfort in signs I receive from God. They come in a myriad of forms - billboards, song lyrics, messages printed on t-shirts, logos on trucks. Here I share a few that have helped steer my course, and given me faith. Piano music - "Amazing Grace," by John Newton. Arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

Struggling with a very tough situation, I'm fraught with fear and anxiety. In desperation, I pray to God for guidance. As I do, unexpectedly the world begins to change, it becomes magical--the sights, the sounds, the atmosphere. Piano music: "In Duet with God" composed and performed by Jessica Roemischer

Inspired by the final verse of the beloved hymn, "Amazing Grace," I reflect on the experience of awe and eternity. "When we've been here ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We've no less days to sing God's praise, Than when we'd first begun." Piano music: "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

A meditation in word and music dedicated to a dear friend on the other side of the Pacific, and to all who may be struggling. With love, Jessica Piano music - original and improvised music, and "A Balm in Gilead" - African-American spiritual, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

Increasingly, the Australian birds in my neighborhood - the lorikeets, kookaburras, cockatoos - are attracted to the music my students and I are creating at the piano. They're alighting on the balcony in the mornings and afternoons, resting there, sometimes for many minutes as we play our music to them. It's wonderful to be in duet with the birds. And I'm realizing that these feathered creatures a...

Inspired by three quotes from the revered Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoevsky, I reflect on childhood, beauty, goodness and God, and what it means to nurture and protect these, above all else. Improvised piano music by Jessica Roemischer

Amidst the unfolding tragedy of fire and destruction here in Australia, I find myself inspired by the children who come to learn piano with me. As they express themselves through music and art, I witness wellsprings of creativity. The goodness, love and joy there, in our youngest generation, are our best hope for the future. Piano music: "Minuet" by W.A. Mozart, written when he was 6 years old. Pe...

On my dad's 90th birthday I find myself recalling the moment, in the wake of his passing, that I felt him near. Overlooking the beautiful waters of Sydney Harbor, I recall his coming to me across the miles, across time and space. And I remember how, on that same spot months prior, I had my first conversation with God--it was a pivotal experience. So in this podcast, I meld poignant memory and reve...

As a senior in high school, I auditioned for several piano competitions. Last night, I discovered that an article had appeared in The New York Times, which described my piano playing at those auditions - 42 years ago! You see, unbeknownst to me, the esteemed music critic, Robert Sherman had been there, observing. As I read his words, I was brought back to my early years, to the inspiration I felt...

I'm sitting at the piano in the stillness of the evening, as memories of my early life come to me. My fingers move easily over the keys, the past and present dissolving into one. Savoring my favorite melodies--and these memories--my mind and heart conjure feelings for a dear friend who grew up in the same place as I - Dobbs Ferry, New York. It's a special place. And as I play, I think of him and t...

What do you do when you're quoted in a book - where your words are used to shore up an agenda - that represents THE VERY OPPOSITE of what you firmly believe? You make a podcast! This is about women, about men, about power, it's about the truth. In the end, this is about freeing women from violence and abuse, and it's about THE TRUTH. Piano music: "Out of the Blues" composed and performed by Jessic...

From the time I was eight, when a devout and saintly woman came to care for me, I've been shown the power of prayer. In this podcast, I extend that prayer across the miles to a man who's very dear to me. I've learned that prayer works and, at this moment in time, that's what I feel I can do to support him. Piano music: "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

As a pianist and teacher, I have the blessed opportunity to witness the transformative effect of music on others and myself. These life-changing experiences have led me to the conviction that, as the famous Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoevsky said, "Beauty will save the world." Piano music: "In Duet with God" composed and performed by Jessica Roemischer

As I witness the tragedies of human life--and the way that, paradoxically, our most trying times often open our hearts to a deeper faith and love--I envision a world filled with that love...a utopia, finally, a heaven come to earth. Piano music: "Il Est Ne Le Divine Enfant," French carol, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer

This podcast is inspired by a young woman and her family---a woman named Khali Zabian, who suffered a terrible accident and is now in recovery. As her beloved mom, Lisa, posts daily about the progress of her daughter, Khali is held in the hearts of many, many people. And Lisa's faith and incredible steadfastness is an enormous gift to anyone who reads her words. In the midst of her own profound ch...

A morning reflection as I find myself flooded with painful memories, and the increasingly steady voice of guidance, of Spirit, of God. Piano Music - "Amazing Grace" by John Newton, arranged and performed by Jessica Roemischer