Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote:“I’ve learned … that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.” – Andy Rooney (1919- 2011) More Quotes by Andy Rooney here: Thought:Working with Anger in Your Romantic Relationship How do you work with your or your romantic partner’s anger or your own? …

Working with Anger in Your Romantic Relationship- How do you work with your or your romantic partner’s anger or your own? Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “We find our energies are actually cramped when we are overanxious to succeed.” Thought: Often you hear something along these lines: “Just vent and get it out when you’re mad.” And many people do just that, temporarily feeling better but leaving those around them …

Is it Fair to Obligate Listeners to Absorb Another’s Anger in Service to the Venting Person? Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.”         – The 14th Dali Lama    More Quotes by Lhamo Thundup, The 14th Dali Lama here Thought: Responding vs. Reacting I made a video of this communication tool …

Responding vs. Reacting Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote:“Guilt implanted at a tender age is not easy to destroy. A weed, it sprouts in unexpected places.” – Caryl Rivers      More Quotes by Caryl Rivers here Thought: Want More Relationship Happiness? Balance the Power. Is your primary relationship balanced as it relates to …

Want More Relationship Happiness? Balance the Power. Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote:“Nothing excellent can be done without leisure.”– Andre Gide  (1869-1951)  More Andre Gide quotes here on our website. Thought: How Much is Too Much Alcohol? As a therapist, I have pondered the alcohol question professionally and much earlier on in my personal life. Like many people, …

How Much is Too Much Alcohol? Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote:“It is very easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements in comparison with what we owe others.”  – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident who was killed by the Nazis for helping Jews escape to Switzerland  More quotes by Bonhoeffer here on our website: …

Relationships Communication: Go From Arguing to Connecting Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.” – President Calvin Coolidge  More Coolidge quotes here on my website. Thought: Thought: What is Encouragement? (Hint: It Isn’t Praise)  Encouragement is the skill of intentionally observing the positive actions of others, …

What is Encouragement? (Hint: It Isn’t Praise)  Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Thought: Vertical vs. Horizontal Striving: What Drives Despots or Inspires HumanitariansOriginating with the psychologist Alfred Adler and present-day Adlerians, including this writer, have expounded on ‘vertical versus horizontal striving’ to understand the actions of individuals. It helps to understand this continuum visually.  Let’s place Russia’s hostile, …

Vertical vs. Horizontal Striving: What Drives Despots or Inspires Humanitarians Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” – Mark Twain   A one-paragraph bio and more Mark Twain quotes here on our website Thought: Primary and Secondary Concerns: Facing Life’s Challenges Directly & CreativelyOften, …

Primary and Secondary Concerns: Facing Life’s Challenges Directly & Creatively Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “We’re lost, but we’re making good time.” – Yogi Berra    More fun Yogi Berra quotes with a short bio here on my website Thought: Intentionally Choosing Your Inputs & Outputs for Optimal Health Inputs and outputs are valuable constructs to achieve better health in …

Intentionally Choosing Your Inputs & Outputs for Optimal Health Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” – Carl Jung                         More Carl Jung quotes here on our website Thought: Three Distinct Kinds of Decisions You make …

Three Distinct Kinds of Decisions Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “You might lose your spontaneity and, instead of composing first-rate Gershwin, end up with second-rate Ravel.”       – Maurice Ravel (Ravel’s response to Gershwin’s request to study music composition with him.)    More Maurice Ravel quotes, along with a one-paragraph bio here on my Leading …

Identity’s Benefits and Limits Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “Folk songs were the way I explored the universe, they were pictures and the pictures were worth more than anything I could say.   …Most of the other performers tried to put themselves across, rather than the song, but I didn’t care about doing that. …

The myriad of physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of being a life-long learner Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Thought: I have been pondering the value of reflection and the benefit of thinking more deeply before taking action. Productive thinking requires discerning between various types of thinking, and worry and rumination are very different than objective, thoughtful analysis.  The best way to engage in the latter …

The value of reflection and the benefit of thinking more deeply before taking action Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching Link Quote: “True kindness presupposes the faculty of imagining as one’s own the sufferings and joy of others.” – Andre Gide (1869-1951). More quotes and a one-paragraph concise bio of Andre Gide are here on our website. Thought: Thought: Do you have a romantic partner? From time to time, …

How can you express your concerns and frustration with your romantic partner without making things worse? Read More »

Take Two+ TuesdayA Quote, a Thought + an Enriching LinkQuote: “Celebrity is a mask that eats into your face.”Thought: With this very 1st “Take Two+ Tuesday,” I lead with one of my favorite quotes by the writer, John Updike. Although very few of us are celebrities, the meaning of the quote holds up if we find ourselves …

Thinking about how we strive to impress others Read More »

Alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drug addiction were destructive themes in the lives of my five aunts on my dad’s side. I learned, as an adult, alcoholism had also been a significant detriment in the life of my grandfather that undoubtedly affected his daughters, my aunts. I have also witnessed how frequent inebriation traumatized the lives …

Addiction: Songs of Struggle & Victory Read More »

Our recital went well! We had approximately 45 people present between audience members and musicians. Works of the two French composers, Ibert & Koechlin, Polish, (but French inspired) composer Szalowski, and J.S. Bach, Joplin and my own four original works and arrangements all came together for us. Vocalist Jody Martinson joined us for an original …

CloudWinds Woodwind Trio November 15th, 2019 Recital Well Received Read More »

By Richard J. Chandler, MA, Composer​ In 2018, I completed a new work based on the life of the inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax. The narrator of the piece tells Sax’s story in the first person as if Adolphe Sax himself returned from the afterlife and told us his life story. Sax Transcends for …

Life of Saxophone Inventor Adolphe Sax Read More »

Our CloudWinds Trio is excited to play a part in the upcoming special services celebrating baptism taking place at Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pine Cone Rd N, Sartell, MN 56377. We are honored to be a part of the 8:30 am and the 10:30 am services on January 13th, 2019. Our involvement begins 8 minutes prior to each …

CloudWinds Trio to Provide Music for Celebration Lutheran Church Services January 13th 2019 Read More »

Late this summer, our The CloudWinds Trio performed for an outdoor wedding just north of St Cloud, MN. The setting was beautiful. It took place in the yard, underneath large pine trees at a residence along the Mississippi River. Using our usual instrumentation of flute, clarinet, and bassoon, we played relaxing pieces by composers Kummer and Bozza as …

The CloudWinds Trio Performed for an Outdoor Wedding Read More »

I am very excited to have finished writing a new 12-minute work called “Sax Transcends for Saxophone Quartet and Narrator.” It is like the ghost of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, returns from the dead to tell his life story, which is interspersed with the music. And a colorful life it was! Intrigue, …

Sax Transcends for Saxophone Quartet and Narrator Read More »

This recital featured the music of composer Doug Duea. It also included 2 pieces by Richard Chandler, Youthful Dance and Flight of Time from the set of duet sketches, DaVinci Transcending Time.  They were performed by Richard Dirlam on baritone saxophone and Richard Chandler on alto saxophone. The compositions and performance were well received by …

Chandler’s DaVinci Duets Performed at DeLaSalle High School Recital Read More »

Program Notes for Sacred Geometry from the Sinfonia Both the St. Paul and the Minneapolis performances were well received by the audiences! Of the people that I invited, 18 were able to be at the concerts! I also heard a number of very nice comments from audience members. And the orchestra, and conductor Jay Fishman, …

Chandler’s “Sacred Geometry” Performed by MN Sinfonia! Read More »

I am pleased to announce that my Sacred Geometry for Chamber Orchestra is to be premiered by the Minnesota Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra on January 12th and 13th, 2018, in Minneapolis, MN. This piece is one of the four that were were selected to be premiered through a granting award funded by the McKnight Foundation in cooperation with …

Chandler’s Sacred Geometry for Chamber Orchestra to be Premiered Read More »

Would it be cool for you to have a new piece created for you as a ‘stand alone’ composition or as an element for a work of poetry, modern dance, film, video game or any other creative project?

Rather than renting or purchasing a new, student-level instrument, instead consider purchasing a high quality used one. Here are the top 3 things to consider:

In April of 2017 I was awarded a $3,000 Individual Artist Grant by the Central Minnesota Arts Board. This grant is funded by the McKnight Foundation of Minnesota.