I'm extremely proud to announce that Thomas and Harvey were born on 11/7/2021 and are doing well. It was quite a surprise since they showed up 5 days early but I guess they wanted to make their debut.

It's probably going to be slow musically for me for a bit since I've got to be a father first. I will say, waxing philosophical, that life experiences are extremely important to gain the context and perspective to perform. Once you've endured a full time job with children and a mortgage and a few natural disasters, what happens on stage seems a lot less consequential and perilous. My goal has always been to give it my all, but with time I've seen that over-thinking it and over analyzing each moment and note is actually counter productive (at least in my opinion).

Music at its core is about expression and not about technical perfection. It's awfully helpful to be technically proficient since it allows you to fully express yourself, but it is ultimately the tool and not the message. I'm so fortunate to have been exposed to many schools of thought and to perform as much as I have. I hope in my heart of hearts that I can do the same for my children so they can lead a deep, fulfilling life.

​That's enough waxing - cheers!

2021 has been better than 2020 though it continues to be a year filled with uncertainties. I was hopeful that once the vaccine rolled out everyone would get it and we could get back to normal, or close to it. I don't really understand all the pushback and hesitancy and crazy other drugs people are trying instead - but then, truth is stranger than fiction and who could predict any of this.

The big news for me personally is that we are expecting twin, fraternal boys! They are due in November and we are bracing for the impact. I'm very excited though I'm also trying to envision the zone defense we'll need for 3 children vs. 2 parents. Though I have no idea if anyone reads this, I will still not reveal the names here in the off-chance someone does.

Musically it's been a good year. I got to play in a fabulous big band with Mike Conrad and Anthony Williams from UNI which was a dream trombone section as part of Max Wellman's Back in Business show at Hoyt Sherman. It was one of my best gigs ever! I just, today, played button accordion for a neighborhood Oktoberfest which was a really relaxed fun time with lots of kids running around. I'm so fortunate to be able to play for these things!

I am taking a hiatus for an undetermined amount of time while we welcome and care for the twin boys - likely through February 2022 or so. It's going to be all hands on deck and I hope to make it through the sleep deprived slog the first month will be while we figure out double everything. 

Cheers!

2020 has had its share of ups and downs for us. A few major ups were moving to Story City, IA to a beautiful house in a great town. I also got a promotion at work which is very exciting. It's a real joy to watch my daughter as she grows and learns about the world - she'll be two before long which is pretty neat.

I was fortunate to play for a few gigs this year after the pandemic started. It's been tough to play so little and miss out on that connection and joy of playing. I've been practicing a lot more accordion and singing to my daughter and am hoping to push for more accordion gigs. I've purchased some sound equipment and can amplify myself and have a nice setup. 

2020 was going to be a banner year for me - I had a number of paying gigs lined up and was really excited for some of the playing opportunities. Unfortunately, the pandemic stripped those away so it was a very thin year musically. I'm hoping things improve once there is a vaccine and people can gather again since I don't think we can stay away from each other for long. 

On top of everything else that's happened this year, I'm excited to leave 2020 in the past and look forward to next year

Plenty going on this holdiay season! I'm thrilled to be playing at Westminster Presbyterian for their Christmas Cantata for the first time and to be playing again at the Christkindlemarket Des Moines with the Metro Brass Quintet. I'm excited to see the new set up for the Christkindlemarket at the Principal Park parking lot to see how it works logistically. I've got a feeling there will be plenty of Gemuhlichkeit and cheer. I've also had the chance to play and practice more accordion in the last few months and am hoping to be able to play as a strolling accordion player in 2020. It's fun to play for events and provide a fun atmosphere that still allows socializing.

​That's all for now - take care!

Hey there! It's been awhile since I've posted. Since my last post, I switched jobs and am now at REG, the nation's largest biodiesel producer. I'm really excited about the new job and company and look forward to helping them out. My daughter is growing rapidly and is a daily joy even when she is cranky.
Musically, the fall is here and with it comes all the usual ensembles. I am excited to be playing in the CJC big band and play for a number of events with the Metro Brass Quintet. With the Halltoberfest, Christkindlemarket, and the Valley Junction  Farmer's Market there is plenty going on. 
Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you soon.
John

We had our baby girl and as predicted my life has changed dramatically. While I'm tired, I'm also full of joy. I'm going to start playing again shortly - see ya'll around!

​John

I'm proud and excited to say that we are expecting a girl come January 2019. There is a whole lot going on at our house getting things ready for the new addition to our family. Along with this, I'm staying busy musically with the CJC Big Band, Metro Brass Quintet, and private lesson teaching. I also have some freelancing coming up that is exciting too! 

Guessing that it will be a while until I update this, I hope that you have a great holiday season in 2018 and a great 2019!

John

2018!! Can you believe it?! 2018!
I still remember when one of my high school teachers said that "2010 will be here before you know it" and I thought that it was a million years away. Now, I've been out of high school for 13 years, undergrad for 8 years, and grad school for about 4 and a half years! Ah! I guess this is what everyone with more years under their belt complains about. It goes by fast.

2017 was a great year for performing, and I have a feeling that 2018 will be too. The Metro Brass Quintet played at the Christkindlemarket again, which was a lot of fun and well attended. Plus, it was indoors so we didn't freeze or get rained on. I had a blast playing the New Years Eve party at Noce with the Des Moines Big Band. There's gigs popping up this spring, so with travelling for work and my existing commitments, it should be a a great rest of the winter.

Take care! 

​John Sens

It's been a good summer if a busy one. The Metro Brass Quintet played for a wedding, the farmer's market, and also recorded a new demo. We've also changed our membership. Our trombone player Brian Martin has moved to the East Coast for grad school, so we are now joined by Bradely Harris, a teacher in the metro area and a fine trombonist.

I played accordion by the Ingersoll Tap as part of the First Friday series in the East Village. Though it was pretty thin, I still had a great time and had some fun interactions with passersby.

Hope all is well on your side!

​John Sens

2017 has been a landmark year for me so far, including a whole lot of life changes, including:

• Getting a puppy
  
• Buying a House
  
• Going on a trip to Europe (Munich, Salzburg, Czesky Krumlov for the curious)
  
• Getting an NES Classic
  
• Having a branch fall on the house and causing major damage
  
• Starting up Private Lessons
  
• Singing in the church choir
  
• And keeping up with everything else!
  

I count myself very lucky to have things going as well as they are, ups and downs included. I never seem to stop learning new things daily, and am excited to keep on playing trombone and accordion. Thanks for checking in!