Music

I've sung in choirs since I was in grade school.

Saved my money as a teenager to buy a Gibson acoustic guitar.

Learned to play chords and sing folk songs.

I fell in love with jazz when I lived in St. Louis.

Long ago, I did PR for the Seattle Opera.

I've sung Christmas carols on a street corner in West Seattle's Alaska Junction to raise money for the Food Bank.

I used to be in a junk band in the Fremont Solstice Parade.

Some people call me the World's Oldest Pearl Jam fan.

Marie McKinsey

May 21, 20222 min read

Coloring Music

Early in my landscape design career, I learned that adding color to drawings was important if I wanted to sell my work.

Marie McKinsey

Jul 23, 20214 min read

The World's Oldest Pearl Jam Fan

I've been called the world's oldest Pearl Jam fan. But it isn't true.

Marie McKinsey

Mar 7, 20212 min read

Two Happy Songs with Unhappy Lyrics

Sometimes all we know of a song is the chorus. If we don't know the words to the rest of the song, or the words are in a language we...

Marie McKinsey

Feb 13, 20211 min read

Little Boxes Made of Ticky Tacky

I grew up in San Francisco's East Bay area, in the 1950s. My early memories are of orchards, vineyards and farm fields that grew every kind

Marie McKinsey

Sep 7, 20142 min read

Bear McCreary: The Man Behind the Outlander Music

I can't imagine a composer more suited to creating the score for the Outlander TV series than Bear McCreary. Growing up, he attended the Sco

Marie McKinsey

Apr 14, 20141 min read

A Gaelic Blessing

This fun little song was part of my community choir's 30th Anniversary concert. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed sing

Marie McKinsey

Feb 23, 20141 min read

Sleeping With Mozart

How is it possible to share a bed with a man who has been dead for 222 years? It's simple - try learning to perform his music. It stays wit

Marie McKinsey

Nov 14, 20102 min read

HONK! If You Love Music

Note: This post was from 2010 when HONK! Fest West was held in the West Seattle Junction. If you want to attend the 2021 version, which will