Force For Good honors singer-songwriter and phenom Taylor Swift for her uplifting effect on a pandemic-weary world. Her Eras Tour—151 shows on five continents—the highest-grossing tour in history, is a Happening where friends enjoy singing along in costumes reminiscent of a favorite “era” inspired by each of Taylor’s 10 albums. Taylor’s commitment to her fans is deep. Through her music, they share emotions as well as kindness and friendship bracelets among a community that spans all ages and a rainbow of humanity. And they dance! Remarkably, an earthquake registered 2.3 on the Richter scale during two back-to-back concerts in Washington state at the very same energy-filled point in the stadium show.

An earthquake wasn’t the only surprise. The Eras Tour significantly boosted tourism and local revenue at every stop. Every host city reported generous donations to food banks. And when Taylor gifted bonuses to her cast and touring crew that topped $55 million, she sent a message to all CEOs, not just to those in the music industry. Setting another example, her company purchased carbon offsets to more than makeup for her tour’s emissions.

Prior to being named Time magazine’s Person of the Year, Taylor Swift was already a champion for musician’s rights. In one case, Swift pulled her songs from Apple Music until it agreed to pay all musicians for samples it had been streaming for free. Taylor took control of her art after her entire catalog was sold without her input by re-recording her music. This move set an example for other artists and the stage for her loyal friend-fans to buy “Taylor’s Version” albums, support her Eras Tour, and in turn, create more Swift revenue to be shared with others. Force For Good thanks Taylor for her inspiration and artist empowerment, integrity, and grace—hopeful, welcome gifts in this era’s media landscape.

Is music finding its way into your busy life?
 
For me, composing involves constant experimentation and refinement. My process involves working on a piece until I’ve taken it to a point of maximum satisfaction that matches my piano-playing ability. Then I move on to another composition, after which I sometimes realize that my playing has improved enough to warrant a new series of edits on the prior piece! Little by little, in this circular fashion, I nudge each of my compositions into a more polished form.

Since 2017, I’ve logged 1,590 hours on my piano composing and rehearsing. So far, I have 35 minutes of “finished” music in the form of 6 sonatas for the next Jonathan Sprout album.
 
Whatever it is you are passionate about, I encourage you to keep going! In Thomas Edison's words, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
 
It feels really good to see the progress. I spend more of my life measuring progress than appreciating final results. It’s the process—the building of it all—that I find so important.

Is music finding its way into your busy life?

For most of my career, guitar has been my go-to instrument. For the first two FFG albums, Passions and Innocence, I stepped out of my comfort zone and created simple piano tracks. Working with Joe Mennonna, who upgraded the pieces into full-fingered piano compositions, we completed a new piano-based venture. After we finished Innocence, Joe retired and I set a new goal: I would compose and perform on my own the piano parts for future albums.

Since September 2017, I’ve logged 1,571 hours at the piano and countless additional hours studying Chopin, Debussy, Brahms, Mozart, Beethoven, David Foster, Ludovico Einaudi, Charles Ives, Gabriel Faure, and others. I think I've finally begun to find my voice as a piano composer. My new music is peaceful, soothing, melodic, and full of breathing spaces. I’m very excited about it.  So, yes, I am making “the next album.”

Whatever it is you want to accomplish, I encourage you to just get started. You never know where it will lead.