Many musicians out there know that I admire Kenny Werner’s teachings and highly recommend Kenny Werner’s book Effortless Mastery.  He is one of my favorite musician authors. His teachings offer insight on the relationship between performance and spirituality.  Kenny’s book also offers an abundance of valuable information for both emerging and professional artists.

I am saddened by the news that Kenny Werner just lost his young teenage daughter early this week.  I offer my heartfelt condolences to him, his family and all the lives touched by his daughter.  Kenny, you and your family are in our prayers.

Paul

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News
South Fallsburg girl dies after car hits tree

By Heather Yakin
October 04, 2006

Times Herald-Record

South Fallsburg < Katheryn Werner was a dynamo, a joy and an inspiration to everyone around her. At 16, she was a photographer, a musician and a straight-A student. She feared nothing. "She was very, very bright. She was actually going to graduate a year and a half early, and she was going to take a year off to do community service and then go to NYU," said Tammy Pratt, a family friend. About 5 p.m. Monday, Katheryn "Kat" Werner was heading from karate practice in Mountaindale to her family's home in South Fallsburg when her 1995 Volvo 850 rounded a 90-degree curve on River Road and she lost control. The car hit a tree and caught fire. Some men who'd been fishing in the Neversink River just below the road heard the crash and called for help. Rescuers couldn't free Katheryn from the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene, the latest in a stream of young drivers killed in car accidents. Fallsburg police Chief Angel Lamboy said it appears that Katheryn, who had a valid junior license, was going too fast for the road and for her level of driving experience. "It wasn't a fender-bender." Lamboy said. "It was quite the impact." An autopsy will be done later today to determine the cause of Katheryn's death. Yesterday, 15-year-old Jena Berman came to a makeshift memorial, adding a handful of wildflowers to the bouquets at the base of the tree. "I can't believe this. Oh, my God," she said, searching for words. "There was something about her. She was very open to anyone she'd meet. You wouldn't feel afraid to tell her anything." Friends gathered at Katheryn's home to remember her life and to comfort her parents, Lorraine and Kenny Werner. "We've been getting lots and lots of calls," Lorraine Werner said. "We had no idea how many people she had connected with." The family moved here from New Jersey three years ago. Katheryn was home-schooled; the Fallsburg district oversaw the program. Yesterday, the district called in a crisis team to offer counseling to the students. Lauren Pratt, 17, and Emily Grigsby, 16, were home-schooled with Katheryn for a year. "She played guitar and piano. She sang," said Lauren. Katheryn had put together a photo portfolio to submit to the Aroma Thyme restaurant in Ellenville, hoping for an exhibition. Emily and Lauren plan to submit the portfolio for her. Katheryn had raised and trained a seeing-eye dog for a group that helps blind people get service dogs. She traveled the world with her father, a well-known jazz pianist. "They've got to go easy with the cars," Lorraine Werner said. "There's a lot of time. Go easy." A memorial service is planned for 6-9 p.m. tomorrow at the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, Main Street, Woodbourne. Donations may be made in Katheryn's memory to the Prasad Project, 465 Brickman Road, Hurleyville, NY 12747. Please put Katheryn's name on the check's memo line.