You know they're interested when...

Yep, you know your students have caught the excitement of the moment;  of the learning journey, when they arrive at school with a neat project, like one fellow did today!

We've been busily learning more and more about the Native American Flute that we all enjoy playing! Last night, one grade five student decided to try and make one of his own.  His first efforts are very impressive!  One small error allows too much air to go through this antler, so this one won't likely work this time, BUT he's set to go and try a couple of other strategies.  Time will tell....

Soul Music

After yesterday, I realize that the term "starving musicians" often comes from the fact that we musicians don't stop long enough to eat because we're SO caught up in what we're creating and working for!  We're consuming soul food at those times...and it feeds the fire in our bellies that 'drives' us from within... Several of us worked on various music projects throughout the day and in different collaborations.  Each was intense and all involving.... the last part of the day, though.... despite the weariness and a few hunger pangs, was an epiphany of musical development!!!  Read on.... :)

Yesterday also taught me that sounds, to me anyway, are music, and then melodies are a different kind of music, and therefore a series of sounds in arrangement.  We were working on putting my poem, Le Couer De Ma Vie, to music... and Andrew, the pianist, said he was just playing a series of sounds to begin with, and as the poem was narrated, these sounds turned into melody....  WOW!  I'm not professionally trained, and my music is shared more by passion and interest than by theory....  so, this was a whole NEW way of looking at musical accompaniment. Those sounds were music to my ear...Musical sounds versus musical melody...hmmmm.... Images in music... hmmm   Music creating imagery, exploding with words, thoughts, emotions... hmmmm

To me, as Andrew played, I heard the trembling fresh green leaves of the aspens quivering in the warmth of spring sun, and the rays filtered through the days of spring's renewal, evolving into evening twilight, from sun to moon glow, and then to northern lights... I heard waters trickling into rivers, and the birds and a whole choir of nature resound with joyous celebration of spring...and THEN the music began in earnest in a whole new way as the poem's imagery and theme began to transition into its middle point and rise to conclude with a celebration extraordinaire of music, imagery and full gratitude for life and living!  

Sounds...music....feeling...celebrating "moments within moments"... THAT's what keeps the music going!!!  In this case, it's what enhances each word, brightening the imagery, making it personal and real... bursting into life and light!

Days like this are the ones that make a person SING out LOUD for joy and dance a happy jig with the notes of every "sound" in the world around us...deep down into our souls, welling up into sunshine and light! :) 

I have to personally thank each and every one of the amazing people I am so blessed to work with and collaborate with.  You are each an inspiration in your own way and share so much with our world!!!

Land of the Peace

The land

Spring Light

fills me up

feeds my soul

I see trees -

trunks tall, gray

and bare

I hear finches,

juncoes, nuthatches

in song
ringing from the trees
as I feel the fresh air
in the breezes
ripple through my hair
sent from up on high
where trails of wispy clouds
white vapors
that trace the sky
bring to mind
wild horses
in the shapes that leap
to my eye

I wonder at
the trickling waters
rushing through
the culverts there
as winter's snow
melts and flows
bringing moisture
to forest life.
I soak up the atmosphere
of each moss, lichen and leaf
heart swaying
in time with
the dancing line
of trunks
bent in wind's mischief...
My soul flies high
with that V of swans
or explores with
the hunting toad

and listens to the

vibrancy in life

all around me -

all ONE heart can hold!

Thinking

I'm very excited about entering into the world of blogging!  Thank you to my good friend, Jen C, for getting me started...  I think it's a great way to share thoughts, music, poetry, and the journey... With so much out there technology-wise, it's nice to be able to share a little local identity through sharing the arts....  communication is what keeps us true and aware...  Thank you for reading!!!

My Very First Blogpost

Let's see where the journey leads...