Last night's inspiration, in the midst of harp-phoria -- two harp trios on stage at the Freight & Salvage, with a third in the audience -- "If you're tired and you know it, take a nap." Why not? Maybe if the only time available for me to teach is nap time, the class should be a musical siesta. I have a vision of folks popping in for 45 minutes of sound healing on their lunch break.
At Albany Library this afternoon my new song was Nancy Schimmel and Judy Fjell's, "For Every Third Bite, Thank the Bees," learned from Nancy at our Winter CMN NoCal gathering.
At the midday Parent Workshop, I taught, "My Mind is a Clear Blue Sky" and "If You're Happy and You Know It, Take a Breath," by Betsy Rose, which she shared at the same gathering. The parents in the class have not stopped thanking me for a lesson I offered in the first class, using Joanne Hammil's great song: "We're Different, We're the Same," learned at a Songs for Building Community workshop Joanne offered to CMN NoCal several years ago. After brainstorming in small groups, individuals have to SING about themselves. This can be a terrifying moment for many folks -- and it was an ideal moment for pass along an observation Bonnie Lockhart made in a Singing Games workshop she taught for a CMN NoCal gathering some years back: When we grownups do something we can't -- like sing in a language which is foreign to us -- we're doing what we ask children to do every day. Because they had so much fun learning this experientially, it has really stuck with many of the parents. And at Together Wee Play circle time this morning, I went back again to my all-time Can't Fail: Five little monkeys sitting in a tree, teasing Mister Alligator -- 'Can't Catch Me! Along comes the Alligator, jaws open wide, and SNAP! Another monkey deep inside. the way Diane Ferlatte taught it at the CMN National gathering in Petaluma ten years ago. How can I keep from thanking Children's Music Network incessantly? The best title ever.
Also "Singing For Our Lives" also "Sing Yourself Happy" So what's the best ever that's not already taken? "Lifesongs." A Christian organization? "Singing our lives". Also Christian? How about "Lifelong Songs" "Singing Through" singing through the dark times, singing through the light "Sing Your Way Through" (all of the above, and before) "The Singing Life" starts before birth.... "My Life Flows On In Endless Song" "Life Flows In Endless Song" Dale Allenby - lifelong song Just me singing all by my lonesome this morning. Beautiful songs, as always, with guitar. What was new: An Italian ode to Spring and a Puerto Rican lullabye about selling shoes for angels in heaven. ("When I get to heaven gonna' put on my shoes!")
Looking forward to starting evening classes in May! I am floating along on the crest of a song, there are bells in my heart and they're ringing." (Jerome Kern)
I am so excited about Nine Months' Singing, starting on April 1. Spring is everywhere and so is singing, especially singing for pregnant women. Was it always there and I'm just noticing it because it's on MY mind? Michelle called to say her friend Rhonda is doing the same thing in Hawaii. Locally, there is a new Singing Doula -- and another beginning in Hoboken, New Jersey! On The Unofficial Michel Odent Fan Site I've found a woman in Israel using singing to help heal new mothers..... It's a MOVEMENT! |
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