I’m brimming with wonderful energy from events and song ideas which is what I want to share with you today!!!
Have you been to a Folklife Festival lately? Here’s a sweet one that happened this weekend…(I got in on a ukulele workshop, not shown here, but anyway… My Dh captured this “Beatles Sing-a-long Workshop” at the festival…Sweet!!
Here’s one for helping a child center and find balance: The “Right-Left Song”
Right from the heart: Lessons learned from “Twinkle, Twinkle”
For me, magic is music, music is magic! What music magic has been firing your imagination, delighting your spirit, and calling you to kick up your heels lately?!!
“Come and share so we can all remember that there is INFINITE sources of magic in our lives everywhere we turn!”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Music Memories
The following is from a recent post I submitted as a regular contributor for the blog, My Everyday Magic Each Monday, under my pen name, "The Song Fairy" I get to address the subject of music. This week I had to dig deep...
What's on the music menu for today? I've been sitting here thinking and thinking about what to post today for Music Monday and haven't been able to latch on to an idea to run with, which is a first for me, as I'm usually able to blab on and on about the subject. Maybe a stream of consciousness type of writing will do the trick? What keeps popping up is the idea of coming up with songs out of the blue---those little ditties that spring up sometimes in the moment. You know, like those of you with young children write in about, how kids can just start singing about anything and everything?
We just watched some video footage of our son, 5 at the time, raucously singing from the bathtub, "come in the bathroom, if you please..." over and over and then adding "It is Halloween day!" to the tune of "10 Little Children". He was so happy and in the moment and so full of ----song!
About that time I wrote a song about our daughter which starts:
"Genny's gettin' up, she's movin' around; She's leavin' the house, she's goin' to town!
Well, Genny's only six months, but whaddaya know; she's a tiny little girl baby on the go!"
Both children are all grown up, on their own, and thriving now. I'm so grateful to have these and many other music memories of their childhood. Music memories tend to stand out bright and clear.
What little snatches of song come to you from day to day? What rhymes, chants, sacred affirmations, or just plain silly phrases pop up along your daily round? Maybe some of these turn into favorites and you keep adding to them, embellishing them?
Whatever your magic is this day, wherever music may lead you, I'd love for you to share with us here today----please post in comments below...
Fairy wishes and music kisses,
The Song Fairy <3
What's on the music menu for today? I've been sitting here thinking and thinking about what to post today for Music Monday and haven't been able to latch on to an idea to run with, which is a first for me, as I'm usually able to blab on and on about the subject. Maybe a stream of consciousness type of writing will do the trick? What keeps popping up is the idea of coming up with songs out of the blue---those little ditties that spring up sometimes in the moment. You know, like those of you with young children write in about, how kids can just start singing about anything and everything?
We just watched some video footage of our son, 5 at the time, raucously singing from the bathtub, "come in the bathroom, if you please..." over and over and then adding "It is Halloween day!" to the tune of "10 Little Children". He was so happy and in the moment and so full of ----song!
About that time I wrote a song about our daughter which starts:
"Genny's gettin' up, she's movin' around; She's leavin' the house, she's goin' to town!
Well, Genny's only six months, but whaddaya know; she's a tiny little girl baby on the go!"
Both children are all grown up, on their own, and thriving now. I'm so grateful to have these and many other music memories of their childhood. Music memories tend to stand out bright and clear.
What little snatches of song come to you from day to day? What rhymes, chants, sacred affirmations, or just plain silly phrases pop up along your daily round? Maybe some of these turn into favorites and you keep adding to them, embellishing them?
Whatever your magic is this day, wherever music may lead you, I'd love for you to share with us here today----please post in comments below...
Fairy wishes and music kisses,
The Song Fairy <3
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Bust out in song
I'm a regular contributor for the delightful My Everyday Magic blog which celebrates simple abundance and gratitude. There I am known as The Song Fairy and Mondays I start the posting with ideas for everyday music magic. Music and magic simply go together. There's an element of magic that happens each time you bust out in song----from a soft, throaty hum to a full-blown, head-back, belted interpretation of a favorite song.
We're frequently delighted and not at all surprised by our young children who sing at the "drop of a hat" and give expression to feelings, creativity, and joy by channeling words and sounds into a spontaneous song.
Think about it: singing comprises emotion, vibration, rhythm and breathing----elements that stir up the very essence of what makes us human! No wonder children are so naturally compelled to sing! It feels good, it feels right! It's freeing.
So from that first organic expression of musical joy, what happens when we grow up and stop singing? So many of us buy into the notion that singing is for kids. Or that it's for super stars who were born with golden pipes, but not for us. We think that once we pass primary grade, it's time to put the kibosh on our singing voices.
What happened? Were we told at some point to stop singing? That it was embarrassing to sing, or uncool? Or did we pick up the idea that we would never be able to sing like our idols, so stop trying?
As an adult, do you hear yourself saying that you're not a musician, or musically inclined, or that you can't sing?
If so, this it the time to rethink these misconceptions. Because if you can talk, you can sing. In fact, I believe you were born to sing. Does this mean that I think you're all destined for the stage and a professional singing career? No, of course not. (There's another blog post for those with that heart's desire!) What I want is to encourage you to rediscover your singing voice by simply singing. You had it once, and you deserve to reclaim it: the sheer joy of singing and the way the sound, rhythm, and words feel resonating through you.
And what if someone tells you to "stop doing that!" for whatever reason? Your friend, mate, or child? Especially as you warm up to reconnecting with your authentic voice? Yes, that may happen. And this is where you buck those old self-defeating notions and declare gently but firmly that singing is a good thing and you intend to keep on singing. All in an appropriate place and time, of course. (You be the judge; you'll know when it's right, or not!)
Finally, to parents and other child guardians: whatever you do, be your kid's champion as she/he sings, and don't give them the idea that there is even such a thing as a "bad singer" or a "bad voice". Explore ways to guide children in their singing and introduce them to a variety of genres. Let them become life-long lovers of the joy of singing.
We're frequently delighted and not at all surprised by our young children who sing at the "drop of a hat" and give expression to feelings, creativity, and joy by channeling words and sounds into a spontaneous song.
Think about it: singing comprises emotion, vibration, rhythm and breathing----elements that stir up the very essence of what makes us human! No wonder children are so naturally compelled to sing! It feels good, it feels right! It's freeing.
So from that first organic expression of musical joy, what happens when we grow up and stop singing? So many of us buy into the notion that singing is for kids. Or that it's for super stars who were born with golden pipes, but not for us. We think that once we pass primary grade, it's time to put the kibosh on our singing voices.
What happened? Were we told at some point to stop singing? That it was embarrassing to sing, or uncool? Or did we pick up the idea that we would never be able to sing like our idols, so stop trying?
As an adult, do you hear yourself saying that you're not a musician, or musically inclined, or that you can't sing?
If so, this it the time to rethink these misconceptions. Because if you can talk, you can sing. In fact, I believe you were born to sing. Does this mean that I think you're all destined for the stage and a professional singing career? No, of course not. (There's another blog post for those with that heart's desire!) What I want is to encourage you to rediscover your singing voice by simply singing. You had it once, and you deserve to reclaim it: the sheer joy of singing and the way the sound, rhythm, and words feel resonating through you.
And what if someone tells you to "stop doing that!" for whatever reason? Your friend, mate, or child? Especially as you warm up to reconnecting with your authentic voice? Yes, that may happen. And this is where you buck those old self-defeating notions and declare gently but firmly that singing is a good thing and you intend to keep on singing. All in an appropriate place and time, of course. (You be the judge; you'll know when it's right, or not!)
Finally, to parents and other child guardians: whatever you do, be your kid's champion as she/he sings, and don't give them the idea that there is even such a thing as a "bad singer" or a "bad voice". Explore ways to guide children in their singing and introduce them to a variety of genres. Let them become life-long lovers of the joy of singing.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Children and getting to perform with them
What a joy to be around kid energy, especially where there's music and singing going on!
Adorable faces, wise little beings join me here to sing and sign my song "One World":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN1DHcLJYBM
Adorable faces, wise little beings join me here to sing and sign my song "One World":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN1DHcLJYBM