Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Big Thank You to Public Libraries

I dedicate this post to our local libraries. I am enormously grateful to have a lovely place where I can go regularly and get things for free. Besides the time-honored and beloved books, there’s a whole array of different genres of music on CDs to check out: Classical, Jazz, Showtunes, Rock, Country, Blues, Experimental, Spiritual, Latin, Popular, Reggae, Rap—to name a few—and of course, music especially for Kids & Families.

Car trips are a great way to try out some new sounds you may have never considered before. And those of you with children can treat the family to a steady stream of new and different sounds. A big huge Thank You to our public libraries!!!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Greetings dear Reader, What a magical time of year this is, with the crisp, spicy scents and brilliant colors….and the songs! We’re heading into the season of some of the most beautiful music of all time.

I have a concert coming up this Saturday which will be at one of the elegant “Women’s Clubs” in our area. This event marks the second annual benefit concert for the local Redwood Coast Montessori School. It’s a lovely group of people, and in honor of the season and of the gratitude I feel to be a part of this, I’ll be doing some songs that express thanksgiving.

One of these is a song called “I’m Lucky There’s a Sun” by Nancy and Cody Cassidy, which sweetly gives a generous list of the beauty and nature all around us. Here’s one of the verses:
“I’m glad the rains fall, the winds blow, the oceans roll and roll. I’m glad the flowers bloom, the birds sing, and the Earth spins round and round…” I’ve been practicing with the children so they can join me. We’ll also have a sign interpreter to convey these beautiful images with hand signs.

With the accompanying dreamy melody, this song expresses so much of what we all have to be grateful for. There is an infinite wealth and bounty of beauty, pleasure, and soul-food to enjoy and appreciate, if only we take the time to focus on it!

That’s what the Season of Light, Christmas, Winter Wonder is all about. And for those of us who share and lead songs in this season, the practice and rehearsals start weeks and months in advance. So I already have some old favorites plus some new ones well in mind.

Wishing you all the joys of the season, and the time and patience and mindfulness to enjoy all that is most dear to you and yours!!!