Magical, Musical Wintertime Wishes

     Greetings of Joy, Faith, and Love to you this holiday season!  You might enjoy with me an online Advent Calendar especially for the young at heart.  You can start any time to click on the numbers for each day leading up to Christmas, then scroll down to explore links to the songs, stories, art activities and games.
                                                                 

Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracher Suite" has been a favorite since my childhood.

     Very sweet and fun, and all thanks to one of my favorite kid-based sites, Activity Village:
     Find their Advent Calendar here: .http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/advent-calendar-2015

     I'll be taking the rest of the month off, giving my attention to some health concerns and getting plenty of rest and TLC.

     Until next time,
     ♫  Lisa

Mother-Daughter Music #1

Being blasted out of bed Christmas morning by Handel's Hallelujah Chorus played as loudly as Mom could crank it up on our "stereo's" turntable, is one of my earliest music memories.  A few more >>> listening to her singing lullabies and Latin pop songs, my dad's violin, sister's piano, brother's trumpet, and the five of us warbling harmonies on "Rock-a My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham" during long car trips---childhood treasures tucked away in my memory.

Thanks to Mom, I got my first guitar the year my family spent in Argentina while my microbiologist dad was on sabbatical from Cal Poly doing research on brucellosis in cattle there. (I've yet to find a musical association with the cow thing!)  I took off on the guitar, courtesy of some private classical lessons from a very patient Argentine teacher, and also of the two young Mormons who showed up at our door and taught me "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and other popular folk songs of that 60's era.

Later, armed with some basic chord progressions, a few short and sweet sonatas, and a love of singing and accompanying myself and others, I got to spend my junior year in Granada, Spain, and immerse myself musically in the land of Don Quixote.  In retrospect, I realize my good fortune to have had that uncommonly care-free period.  I would return home to finish college, marry the greatest guy in the world, raise a son and daughter who are the light of our lives, launch my music in various venues, and try out different careers---all feeding my spirit and heart enormously--- before I would get to see that part of the world again.  Forty years.  Growing up hearing these stories and dreaming of traveling more together, my daughter Genevieve proclaimed, "Mom, we could go on forever saying we're going to do this; let's book our tickets!"

Genny with mug, and me 

And she did, and we went and, joining all those who find Travel so rewarding, our highlights included connecting with local families and sharing music, food, stories and laughter.  My favorite things.  Someday I'd like to read my daughter's stories of her first music impressions.  And yours, dear Reader----please leave a comment or two below.

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!!!

Miracles and Magic

At this time, in this season and into the promise of a glorious new year, I wish each and every one a bounty of love, joy, peace, and a wealth of creative fulfillment.

"God bless us every one!" Tiny Tim