I am delighted to announce that my latest article on intuitive improvisation has been published in the December/January issue of American Music Teacher, along with a number of other great articles on improvisation. I chose to focus on games and exercises for teachers who may not have ever improvised themselves. I give practical approaches that will enable them to not only encourage their students to improvise, but to also enjoy the process alongside them. I based it on successful experiments with many of my own students over the years. It was a fun article to write.
I apologize for not having blogged in a while -- I am in charge of a pilot program in Kodály musicianship for Kindergarden through second grade students, and conducting two middle-school choirs -- teaching three hundred children per week. It has been extremely absorbing and energy-consuming. The program is going well, and we hope, with the help of the Ojai Music Festival Education Committee, to expand the Kodály program to all schools in the local district.
Young children are wonderfully responsive and enthusiastic. It has been amazing to see how rapidly they are progressing. I am excited at the prospect of so many young children receiving a solid foundation in musicianship and enjoying music making so much. My intention in the coming semester is to regain more balance in my life, so that I can once again have time to blog, make music, write articles, and actually have a social life as well!
I met up with a friend I haven't seen in 17 years, although we've been friends for 37 years! Since we last met, she got married and had two girls who are now 11 and 13. We still get along like a house on fire.
I saw close friends I haven't seen since I moved to the States five years ago.We still click.
It's been raining for the last nine days and neither of us minds.
We've seen fabulous art and centuries-old palaces. I appreciate them more than ever, having been living in California.
I haven't been keeping up with blogs (mine or others), because so much has been happening in real life. I remembered how cool real life is.
I've reconnected with a part of myself I'd lost touch with. A part I really like.
I'm appreciating each part of each day.
I'm now Choral Director of Matilija Junior High School, starting next Monday. As well as teaching Kodaly, starting on Tuesday. It's going to be a busy week.
Having had some health challenges lately, I haven't been able to hike much, but recently managed a short walk in the Sespe with Robert and Barry. As usual, I was taken aback by the subtle and fresh beauty of the chaparral, so different from the countryside in my native England. Its grey-greens and golds, the brush, multi-layered rocks, pines (often blackened by fire), lizards and brightly colored birds are exotic to me. Yet again, I was struck by how essential it is to me to be out in nature. How absurd it is of me to think that I am in any way separate.
You know all those upbeat articles that tell you how to avoid stress and live positively? Well, here's one that takes the opposite tack on the same issue, and it really made me sit up and think. Love it.
I haven't posted anything much lately, and I've really missed it! We found out a week ago that we have to move by June 1st, so I've been busy house-hunting, and am pleased to report that we have found a nice rental right in the heart of town.
In any normal town, I wouldn't consider living in the center, but Ojai is QUIET! Nothing much happens after 8pm, which I know would drive some people crazy, but is fine by us. Since Robert started getting up at 6.30 a.m. every morning to write, we're learning to be creative, free-thinking, bohemians... who go to bed early!
BTW, Robert's sister Lisa now has her own blog, with some inspirational entries- I heartily recommend a visit.
I've always thought that becoming disillusioned was one of the worst things that could happen to a creative artist. I've seen it happen to friends of mine-- "I'll never have the career I want", "No-one is ever going to give me a rôle", "Even when I am working, the work isn't what I expected it to be."
So I was completely taken aback the other day when I heard someone I greatly respect say that disillusionment can be a good thing.
However, when I stopped to think about it, I soon realized that there was something to it. The word dis-illusion-ment actually means the result of being deprived of your illusions. And an illusion is a misleading image, a misapprehension, a hallucination, something that deceives (thanks, Webster's). My favorite definition is "a pattern of reversible perspective". So looking at it that way, couldn't disillusionment actually be a good thing? There is really nothing to be gained by being in a state of illusion.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that you give up your hopes and dreams! Just that there are times when it can be good to accept what is, rather than beating your head against a brick wall. There can be a real place of peace in just observing where we are, of taking stock.
Then, when the time is right, comes the brainstorming; the opportunity to start afresh. Life coaching can be a marvelous way to cultivate a new sense of possibility, to make a fresh start, to reassess the options, to get back in touch with your creative spirit, to set new goals.
In the coming weeks, I'll be offering suggestions on these topics --some practical ways to begin to move towards a more fulfilling life. But in the meantime, if you find yourself feeling disillusioned.... bear in mind that it could be the beginning of a whole new way of life!
It's 4 o' clock and the Singing Man has just gone by.
Every day at around this time, a man rides by our house on his bicycle singing long, luscious tenor notes. The first few times, I thought it must be someone drunk --a sad reflection of growing up in England where no-one ever sings on the street unless they're staggering home from the pub on a Friday night-- but having seen this man, he seems to be riding straight and looking pretty alert.
I have a feeling that he may have some learning difficulties. What he does have is a beautiful natural tenor voice. He's never singing anything resembling a melody-- just gorgeous long notes. His enthusiasm and joy are infectious. It must feel really good. I love hearing him. I was also thinking today that he's probably really healthy. All that cycling and singing is a great combination! All together now, "I want to ride my bicycle..."
I recently returned from a trip to Sydney, and was drawn as usual to the fabulous wildlife. Here's my first attempt at videoing my favorite Australian inhabitant-- the duck-billed platypus. When underwater, playpuses (platypi?) close their ears, eyes and nose and navigate by a kind of radar. They are monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals, and are really extraordinary. Wish I could have brought her home!
On January 24th, our first child, James, was born. He only lived three days. It's hard to put into words what this has meant to me. For a beautiful tribute to him, please visit my husband's site www.robertpeake.com if you are so inclined.
Torrential rain, floods, mudslides, earthquakes, drought, wildfires...it's a myth that the sun shines all the time in Southern California. What is true is that some of the most... how shall I put it... unusual people in the world live here.
A few recent examples:
I am delighted to announce that my latest article on intuitive improvisation has been published in the December/January issue of American Music Teacher, along with a number of other great articles on improvisation. I chose to focus on games and exercises for teachers who may not have ever improvised themselves. I give practical approaches that will enable them to not only encourage their students to improvise, but to also enjoy the process alongside them. I based it on successful experiments with many of my own students over the years. It was a fun article to write.
