The true spirit of Christmas

Today I played my last Christmas party of the season. I have to say that I am somewhat glad as I have been playing this music since the end of November. I've been feeling a little worn out from all the holiday traffic, endless rain, added activity level with low motivation.  Sometimes it feels like it is all up to me to cheer everyone up and I need some help now and then. Today, I got it.

I was so impressed when I walked into the office of the activity director at one of the nursing homes I play at each week. I could barely get in the door as there were bags and boxes of wrapped presents, canned goods for those in need, eggnog and cookies for our holiday sing along.  When I commented on all of the gifts and things in her office, Mary laughed and said, "Oh yeah, I've been wrapping presents all week and getting ready for our caroling event on Christmas day."  She then told me with a twinkle in her eye that all the staff are going to go around room to room and sing Christmas carols on Christmas for the residents.  Now that's the spirit of Christmas! No complaints about having to work on Christmas--instead, it seemed Mary and her staff enjoyed preparing for it.

I see a lot of folks like them. Their work is more of a "calling" and not just a job they do for a paycheck. I feel so lucky to be around such good hearted people and it inspires me to keep going --even though I feel like I'm at the end of a marathon race. Just two more days left of the holiday... one more push. I can do it.

The sing along today was really a lot of fun. One of the daughters of a resident came and sang next to me and often would put her arm around me or make faces or gestures acting out the songs. It was such fun to have help singing with me and it really raised my spirits. I am now resting before I go out one more time today to sing for some nursing home residents.  I was given a sparkling Christmas lights necklace by one of the residents today and I'll wear that tonight.

Soon it will be Christmas day. Have a very Merry one!

It's that time of year....

I love this time of year and yet... and yet. It is also very hard to navigate all of the social goings on and holiday traffic and extra activities placed on top of an already full life. I played two holiday parties where I had two people speak rudely to me. I understand though, it's a busy time and we all have full plates.

To maintain my balance I have been trying to be sure I have some time alone to be outside or play around on my guitar or read or do some artwork. I was sick for nearly two weeks in the beginning of Dec. and learned that I need to keep my balance.

Don't get me wrong though, I do love the music and bringing cheer to others. I just know that in order to do this, I need to be sure I am well and rested and in good spirits. There's a lot going on this time of year. It's also a life review time as I just had my birthday and it's the end of the year and lots on my mind.

Still though I know this time is not just about joy but also about struggle. It is about finding the light in the darkest days. I do my best to be happy even when others are stressed and rude. It's part of my job as I am around a lot of people all the time and everyone is trying to keep things together.

I wanted to say hello from holidayland and wish you some peace amid the hustle and bustle and take some time to be in the silence. Now...off to another gig. :)

Feliz Navidad and playing for the caregivers

Magical moments emerge out of a given gig in unexpected ways. Last night some of those moments came while playing for a group of older adults with dementia.  I play there twice a month after dinner calming guitar musical selections I call, "Sundown Serenade." Evening is often a confusing and anxiety provoking time for those with dementia and the music helps to relax them.

Many times while I am playing those working as caregivers get to have a bit of a break and sit at the table and talk and have something to eat. I often feel invisible (which is a nice feeling, actually!) as I sit playing my guitar and observe the night unfolding at the nursing home. I started the evening's music with some pieces I composed myself just to get the music flowing in the room.

As I warmed up, I started playing some familiar songs like, "Fly me to the Moon,"  "What a Wonderful World."  Then when I played, "What the World Needs Now," I saw one of the caregivers stop what she was doing and look over at me with an expression of recognition and fond memories surfacing. After I finished playing the song, I said: "Dionne Warwick." She smiled and said, "That was bringing back memories."  That inspired me to go through more songs of that era--songs like, "Baby, Now That I've Found You," "My Cherie Amour," "You Are the Sunshine of my Life."

This led to a conversation about the music of the 60s and one of them asked how I knew all those songs. I told them I grew up on those songs and loved the music of Jose Feliciano and other guitarists of the time. One of them asked, "Do you know, "Feliz Navidad?"  Yes I said and as I started singing it, all of the caregivers in the room joined in singing to the residents.  We laughed and sang more Christmas songs and then the residents also joined in. "Joy to the World," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "The First Noel."  It gave such a feeling of togetherness in the room that was not there before. Like I said, I don't mind being in the background and playing instrumental music to relax but it is always such an honor to be able to really connect with people with music. 

There are times I do focus on connecting with the caregivers and I am always rewarded in doing so. As I got ready to leave one said, "I loved tonight!" I did too and they all said how much they enjoyed seeing me again and the feeling was mutual.

A Gifted Listener

Many times we hear about gifted musicians who can play music in a magical way. I know a woman who is a gifted listener of music, who listens in a magical way. She lives in a dementia unit at a nursing home where I play regularly. I come after dinner and play what is called my "Sundown Serenade," instrumental music on my guitar to help calm the residents.  This woman who I will call Mary listens to every song I play with rapt attention. Sometimes she closes her eyes and nods her head along with the rhythm, as if she were playing along with me in her head. After each song she brightens and applauds and says something like, 'oooh I could listen all night!"

Last night I  noticed she wore an Irish clannad ring and she looked Irish, so I played, "My Wild Irish Rose" and sure enough, she not only recognized the song, she sang the song aloud with me. After I was finished playing it,  I said, "You know that song!" and we sang it together:

"My wild Irish rose
the sweetest flower that grows
you may search everywhere but none can compare
with my wild Irish rose."

We sang it together quite a few times and then laughed. I found other songs she knew too like, "Simple Gifts," "Edelweiss," "Shenadoah." I had such a good time singing and playing with her that the hour flew by.

When it was time to go, she walked me to the elevator, pointed to it and said, "Can I open that for you?" (I had already pressed the button to call it, but she didn't notice) I told her, "You can say 'open sesame." She leaned closer and said to the door, "Open Sesame!" and in that instant the elevator door opened. She was so surprised and delighted with herself. I said, "You did it--thank you!" and she laughed and laughed. 
I laughed many times on the drive home about this!

Where the music finds you

This week was so inspirational. New connections and collaborations were made as music found me in many places.  In addition to my usual weekly music gigs, I took time out to meet with my friend Mike to play some guitar duets.  One would think these kinds of meetings would go on all the time in a town with so many musicians. But it can be really hard to find people whose styles, skills, personalities compliment one another. So often when people meet me and find out I am a musician, they tell me, "Oh, you should meet ____! He/She is a musician too!" That would be like saying to a Catholic person, "Oh, you should meet___, they are Catholic too!"  The fact that two people play music does not always mean you will 'hit it off'. Similarly with any commonality in life.

Fortunately though, I did find myself among many musical people and events this week! On Saturday, I attended a volunteer brunch at one of the nursing homes I sing at weekly. How much fun it was to gather with other music lovers and sing around the piano! We sang Gospel songs like, "Down by the Riverside," "Do Lord," "I'll Fly Away."

Later that day, I went do an Oxford Tudor Anthem sing along led by Early Music Ensemble, MIRA (pictured above is leader Raven Hunter). It was quite a lot of fun and challenging. They had extra hymn books on hand (I had my own) and we all sat in our vocal sections. I was sitting next to the bass and tenor parts and switched between them. Of course the bass part was a bit low for me but I often did the octave above. Sometimes I just closed my eyes and listened to the blending of voices, it was heavenly!

Finally, the week ended with a monthly community sing along I lead at The Front Porch   roots music school in Charlottesville.  It is always a joyous occasion for me to sing with people. We sang everything from, "My Girl," "Stand By Me," "Do Re Mi," "Moonshadow," and everything in between. After that, we shared a potluck supper. How's that for a musical week? Where did music find you recently?

Harvesting ideas and taking time to play

 

Something that keeps me inspired is to continue to learn new things and work on new projects.  Since I work as a professional musician, I have to be careful that my music does not become "another job." I get so much fulfillment out of learning new pieces, coming up with new ideas for projects and spending time being creative.

Here are some of the things I'm working on. I've been asked by the local library to play music as part of The Big Read event next spring. This is a big deal and a real honor for me. The book chosen will be The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.  With this in mind,  this morning I put 3 poems by Carson McCullers to music. She did not write a lot of poetry but if you look her up, you'll find poems. I find this process of setting poems to music to be tremendously satisfying.

Also in the picture above is my music journal where I "tab" out (guitar notation) new songs and the one above is "And I Love Her" by the Beatles. Over the summer, I arranged over 30 songs for a wedding party and had so much fun doing it.  I'm also working on some Christmas music.

I usually go to the gym in the morning but today I stayed home to have a creative brainstorm day. It was very productive and I am particularly excited about my Carson McCullers' poems. A great way to spend a rainy morning. Oh and I forgot to say that my cat Jasper helped ensure I took many breaks to pet and play with him. :)

What ways do you like to be creative?

Music of the Civil Rights Movement

Last night I gave a presentation at one of the local libraries on the Music of the Civil Rights Era.  I love presenting music in a historical context and I feel particularly passionate about music in the Civil Rights movement. I was a child growing up in Chicago during this time and though I was too young to understand some of what was going on, I do remember the social climate of political unrest. I remember getting out of school early due to a riot or gang fights. I believe in the power of music to bring people together to bring about social change. Certainly, the "Freedom Songs" sung in marches and demonstrations were instrumental in helping the civil rights movement to succeed.

Many of the songs featured were written by slaves coming from African American Spirituals and Gospel traditions. Many of the songs were not part of the mainstream awareness nor heard on pop radio stations. Some of the songs I featured were:

We Shall Not Be Moved
I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table
Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn me Around
We Shall Overcome
Eyes on the Prize
A Change is Gonna Come
Strange Fruit
Hammer Song

Each time I present this music, I am filled with such a strong sense of purpose and meaning to continue to pass on these songs and their messages of empowerment and inclusiveness. 

I plan to teach a class at the local home-school enrichment center this winter on music of the Civil Rights. I look forward to this!