Tag Archives: music education

The Road to Diamond, Day 15: Hats and Antlers

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Community, Education, Entertainment, Personal Values, Social, Striving

December 13, 2024- It was Acker Night, tonight, in downtown Prescott. This is an annual fund drive for Music Education, supporting programs in everything from dance to choral singing and a jazz quartet. The second Friday in December is thus an especially heartwarming night, the chill air aside.

I walked around downtown, stopping first at American Legion Post 6, to listen to a few songs by a couple of Post members and starting my “rounds” of contributions to the fund. After being admonished that “downtown is a long way”(It is a half mile from the Post to Courthouse Square), I walked down the hill. As long as I still can manage, walking is a joy. I feel for those who no longer can, though.

In a small alcove, at Lifeways Book Store, a bilingual singer offered several tunes with a Southwest flavour. In his rendition of Ray Charles’ “Seven Spanish Angels”, he sang both the English and Spanish lyrics. The singer told of his having studied the songs in his repertoire, and having “corrected” Mr. Charles’s Spanish translation-to make it flow better. Since he lived and worked for a time in Veracruz, I figured he knew what he was doing.

I walked the south side of the Square for a bit, listening to a choral group doing Christmas carols, then walking around to the north side, where a dance ensemble was doing a “Rockette-style line dance, to Kay Starr’s “The Man With The Bag”. A couple of beginner dance groups followed with “Silent Night” and “White Christmas”.

Finally, it was off to Raven Cafe and a bowl of cream of mushroom soup, which soothed whatever remnants I had of Wednesday night’s stomach flu. The featured artist for the evening, Kendra Vonderheide, gave a solid hour of mostly original tunes, saying that these were her way of releasing pent-up energy, after a three-hour drive from her hometown of Bisbee. Kendra complimented those who wore Santa hats and reindeer antlers. Arizona’s “Christmas City” would offer no less. It was another fabulous step forward for music education in our area.

Here is Ray Charles, with Willie Nelson, performing “Seven Spanish Angels”.

Consistency

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, Education, Inspiration, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Striving

February 15, 2024- One of my correspondents stated that surely the person I love the most, in all the world, must be my late wife. I have never stopped loving Penny, nor will I. She is not, however, any longer in human form, and has, in fact, given spirit blessing to my having a special friendship with another human female. Where that will go is yet to be determined, but so far, it’s working nicely-long distance. It is a consistent communication, from both ends. It is mutually honest and dignified. It is flexible and considerate, by each of us.

I had a good work day, yesterday. Covering five music classes, in two schools, using a combination of video-based instruction and students keeping rhythm and counting beats. I was consistent, and did not need to raise my voice. Using free time to organize the lesson, in the second school, was reassuring to even the rowdiest of the kids. They appreciated that someone valued their time enough to make sure that the lesson flowed.

My dermatological report came back essentially clean. What little that needs attention will be resolved with the topical cream that I got last August. Sunscreen, a hat and keeping covered did the trick, even with time in the Philippines and our Arizona sun. The key is consistency.

I have the added incentive of wanting to be whole, to be healthy, for the sake of someday being with the one I love most on this Earth. More basically, though, I want to live a full life, just in my own space, until that day comes, and afterward. One must remain consistent, in order to be whole. So far, I’m doing better, in that regard.