Ouch!

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a Feldenkrais workshop. This is a method of body mapping and body awareness. To be completely honest, I didn't find the sessions extremely useful (I think it is something that you might have to do several times to notice results), but one of the instructors did say something that stuck with me. In one session she said

"We have forgotten how to be comfortable"

I think this is so true! Our culture instills in us an attitude of pushing through the pain. When something is uncomfortable we try to forget it and continue on. This sounds ridiculous when written out, but how many of us sit awkwardly at computers and ignore the tightness or throbbing in our back, shoulders, and neck? As the instructor said, we learn far less efficiently when we are uncomfortable or in pain. 

We could all use a little more awareness of how our body actually feels during the day. I am trying to notice what is causing the pain and adjusting my position until it feels more comfortable. I encourage everyone to do the same! We would all be more productive and better learners if our bodies were at ease.

Play Together, Stay Together

During the holidays I was fortunate enough to be present at a family friend's house for their holiday music tradition. When all the family and friends gather on Boxing Day, they pull out guitars, an accordian, the spoons, and a huge binder filled with all the songs they've collected over the years. Those who know how play the instruments and everyone sings along with the songs they know. I really enjoyed it, and it started me thinking, "Why don't more families do this?"
Playing music and singing together used to be a common family activity, but it is very rare now. I myself come from a musical background, both my parents were in choirs well into adulthood and my father played piano and trumpet in his youth. My sister and I both took piano and band class. But we never played music as a family. Why is that?
Playing music as part of a group is a hugely social activity. It helps bond the group, and all families could use more bonding activities! Perhaps we have as a society, become accustomed to solitary activities. |Even singing to children is an activity that is becoming less and less common. I think we could use a little more of those "old-fashioned" activities that bring families closer together. 
I was glad to meet a family that still plays music together and consider it a tradition. I hope that when I have a family of my own I can do the same. 

Final Thoughts on ICT

Manitoba Winter Adventures

Manitoba has been hit with a lot of freezing rain lately, and as a result the power has been unreliable to say the least! This weekend the power went out for just over an hour while I was eating supper. So we lit candles and dug up some dusty lanterns so we could actually see what we were eating.
At first I felt a little anxious to be without lights, heat, or all electrical devices, but as we ate supper I realized how nice it was to have no distractions and enjoy company by a softer, warmer, light. I realized how accustomed we have become to being lit up and plugged in 24/7. It was nice to be reminded that we can indeed survive without technology for a short time. And being without those distractions makes you focus more on the people around you. I enjoyed our brief adventure and I may just turn off all my devices to replicate it now and then.

Storytelling in the Digital Age

      One of my assignments this week was to try out a digital storytelling resource. I decided to try out Storybird. I used to work in a library and I loved the children's books. They are so imaginative and artistic. I still love reading them to children. So I loved Storybird!
      On this site you can read online books that members have created, a lot of them are really wonderful. For example this is the featured book:

You can also create your own online books. Artists post their work on the site, and you pick one of them to create your story with. You can choose any work from that artist's selection and make up a story to go along with it. There is a ridiculous amount of artwork to choose from!
      The site gives you a format to fill in to create your story. You don't have a lot of freedom with the free membership, but you can still create some really neat things. You make your cover page first and then add pages to your story. You can choose how much of the page is text and how much is picture. 
     When you are done your story you publish it. You can choose to make it public or private which is a nice feature. A basic membership is completely free and they take steps to make sure your information is kept confidential. I really enjoyed makeing my own story and loved reading the other published books. Check out my book below! 
My Storybird Book

Beyond the Mechanics

All of you out there that perform music know that there is a certain point you reach in your practice where your piece stops being a series of single notes, and turns into music. You reach a level of proficiency that enables you to see the direction and purpose of the lines. Once you get to this stage you are able to make the music mean something, and interpret it in your own way. This is my favourite part of practicing. 
Just recently I realized that this exact same progression exists for conducting. I have spent a year and a half learning patterns and gestures, and I have just reached the point where I can make my conducting mean something more. The mechanics of conducting have started to become automatic, and I can now start using it to show meaning and direction. This gives me hope that I won't always have to concentrate on the pattern, or where my left hand is sitting, or where I need to cue next. 
Everything in music requires practice so that the mechanics become automatic. Then you can reach beyond the technique to the music.

Time Management

As I somehow make my way through the end of term flurry of tests, quizzes, projects, and final exams I have been thinking about time management a lot. If I think I'm busy now, how much more busy will I be when I have report cards to write, tests to make, lessons to plan, trips and performances to organize, etc. etc. etc. One of the greatest things I have learned at university is how to manage my time well. I continue to learn more about it.
As teachers, and music teachers specifically, our schedules are packed. Keeping organized and planning your time well is essential. The sooner we develop systems and attitudes to deal with the load of things we have to do and the stress that comes with it the better. 
One of the things I continue to struggle with is finding a balance between work time and relax time. Everyone has different requirements for relaxing, but we all NEED to do it. You cannot push yourself indefinitely. It's important to learn when you have done enough and need to rest your body, mind, and emotions. This is something that I still have to conquer, but I hope to figure it out before I start my career!