Giving Music

 When I was a little girl my family would amuse ourselves by singing in the car on road trips.  When Daddy ran out of songs to entertain me he would just make them up. My Mother would get pretty anxious when he was singing because he couldn't "do music" without tapping his foot in rhythm.  That gets a little dicey in a manual transmission car.  We would leap forward in short leaps down the highway or farm road until she couldn't stand it any longer and would get him to pull over and trade places, driving the remainder of the trip while we sang.  

Daddy and his brother, my Uncle Pat, would also sing and play guitar and fiddle or mandolin for family gatherings.  They gave music back to their churches and taught me to do the same. I started playing piano for my Sunday school group when I was in third grade. In junior high  I began playing piano for the church services. During college my professional sorority volunteered at the local state supported school for mentally disabled. On Sunday evenings we would go lead songs--mostly fun songs, and action songs.

 This month I have played a wedding, a funeral and a symphony concert.  All paid performances, but gifts to my audiences just the same.  

 Music became a profession for me but there are still opportunities to give.  My studio groups perform for many venues including nursing homes and retirements centers, community functions and club programs.

Late summer wedding

This lovely lady, the mother of the bride this evening, is an acquaintance from my Young Audience days a decade ago.  Her oldest daughter married a few years ago and our quartet played for that event. She called early this year to contract our quartet for tonight's wedding as well.  It was a black and white wedding, accented with a few pink flowers.

Elegance--all white flowers in the sanctuary. Subtle colors on the Mom's.  Tuxes and military uniforms on the guys. No other music than what we provided in solid, classical selections. All members of the wedding party were respectful and mature.  Even the program is elegant.

As usual. From my perspective.  May God bless the bride and groom with exactly what the officiate said. Love for the bride as Jesus has loved His Bride. Respect and honor for the groom as Jesus is worthy of the same.

What have I been doing?

February has been lots busier that I expected. Muffin and I have been on the road and busier than birds getting ready for winter. In addition to teaching my students I have had several programs, meetings, and performances, events, ministry opportunities, and our regular work schedules.

Here is Muffin on a trolley in San Antonio.

Early this month we enjoyed shopping online for Joy's birthday--her 30th! Seriously? It was 30 years ago when we drove to the hospital on a snowy day for her birth? Not possible!

On her birthday for 2010 Muffin and I were in San Antonio at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention. It's BIG! More vendors, exhibitors, presenters, concerts, showcases, meetings, and buildings than one can imagine. These violins are very nice ones offered by just one of many high end shops represented at the convention.

I bought these Bow Buddies for my studio. The little frog and fish help students form a flawless bow hold. I think it will assist in revolutionizing string instrument education!

Eye glasses for sale!

Look closely. These are all lamps!

Color coded handbells, anyone?

Leaving San Antonio we visited the Rowdy Girls. Grandpa and Daddy JB are wearing funny hats at this restaurant.

McSisters cheesing in the sunlight at Saturday morning brunch.

The following week was a huge rush to get my students ready for a judging event. Here is one of them with "da judge", who is really our symphony's concertmaster, and gives mini lessons to each student after their performances. It is so very helpful to me as a teacher for them to get this kind of feedback. Eighteen of them played last Friday. One more will play at an alternate time this week. After that event was completed I went to a funeral visitation and a three hour rehearsal while a very sick Muffin drove home from a visit with Nana. He got a shot and a prescription and after lots of rest on Saturday, Sunday and today, he was feeling better before returning to work in the Big City.

Muffin took me to the Sweetheart Banquet at our church on Valentine's Day. It was lovely!

Before going into a series of rehearsals for another concert last weekend, my feet went to Ms. D for a soak, a massage and a lovely pedicure. Heavenly!

The Wall

Every year late Fall brings an onslaught of rehearsals, programs, recitals, concerts, weddings, and extra lessons for students who are also involved in their own rehearsals, programs, recitals, and concerts. It is a fact that Christmas music sets a mood. So those of us who call ourselves musicians begin rehearsing in October for the December Mood. So, after the last program, the final reception, and the last minute of the last lesson is finished, I hit THE WALL. It’s the inevitable adrenaline dropout following the frenzy.

If you have followed the blog since Thanksgiving you know that the family had a fabulous, crazy time together over a period of eight days, followed by the incubation of a cold virus that keeps on giving for about two weeks. We’ve coughed, sneezed, wheezed, snorted, gagged, cried—most everything except sleeping—since Thanksgiving Day. Combine the GERM with the FRENZY and the result is FATIGUE.

Yesterday the final program involved arranging three songs for two clarinets, one violin, and one French horn (totally 7 ½ hours), rehearsing one morning, baking goodies for the reception (white chocolate fudge arranged in a wreath with live holly and berries, cranberry almond bread arranged on a platter with the same). It also included writing a descriptive piece for three student violinists and one four year old student, their baby sister, who played four percussion instruments. Add another 5 hours or so. And we rehearsed at three of their lessons—total of three hours. They drove an hour into town at 9:30 a.m. to perform. I hauled stuff to the car for about 15 minutes. Add another 15 to drive across town and an additional 15 hauling same stuff inside and returning. There were about 60 people attending the program, and truthfully, the music was mediocre, but the results were…..priceless. Everyone is in a good mood, is ready for Christmas, and full of joy after being entertained by old and young alike, eating beautiful goodies, singing “Peace on Earth”. Emotionally, I was also drained from watching my Mother attend this program alone, without my Daddy. It was always one of the celebrations for their anniversary to attend this program each year. One year I played “I’ll be Home for Christmas” for them as a surprise gift. They were married December 5, 1942, and Daddy shipped out with the Army one week later. It was almost three years before they were reunited. This year, their 67^th anniversary, he is truly Home with the Father.

For about two hours after this final program of the season I am ready to bake, wrap, shop, mail, and decorate. So I shopped and wrapped, finally cried a little while I was alone, and then went to my massage therapist for my pre-scheduled appointment. And then it happened: THE WALL. About 30 minutes into the appointment I felt completely drained of all ambition, energy and intelligence. I managed to drive myself home, drank the prescribed water after massage, and then decided I must have a nap. Three and a half hours later I woke up. It was dark. I was completely disoriented. Scooter the Sheltie was hungry. Body Flow was finished. I was totally toast—no adrenaline left. I had no problem going to sleep last night either. This morning I almost felt rested, but THE WALL is still there. Perhaps it is physical and my body is just tired. Perhaps it is spiritual and I need time to soak in His presence. Perhaps it is emotional and I am grieving more than I realize. Perhaps it is a triple whammy?