In my class Singing Outside the Shower last night, I was floored again by the power of songs to tell the stories of family, how we re-tell, re-feel all those stories each time we sing for others. What an honor to support my friend Beatriz in sharing her full bright mastery with The Wind Beneath My Wings. I'm so grateful we could sing to our sisters.
She who sings
Lately I've been spending the week between Thursday and Thursday thinking of my beginner singing students, and today am reminded of the quote, "She who sings prays twice," while listening to this just plain great song by Shaina Taub off the stunning album 'Visitors.'
Over the Moon, Out of the Shower
Last night I was over the moon again to support my students in our beginner singing class. It is so powerful to me to support them shake off the cobwebs of long standing, paralyzing questions and fears about the process of learning technique. Particularly when some of their fears mirror my own! "If I can't do this now will I ever be able to do it?" "Is new technique hard for everyone, or are the talented people just born that way?" My brain can certainly stop in its tracks with this type of metta-fizzle.
One of my favorite offerings to them is a collection of writings and stories that have been so meaningful to my learning process, stories with cellist Pablo Casals and composer Kenny Werner, and this video with Ira Glass and Daniel Sax on The Gap.