Floored

Hello, everyone!

There is much to tell about the adventures in Eastern Europe from this past weekend. I return to the United States in nine days, and I am well aware of the need to "savor" the time here. It will be over fairly quickly. 

I had the pleasure of co-creating, co-teaching and co-moving (I don't think the third is a word) with our wonderful movement teacher, Sandor. (This is the teacher who said the memorable quote, which you can read here:   http://songsoftravelditlow.blogspot.hu/2013/07/exchange-of-vowels.html).

Sandor came to my Hungarian Song course on Friday. He offered some advice to the vocalist "in the hot seat" at the time. He had her follow the contour of the melodic line with the movements of her arm, using curved lines and shapes. 

Younger singers especially have a tendency to lock their arms and hands, showing the audience exactly where things get musically or technically difficult. (Pianists show with our shoulders or face). Her singing was changed once she started moving more freely! I was amazed that a teacher so young could help someone so naturally! I have already stolen and implemented this teaching tool. 

He also asked her to cling to the wall at all times - that she would just move with the music and always have contact. That same "contact point" is something that the wonderful Eastman viola professor, Carol Rodland, spoke about often in her courses. 

After the vocalist left, Sandor and I continued to talk about the freedom of movement that dancers need. Musicians need the same thing, actually, but we spend a good bit of effort getting "out" of our body instead of getting "into" it! 

I found him to be incredibly kinesthetically and personally gifted. He is very good about discussing "boundaries" with artists. Can your leg move that way? How much do you think about breath? How can we fill space, or cross it? I was "floored" by his creativity and open-mindedness about exploring new ideas. He has clearly trained classically but is also working on a new theory and method for teaching movement, dance, and choreography. I hope to work with him in the future! (I had an idea to do "Quartet for the End of Time" here, with him doing the movements).

We are grateful you were here with us this week!

I took his dance class on Friday and Saturday. It made me realize how much I miss dancing (I studied ballet, tap, and jazz as a kid) and how much we ALL need to be doing this! 

PHOTO: One of the class days where we were exploring how to use space. 

Lenten Daily "Office"

Monks celebrate their daily office using a regimen of frequent gatherings and "check-ins". Today I was required to meet and do things regularly, but I had a good amount of time on my own, for practicing, study, and silence.

I've been thinking a lot about Lent (because it is Lent now). Growing up, and attending CCD, we had to talk about "what we were going to give up." Candy and video games were the trendiest Lenten sacrifices amongst my elementary school classmates. On this, and many other things, I think we entirely missed the point.

Lent can also be about "taking on something." And so, my Lenten challenge is summed up in one word.

Core.

Attend to the core, and everything else will work itself out. I mean this physically (gym and yoga today), emotionally, spiritually, and musically. Part of each day will be devoted only developing core (technique, prayer, writing, cleaning. etc.). It's so easy to get lost in sensational periphery. My Lenten journey will be taking this on, as much as getting rid of unnecessary extras.

As author Kathleen Norris asks, "What is worth dedicating ourselves to?"

Photo: The core of the Rochesterian snow is melting. That doesn't mean that more won't come. We are still in the core of winter.