We performed 3 Young People’s Concerts on Tuesday. In my career I must have done over 500 YPC’s and I never grow tired of them. I sometimes like to end a program with something that gets everyone jumping, literally this week when they all did the “wave” to Stars and Stripes. Walking outside afterwards, the buses that were all loaded up were bopping up and down…awesome! But not as awesome as the way the audience collectively responded to an off the cuff question…..
Dazed and Confused…….
It’s been a long week at the Opera de Lyon. As I try to mentally re-hash all that has happened my mind keeps wandering to that classic blues song found on Led Zeppelin’s first album. The song’s title is “Dazed and Confused.” It seems suddenly very appropriate.
Revolution for an Evolution part 5 – Initiating Initiative
Initiative like vision cannot be taught directly or by wrote, it’s not something that can be given but something I believe that we all have. It can be awakened in students by placing them into situations that call for them to be socially literate, so that they start caring about their communities, the issues, the people. As soon as they get to a school they need to be sent right out again, as soon as it’s possible…….
Workers of the World Unite!
Yesterday was May Day, and this being France it was a national holiday and a day off for us. And boy could we use it……
Getting my Kicks…….
Next weekend is the last concert of the season and it’s a program I have been planning since arriving in Springfield four seasons ago. It’s part of our mission to make the orchestra a community cornerstone by creating programs once in a while that truly celebrate where we are, which in this case is a couple of blocks from Route 66……
The Empire Strikes Back!
Just when you thought things were going to get boring – day after day of rehearsal after rehearsal – here comes the reminder that your in France! The Empire has Struck Back!!!
Revolution for an Evolution part 4 – Vision
For me there are are three big things that music students should be engaged in discovering: Vision, Initiative and Sincerity. I say discovering only because I don’t believe these elements can be taught by wrote as they are not skills. They can however be learned, and colleges can play a big role by creating an institutional vision that helps to create an ideal environment to facilitate the learning of these elements…..
Pass my knife, please……
It’s the start of week 3 on the ground in Lyon. At this point Seppuku has become an option.