Thursday Interlude: Who Let the Dogs Out?

Garrison Keillor
Photo Courtesy of Wolf Trap

If you are a fan of public radio's Prairie Home Companion and you live in Washington, D.C., Memorial Day Weekend means one thing: Garrison Keillor at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. I know people who are members of Wolftrap solely because you receive priority handling of pre-season orders and they want to make sure they get Prairie tickets, which often sell out very early, even the lawn.

Now there is nothing wrong with the lawn. I remember one memorable concert several years ago when my husband son and I and two other families settled on our blankets for picnic and The Baha Men . [Crickets chirping] C'mon, You remember, "Who Let the Dogs Out?" Ok, my son was five and that was his favorite song at the time so we sat on the lawn for a reggae festival with a bunch of other little kids who sang the song at the top of their lungs "Woof. Woof Woof, Woof" and ran around a lot. It was a fun evening. The Pavillion would have been out of the question for us, though I did see little kids running around in there, too.

The aerial photo below by Robert Llewellyn, Courtesy of Wolf Trap, below gives you an idea of what a full lawn at Wolf Trap looks like. The competition to unfurl a blanket and stake out your space when the gates open is fierce indeed.



One year I got tickets for Garrison (I say Garrison because I feel like he is a friend of MENC. He supports The National Anthem Project and at our biennial convention in Minneapolis in 2004, he appeared and praised the singing of the music teachers in attendance.)

However, they were lawn seats and I had to turn them down because the couple we were going with both have severe allergies. Every other year something else has come up so I have never seen Garrison in person. I would love to, since I listen to him nearly every weekend. When I don't listen live, I catch up online. If you didn't hear the Memorial Weekend Show click here and listen. It was a great show. As EWL pointed out to me, Garrison wrote new words to the song "Memphis Tennessee," replacing the words with lyrics about senators, etc. "Long Distance Information, Give Me Washington DC." Wolf Trap is in Vienna, VA., just west of the nation's capitol.

Anyway the reason, I didn't get to see Garrison this year was because my son Matt played in a Memorial weekend baseball tournament. They played on fields all over Northern Virginia and I am happy to say his team, the Renedages, won the 13-U consolation bracket for the tournament, with a 4-2 record. Most of our wins were by 11 or more runs.

One of their losses was to the team that won the championship bracket, so we are a pretty proud of them. Theirs is a new travel team and we play a lot of teams have been around for a time. Our overall record is 13-6. So they are doing pretty well and they are fun to watch. The weather was warm but not unbearable and it was fun hanging out with the kids and parents over the weekend.

I took this kind of hazy photo at the right as they waited on the field to receive their trophy on Tuesday night.

When I returned to the office this week, it was back to work on August Teaching Music. I have some great interviews scheduled over the next few days, including one that a teacher agreed to squeeze in with me on the phone while he drives to work next week. I know a lot of you are still finishing up school with concerts, etc. So, good luck with wrapping up the school year.

I also would like send good wishes to Keokuk, Iowa, where Keokuk II: The Centennial Symposium for MENC is being held today through Saturday. The symposium commemorates the founding of MENC there in 1907. Look for a story about the conference in August TM.

Enjoy the first unofficial days of summer and I will see you next Thursday.
RF

Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany XI

HI there, Folks,

It's a short week, which means work gets condensed into fewer days....only in 2.5 days this week, so please excuse the brevity today.... In lieu of my ramblings, have a go (in your leisure moments, ha ha!) at these articles! Caught my eye..... Just click on the title!

CHINESE LOVE OF PIANOS

MUSIC EDUCATION, From the Top

LOVE/HATE American IDOL

NEW ZEALAND HEAVY METAL 27 year old CONDUCTOR of NZ Nat. Symphony!

POP STARS JOIN the MUSIC EDUCATION DRIVE

AROUND THE WATER COOLER
from SR Blog III April 4, I went on about: Speaking of cartoons....it's amazing to me how I became familiar with so much classical music.....via Saturday morning cartoons! Most especially, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. My husband and I can never hear it without breaking into wide grins, and then, "conducting" it right down to the final "DA DAHHH!", in imitation of whichever cartoon character was conducting the cartoon orchestra! (see blog III for further links on this topic!) SOOO....had to put in this bit I recently ran across...... Mickey Mouse Piano Solo - apparently it's the first time appearance of the "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor" in an animated cartoon. (source, Arts Journal). According to the Arts Journal, the tune would become famous in later cartoons ("Rhapsody in Rivets", "The Cat Concerto" and "Rhapsody Rabbit").Quoting Arts Journal: "Watch closely, you'll see that "Rhapsody Rabbit" borrowed heavily upon this performance by Mickey, as they use the same general situation and have a number of similar gags."

See you next Wednesday! SR

Projects

Back from a long weekend and plunging into all the projects that are swirling around right now for the PR/Marketing department. We're already starting recruitment and retention plans for Tri-M, Collegiate, corporate, and active members for the fall. MIOSM 2008 items are underway. Ads are being written, handbooks updated, membership benefits reviewed and reconsidered, Web statistics studied, new e-mail formats for our weekly member updates tested, photo shoots scheduled, etc., etc.! We are busy.

Another role I seem to fill here at the office is humane society liaison. Twice of year or so, I load up the towels, sheets, pet toys that MENC staff members donate and drive them off to the Washington Humane Society, a local shelter that really can use the help. Some weeks ago, someone left a number of large, clean-as-new cat litter boxes with covers in my office. I really need to get these to the shelter. My office looks kind of strange with these giant litter boxes hanging out next to my filing cabinets. There are also a couple of big boxes of dog beds. It's a pretty funny office. (I'm only missing any actual dogs or cats!)

Onward! -- EWL

Happy Monday on Tuesday in my world

I am sneaking in here to say it is Tuesday and, no, you are not losing your mind. Well, I don't think you are, ask your best friends and family. As you are probably aware, MENC was closed yesterday. To all current GIs and Veterans - we love you and you are held in our hearts and prayers for the services you provide this grand and glorious country.

Here at MENC this week, in my world, it will be a little busy getting the NEB board book ready for mailing by Friday. The board perfers to have their books a good three weeks out from the meeting. The NEB will begin meeting on Saturday evening, June 23, and go through noon on Monday, June 25. In my world we are also preparing notebooks for the Centennial Congress and National Assembly Leadership -- that adds up to about 375 notebooks, whewww - and then the 22 notebooks we prepare for board and staff and then the 22 notebooks for their "Chock-Full-of-Stuff" information, and on and on. Luckily I had Friday and Monday off or I would be a notebook maniac by now - please NO comments.

ALSO, the Keokuk Symposium takes place this week and with any luck we may have photos of the dedication of the new MENC plaque. You remember they had 104 members show up in 1907 -- I do believe Keokuk II will have over 100 people showing up. WOW - way to to SRME History SRIG!

This weekend, I ended up creating stuff in workshops from Friday through Sunday. Did a glove book (will take a photo and show you next week); a canvas journal; experimented with metals, and transparencies. So, all this is to say is that I am well rested and ready for the week of notebook mania, tennis, and workouts at the gym. OH, I also have one more workshop next Saturday called "The Big Top" Book. Yup, Circus!!!!!!!!! Have a great week.

Pudding-gate

Hello all!

With a long weekend looming, I will be brief. I had no idea what my posting of a simple picture on last week's blog would start! Afterwards Pudding-gate ensued. While ML was kind enough to "restore" my job after "Anonymous" posted (aka Dr. M), I still felt I should probably not show my face at Tuesday's pudding social.

But the pudding called my name. I could hear it all the way from the refrigerator where it was stashed. And I knew there would be milk to accompany it.

So I went in disguise! My inspiration came from all those celebrities trying to avoid paparazzi and wore excessively large sunglasses and, having no hat handy, wore large droopy dog ears. I also introduced myself as "Sarah" -- a new employee that just recently started. I quickly downed my vanilla pudding -- it being National Vanilla Pudding Day -- drank my milk, and skedaddled out of there.

I hope no one noticed. Especially you-know-who!! But I leave you with one question--where did all the CHOCOLATE pudding go!?! ;)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all!!

Around the Water Cooler: Boo that Joey lost on Dancing With the Stars. Boo that the AI finale was so boring and ran late. YAY that So You Think You Can Dance started last night!! If you've never watched it before...wait until they get done with the initial auditions to start. ;)

Thursday Interlude: Ready for Back to School? Not!

I took the photo above of the flag in the MENC lobby, looking up to the third floor from the second floor. It is quite dramatic either looking up or looking down and it reminds me that we are in the final stages of planning for the the National Anthem Project Grand Finale, June 14-16 here in Washington DC and in Annapolis. I am getting very excited. We had a meeting to discuss the finale earlier this morning.

The goal of the project was to raise the profile of music educators and music education around the country and even though the project ends next month, MENC will continue to encourage support of music education by celebrating National Anthem Day each Sept. 14, "The Star-Spangled Banner's" birthday. We know how important it is to keep a high profile for music education.

I often get reminders of how hard it is for some music teachers out there. Last weekend my husband Steve and I attended the engagement party for a friend from his office. I didn't know her very well and had never met her husband-to-be, but hey, I like parties and I enjoy meeting new people, so I was game.


After a plate of really good food (awesome paella, delish mango brownies, etc.) I began chatting with the sister of the groom. We discovered that we had a lot in common—14-year-old sons who play baseball, a love of theater. And then she asked me what I do.

I explained that I worked for MENC, that I work for music teachers researching, writing, editing and laying out stories for two magazine and the Web. I told her about the project. It turned out she is a former music teacher, now a nurse who lives in Houston. Her kids take music and she is a big supporter of music programs, she told me about a school music program in her school district where one elementary music teacher struggles to teach more than 90 beginning string students. "I don't understand why there isn't more support for music programs. We all know how good they are for kids," she said.

Sound familiar? Anyway, I seldom tell strangers what my job is without them telling me how much they loved music lessons as a kid, that their children take and love music or that music programs are great.

With that in mind I began work on the 2007-08 issue year. The first issue is August Teaching Music and I attended a meeting last week to discuss my upcoming stories. This week I have been setting up interviews for those stories and also working on the summer online news, which will be posted in early June until August TM comes out. We have some great stories coming up. Stay tuned.

August may seem like a long time from now, but I need to complete the news pages in mid-June for the next step the production process. After the magazine goes to the printer and then comes back for a final look or any changes, it will be printed and mailed to members in mid-July. I think I mentioned earlier that I exist in a Time Warp . I am already thinking about back to school when many of you aren't even out for the summer yet. Have a good summer. I am not trying to cut it short. :-)

Around the MENC Water Cooler:
Ok, so Jordin won Idol as I thought/hoped. I actually voted by text message. She was so cute last night. I will reserve comment on the song, though. Well one comment. Huh?
What was fun for me was seeing the former Idols like Reuben. I love Reuben. Still love his voice. And Taylor is fun to watch. Love the way he works a crowd. Kelly did an amazing job, too. She just attacks a lyric. I may actually buy her new CD. There was a great interview with her last week in Entertainment Weekly about writing the songs and how personal the CD is for her.
I know we will see and hear more from Blake. I like him a lot, too. He was my favorite among the guys. Put Idol in the archives for another year and rev up the tour bus, Top 10. Sanjaya. Soon. In a town near you.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Toodles Til Next Thursday
RF

Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany X: Bogged Down on the Blog!

Not too much to say today...of real note.....some days, you just don't! Today's one of those days. Just keeping my head down and doing what needs to be done.

I suppose I COULD wax rhapsodic about the MENC socials, in general, and perhaps, one day, I or another fellow blogger will.... suffice it to say there is a photographic testimony of many a wild and crazy MENC staff social here at MENC.....and speaking of MENC SOCIALS..........
The Pudding Social yesterday was uneventful, alas.... I had images of pudding being hurled/lopped across the room, splatting resonantly against the wall (you know, shades of elementary school cafeteria - the industrial glue strength mashed potatoes lifted, medieval catapult-like, on the fork and flung up against the folded up benches......old Mrs. Dundas the cafeteria monitor lumbering over to nail the boys about proper behavior...but in our case, perhaps ML would be right there on the front lines, whapping that ole puddin' cup up against the wall!) No, to my dismay, MENC staff were far too sedate at this social ;-) I think it was the milk put us to sleep, or the mid-afternoon lulls.... I KNEW the pudding should have been chocolate! Vanilla is too gentle! Want to whip up the staff? SERVE CHOCOLATE! ;-}
Anyway, it was a very nice break, courtesy of Dr. M (er, Dr. Pudding). Oh yes, and a new employee named SARA showed up in puppy ears and Jack Bauer sunglasses - perhaps a fellow blogger will explain or provide a photo!

Best bit of the week: speaking with a 39 year MENC member and having her say "being a member of MENC is the Bible of being a music educator!"

RESOURCES and NEWS of POSSIBLE INTEREST

American Voices - a Houston, Texas-based not-for-profit company taking American music to foreign lands! Latest, Iraq! And they're doing a summer program for kids in Iraq this year! Read the full story, HERE

Amusing article from Financial Times of London on Audience Etiquette (or lack thereof!) click here! (please...)

GRANTS: The 2008-2009 NAMM grant priorities and a Request for Proposals will be announced in the fall of 2007. For more information about NAMM’s grants program, click here!

Around the Water Cooler
AI......Something is definitely missing this year. For first time, I did not watch the entire "last" competition show.....! Maybe it's my "old" ears not attuned to "pop" sound of today. The sparkle and element of surprise and "you never know what this person will do with their song!" doesn't really exist with these two finalists (EDITOR's note: JORDIN WINS!), in my humble opinion. Now Melinda, THERE is a song interpreter- THERE is someone who brings her own stamp to each song. AH, Melinda! (interjected Thursday: WONDERFUL to see her and Lakisha doing it up with Gladys Knight last night in finale, and then Melinda getting her own turn w/ her two back up singer pals!!) As a fellow blogger said - AI exhaustion has set in. Time for a much needed break....and when you start having dreams about auditioning for Senior American Idol, it's time to make a break!

On that note! See you next week! SR

Time Out

In an effort to avoid the pudding conflict, I've taken a vacation day! So I'm away from the office and out of the range of any pudding, I think. (Actually, it's my annual garden clean up day. I try to have it on a weekend, but it always depends on the weather and when the crew can come. I lucked out today -- it's about 75 degrees and partly sunny. Perfect.)
Tomorrow, we "defend" our proposed budgets and the rest of the week is jam-packed with projects and meetings. Stay tuned!

Dr. Pudding

Nope, it is not May 22, National Vanilla Pudding Day yet. However, does this man look like he needs his pudding! Yes he does. One thing I have learned over the years working here at MENC (now this is an “insider” secret) is sugar makes everyone happy and makes the world a better place to live in. You know, if you are having a really bad bad day and you need some cheering up and there is absolutely no one around to give you a hug – you just grab one of those little M & Ms and crunch down on it and, believe me, you will feel better. Why do you think candy is put out at meetings? Have no candy – then run and buy a bag and see how well your meeting runs! I think Mr. Trump and the Apprenti should listen to me and put out a bowl of chocolate at the “board room” firings. Hello. Might be better than what happened this past season.

Now, one thing our Dr. M has to do is go to a lot of meetings. Last week following all of his meetings Sunday evening, Monday, and Tuesday till noon with representatives from different organizations along with our three national officers, he had to jet off to Milwaukee for more meetings. So from the office to the airport he goes. It went like this: May 15, Day 1: off to airport get on plane – pilot said it is broken. Get off plane. 2nd plane brought in – get on plane, pilot says storms in Chicago. Wait hour on plane. Pilot says storms are over but traffic bad into Chicago -- it will be a two hour delay. Get off plane. At that point he asks for his luggage to be taken off plane. They told him “OK.” They say have a cup of coffee it will be an hour. No problem. He gets coffee, goes to baggage claim. No luggage. They tell him plane took off with his luggage on board. He goes home.

Day 2: He calls and they say “What bag? We can’t find it but when we do we will put it on a plane back to Dulles. It will be here at 1:45pm.” 2:00pm they can’t locate bag. They say it will be back in this area at 7:30pm. Web site says bag not located. 11:00pm they call and say “bag is here and you can pick it up.” He asks where “here” is? They say, “Milwaukee.” Anyway, eventually the bag made it back. So, can you see why he needs pudding? After you give him a little pudding see how his whole demeanor changes. This is one happy guy who has been at MENC almost as long as me – ALMOST – he came here in August of 1983. I hope as we inch closer and closer to National Vanilla Pudding Day tomorrow, you will also share with us a cup of vanilla pudding.

Around the water cooler: For those concerned about ARN and her job. Yes, she is still here and hiding in her office. You know the boss is the boss and, as with so many bosses, he is busy tending to the worries of the world and the "bigger picture" – there is just like too much information around for him to take it all in. That is why he has us, his loyal employees, and so, bottom line, we just don’t tell him she is still here doing her job! What happens here, stays here! Wink wink. So if you run into Dr. Pudding – don’t disclose what is in this blog message! I have unplugged his computer. You know, like I said, we just don’t tell him everything – I’m sure Mr. Trump doesn’t know everything either! And tomorrow is national pudding day!

Everyone loves pudding!

Hello all!

This week has just flown by for Gov. Relations and Outreach! On Tuesday night we had an MENC Government Relations Task Force conference call to work on a new advocacy resource. Keep your eyes peeled. I've also been getting ready for Tuesday's Advocacy Webinar titled, Working with Allies -- Associations and Businesses. If you are an MENC member, you are invited to register!

Today the MENC Legislative Memo is coming out. One great piece of news in the Legislative Memo that I want to share is that Congress passed a resolution in support of music education. The House passed the resolution on April 26 and the Senate passed it on Tuesday. Because it is a "concurrent resolution" it will not go to the president as many bills do, but rather gives a "sense of Congress". The conclusion of the resolution reads,

"Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that music education grounded in rigorous instruction is an important component of a well-rounded academic curriculum and should be available to every student in every school."

This week CW and SJ have been feverishly working on plans and invitations for The National Anthem Project finale June 14-16. (Shameless plug--you should come and sing with the thousands of school children plus the Oak Ridge Boys!) I have been working on the project since before it began and can't believe we're almost at the end. I think it has been a fantastic project for music education and has really highlighted the importance of music education to an audience that hadn't always been so supportive in the past.

Around the Water Cooler:

Part One -- Sweeps: I read an article about how Idol ratings are down and I have to say I'm not surprised. With Melinda now out of the competition I realized I'm not actually that excited about the finale. Then again I also realized I'm not that exicited about the finale regardless of who's in it. I'm still a big Blake fan, but I'm okay if he doesn't win. And I'm SO GLAD that Joey is in the finals of DWTS. GO JOEY!! I have to say the season finale of Ugly Betty last night blew my socks off--wow!! LOVE the show for so many reasons. Grey's had some shockers, but I'm disappointed in this season's portrayal of marriage so overall I was not as impressed.

Part Two: Stumbled upon this earlier in the week...love it!

Thursday Interlude: Music Grads Get The Edge

I graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City way back in the last century. At the time I vaguely recalled the UMKC Conservatory at the university and occasionally seeing someone loping across the campus carrying a violin. Today, as an alumnus who flips through the quarterly newsletter, I know the Conservatory celebrated its centennial in 2006 and counts among its graduates Kansas City native, composer John Kander (of the songwriting team Kander and Ebb). It is a highly respected training ground for musicians and musical careers of all types


An English major, I was so relieved to escape with a B in zoology, that I really didn't focus too much on the commencement speaker, who was a state senator or some other politician. To this day, I don't really recall what he said, though I am sure it was suitably inspirational. So I was extremely jealous when opened an email press release this week from the Berklee College of Music in Boston .


You know who appeared at their 2007 commencement exercises? Grammy-winning artists Gloria and Emilio Estefan and U2 guitarist, The Edge. Curious, I did some research and learned that Berklee commencement speakers in recent years were as follows:

• 1999 - David Bowie
• 1998 - Carly Simon
• 1997 - Chick Corea
• 1996 - Pat Metheny
• 1995 - James Taylor
• 1994 - Sting
• 1993 - Billy Joel
• 1992 - Bonnie Raitt
• 1991 - Ahmet Ertegun
• 1989 - George Martin

All I'm saying is that if Sting or The Edge or Gloria Estefan or Bonnie Raitt showed up at my graduation, there'd be no snoozing on my part and I am sure I would remember they were there. Music schools rock. Seriously.

From left: Andrew Hill's wife Joanne Robinson Hill, Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan, Berklee president Roger Brown, and the Edge.
Photo by Phil Farnsworth, Courtesy of Berklee College


The press release described the 2007 Commencement:

More than 800 graduates received degrees today at Berklee College of Music's 2007 Commencement, held at the Agganis Arena at Boston University. Honorary doctor of music degrees were presented by Berklee President Roger Brown to Grammy-winning superstars Gloria and Emilio Estefan, U2’s groundbreaking guitarist The Edge, and to late jazz pianist and composer Andrew Hill. Hill, who died unexpectedly in April was represented by his wife Joanne Robinson Hill.

Gloria Estefan delivered the commencement address to the graduating class and nearly 7,000 guests.
In her remarks, Estefan stressed the power of creating music, and encouraged students to write and perform from a place of personal meaning. 'Music is a healing force and we have the privilege of sharing it. It’s an awesome responsibility. It has to be something that says something from you. It’s a beautiful way to live your life. Whether you end up doing it for a business or just end up singing for your kids, teaching other people to do music, or doing therapy, go forward with a lot of belief, because it’s such an amazing way to live your life.'

The release went on to say that the night before graduation, Estefan was so moved by the
student performances at the traditional commencement concert that she added one of her own. "Without rehearsal, she took to the stage and sang her composition “Coming Out of the Dark,” with a student backup band and large student choir."

Curious about what speakers said at Berklee graduations past?

In 1992 Raitt shared:
"I'd really like to say today that my incredible career resurgence in the last few years is a testament that if you stick to your integrity and your goals, eventually somebody will appreciate what you are doing on a wider scale. I never have accepted that my success has been determined by my chart position, by how many tons of records I've sold, or how much press I got. The fans that have stuck by me all these years and come out to see me in a 3,000-seat hall, or a 500- seat club, or at Great Woods—those gigs equally mean as much to me."

In 1994 Sting reminisced about being a child at his mother's feet, watching as she was completely engrossed playing the piano. He also said, "Songwriting is the only form of meditation that I know. And it is only in silence that the gifts of melody and metaphor are offered. To people in the modern world, true silence is something we rarely experience. It is almost as if we conspire to avoid it. Three minutes of silence seems like a very long time. It forces us to pay attention to ideas and emotions that we rarely make any time for. There are some people who find this awkward, or even frightening."

In 1995 James Taylor was philosophical in addressing Berklee grads:
"As you know, music is the true soul food, and not that other stuff. You can criticize it, you can put a spin on it, you can analyze it and interpret it in terms of its cultural significance. But, basically that doesn't affect music. Music is beyond the fashion of consensus reality, and basically, it either connects with us, or it doesn't."

For a treasure trove of musical wisdom from an eclectic group of musicians visit the Berklee Commencement home page .

There were other musical graduation guests this year. Aretha Franklin received an honorary doctor of music degree from the University of Pennsylvania on May 14. Franklin describes Philadelphia as a city where "A lot of my early training was in Philadelphia, so it's appropriate and delightful that I'm receiving a degree from the University of Pennsylvania," she told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Franklin who did not attend college said "Philadelphia was a nurturing training ground for me. At the beginning of my career I spent a lot of time in Philadelphia at Showboat and Pep's on Broad Street, and later at the Cadillac Club. "
When asked if she had any words for the Penn graduates, Franklin told the newspaper, "The sky's the limit, but you've got to reach for it." Again, Aretha, I would remember. I'm just saying.

This coming Sunday, The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, will hold its 82nd annual commencement ceremony for undergraduate and master’s degree students and more than 200 students will receive their degrees.

Christopher Seaman, the music director of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will receive The Eastman Luminary Award for his work in supporting music and the arts nationally and locally with the RPO and in Greater Rochester. Seaman will also give the Commencement address, "Conducting Your Life."

Recent or not so recent music school grads, feel free to share your commencement stories, particularly commencement speakers. I'd love to read them.

Around the Water Cooler:
That thud you heard last night was my jaw hitting the floor when the American Idol voting results were announced. Melinda won't be in the final but Jordin and Blake will. Whew! I heard a comment a couple of weeks ago that I guess proved to be true: Melinda's support was a mile wide and a inch deep. I still think she will have a career, though. I would buy a CD of hers anyway. Of course I said that last year about Taylor Hicks and I didn't actually pony up the cash when his CD came out. Come to think of it, the only Idols whose CDs I've bought, are Fantasia and Reuben. I have purchased Kelly Clarkson songs though, one download at a time. The dance remix of "Because of You" is great for treadmill workouts.

Anyway the finals next week should be great. And as ARN and SR and I discussed in passing this week, I am also looking forward to the finales of Dancing with the Stars and 24.

See you next Thursday
RF

Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany IX: Survey Mania!

Seems there are surveys coming out of the woodwork, dancing and swirling around like Bacchae (or Sirens, as the case may be! calling me ever closer to the edge from which I will never return!) Not only the two big Eureka surveys, but now also a draft for a potential new project at MENC, as well as a draft of a survey to leadership pre-National Assembly (gathering input from staff, and pulling together past MENC surveys on various topics to create a digest of information we've collected in the past from members). And soon, I'll be sending two more surveys created by doctoral students who are researching music ed issues!

More surveys are possibly on the books for over the summer or early fall, and there is the ever present monthly on-line member survey soon due! It's great to collect information, and MENC is making a concerted effort to use the input from members to help inform decisions on national initiatives and policies....I love surveys, taking them, answering them, AND creating them, but I admit, my head is swimming! ;-}

Speaking of National Anthem project (see RF's blog of last week, Thursday Interlude)!
This weekend while out of town visiting my Mom- in- law, we were at the store, and while waiting in the car for my husband, I saw and HEARD.....a 7 year old boy transversing the parking lot, two full lengths behind his Dad.....The boy was dressed in a soccer uniform, and looked like he'd just come from his game. What made this scene unusual, the boy was SINGING, out loud! He was singing The National Anthem! Perhaps he was imagining the opening of a ball game, he was relishing every word, just kinda dancing and loping along after his Dad, lost in his own thoughts.....he knew all the words, even hit the high notes, and did not stop singing even as he opened the SUV door and climbed up into the cavernous vehicle.

I was mesmerized to see one so young, and a boy (usually it's the girls singing to themselves!), singing out loud, and then, for the song to be The National Anthem! I was sorry when he got into their car and shut the door, as I wasn't able to hear the end.....I had nearly gone over to him to say "Wow, way to go, good job, you know it!". Whoever taught him the song - or however he picked it up - it was neat to see, and I was hoping he would remember the words and not be afraid to sing it just as fearlessly and just as freely when he got older!

RESOURCES: Jazz and African music

Great interview in the Sunday May 13 Washington Post magazine, with Billy Taylor, of DC area jazz fame.
"The Last Encore" - about jazz, its place in American music and its future, or lack of it....by Wells Tower

Driving home from work Monday night, heard the BBC on our local NPR station, caught the end of a great interview/conversation with jazz star Hugh Masekela. He grew up in apartheid S. Africa, his parents listened to American Jazz; he pursued learning the trumpet, and left S. Africa at a young age and studied music in England and the U.S. To hear the interview, click here!

And to see what eight records he would take to a desert island with him, click here!

(note: BBC show, Desert Island Discs - one of Radio 4's most popular shows...Roy Plomley created in 1942; each week a guest is invited to choose the eight records they would take with them to a desert island. SEE LIST OF GUESTS FROM PAST WEEKS/year - click here!

Where I first heard Hugh Masekela back in the late 80's, GREAT GREAT show on African music:

Afropop World Wide

Around the Water Cooler
The withdrawal continues as I found out this past Monday that the finale of "24" (yes, I'm a fan...have watched since season 2 - although this season was really not very good compared to previous....) and "Idol" are BOTH next week! I kinda don't care who wins Idol (yes, I do! who am I kidding? Melinda Melinda Melinda!)

And I'm looking forward to "On the Lot", the new Spielberg reality show re: aspiring filmakers....nothing like living vicariously through others who have the chutzpah to actually DO it!! (I don't think I'll get "into" the Idol "Search for American Band" thing, or "So you think you can Dance"? although that was pretty good last year.....can't completely ignore my own reality!)

I am looking forward to seeing what song was chosen as the "winner" in the AI song contest....I succumbed and did the vote, listened to all 20 submissions, but truthfully, only listened to TWO all the way through! The other 18 songs, did not (could not!) listen to completely... you could tell the song just wasn't "taking off"......some were trying SO hard to be "THE" big inspiration/"Found my Dream" song........they weren't BAD, but they just weren't anything to make you sit up and really NOTICE or want to LISTEN. Let's see if others thought the same!

See you next week! SR

Celebrity Support

Tonight, I'm going to a great local club to hear Stephen Stills perform. Stills sells out stadiums with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, but also makes the rounds of 500-seat clubs as a solo act. Of course he's a rock & roll legend, but what I particularly like about him is that he is a supporter of music education! His Children's Music Education Project has made monetary gifts to several school music programs.

Another wonderful friend of music education is country artist Chely Wright. Her Reading, Writing, and Rhythm Foundation has made the difference for many students and schools. Every year, Chely invites some of her country music colleagues to perform at a big fundraiser at the Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville. Often more than $100,000 is raised. (One year, I spoke at this fundraiser to tell country fans how they could support music education through MENC's free membership program, MusicFriends.) This year's event is coming up in just a few weeks -- June 5.

Over the years at MENC, I've had the fun of meeting a number of famous musicians through MENC's public service announcement series, Why Music? It is always great to hear the nice things they remember about their music teachers. Suzy Boggus, Trisha Yearwood, Janis Ian, Edgar Meyer and Vanessa Williams are just some of the people who shared some fond recollections and gave credit to their teachers for getting them where they are today.

Must close - much to do still before I leave for the show!

-- EWL

In my world -- it is 1907!

Nope, not going back to WaKeeny, Kansas this week. However, I will go back in time to 1907 the year MENC was founded. The average life expectancy in the US was 47 years old. The average wage in the US was 22 cents per hour. The average US worker made between $200 to $400 per year. A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 a year; a dentist $2500 a year, and a mechanical engineer about $5000 a year. 90% of all US doctors had no college education. And my favorite - most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo. Only 6% of all Americans graduated from high school and two out of every ten US adults could not read or write.

By 1906, music study was recognized in Chelsea, Massachusetts, as a curriculum for which students could receive high school credit. With the growing evidence of public support for music education as an essential part of every child's background came increasing recognition of the complexity of the task faced by music teachers. SO, one year later in 1907 right there in Keokuk, Iowa, were 104 persons attending a conference of school music teachers at a church trying to band together in a professional association dedicated to enhancing, sharing, and promoting the best in music education for American children. WOW, I sound like a history lesson this morning! Not bad for Monday -- I'm trying to behave a little in my world which doesn't happen often.

Today we have representatives from the Show Choir community in MENC headquarters discussing possible joint adventures between them and MENC. MENC President Lynn Brinckmeyer; MENC President-Elect Barbara Geer; and MENC Immediate Past President David Circle arrived yesterday to meet with a number of individuals including the show choir community (Joel Biggs, Chad Alexander, and David Mollencamp), InTune Magazines executives (Irwin Kornfeld and Angelo Biasi), and MENC staff relative to preparing the MENC budget for fiscal year 2007-08.

It has been a busy few weeks in my world. I feel like I'm swimming with the sharks and not the bait material -- but sometimes you just don't know. We are working fervently to get the needed materials for the upcoming Centennial Congress and National Assembly prepared and copied. There are days my desk looks like chaos and other days it is chaos. There is a difference. However, since I need to check on the meetings in the board room I am going to leave you contemplating what it was like to wash your hair in egg goo. Yes, the photo to your left is me and egg goo.

The Intersection

Hello all!

This has been quite the interesting week--full of intersections between politics and music!

This week Gov. Relations staffer CW finished up our new book of congressional quotes of music education (with the help of designer KR). It is the third edition of Music for All and you can get your first look at it at MENC's Centennial Celebration. We have a fantastic collection of quotes so I asked CW for his favorite to highlight. It is from Senator John Kerry who said,

"We know that children who learn music are better equipped for success in life. Music education enriches children’s lives by helping them develop a sharp mind, abstract reasoning skills, and self-confidence as they grow into adults. Along with giving children a positive outlet for their energy, music education helps keep our young people on track, out of trouble and in school. Music education is an invaluable and essential part of education for young people, and investing in it is good for our kids, our schools, and our communities. I thank the National Association for Music Education for their commitment to this issue, and look forward to supporting their efforts in our new Congress."

In another intersection of politics and music, this week the AP asked presidential candidates questions what music they last purchased. What interesting answers and a great idea to bring that to political stage! You get a better feel for them as people after you read what music they are listening to.

Finally, we're working on the MENC Legislative Memo for May and CW writes the Congressional Corner. This month we're profiling Senator Chris Dodd and CW found he regularly listens to his iPod. In fact, there is a web site where you can request music or podcasts to be put on his iPod for him to listen to. Check it out and request what you think he should listen to!

Under the category of disclaimer, please note that nothing is this blog should be considered as any kind of an endorsement whatsoever!

Have a great week and "see" you next week!

Around the Water Cooler: How did it get to be May and how are we down to the final weeks of both American Idol and Dancing With the Stars?! While I'll probably be a little sad to see the two shows end, I'm really looking forward to Nigel Lythgoe's OTHER reality show (he's AI's Exec. Producer), So You Think You Can Dance. Come to think about it, Nigel's really given music and dance a national stage in a cross-cultural and cross-generational way unlike anything else I can think of.

Thursday Interlude—O Say Can You See

On Tuesday night after watching American Idol (Bye Lakisha. I will always remember "And I Am Tellin' You I'm Not Goin'." You may have a career yet, but go Jordin!) I was flipping through some television channels.
I landed on that 1992 classic, A League of Their Own on the Disney Family Channel. Even though I own the DVD, I stopped to watch for a bit because (1) because I am a huge baseball fan and (2) I love seeing Geena Davis (what a catcher!) I love it when she does the splits while catching the ball, Tom Hanks ( “Are you crying? There is no crying in baseball!”) and Madonna as “All the Way Mae,” (surely not an instance of typecasting) as their younger selves.

Before I saw this movie I never knew there was an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during and shortly after World War II. I thought that was pretty cool that women had smashed through such barriers.

When I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, a couple of seasons ago, I made sure to visit the AAGPBL exhibit at the museum.

One of the reasons I stopped to watch Tuesday night is because there is scene where a lady of, shall we say, generous proportions, sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” to rapt crowd. I am such a lady myself and it always makes me chuckle

Anyway, that scene reminded me what a large role the national anthem has played in my life for the past several years. Not long after I began working at MENC the association launched the National Anthem Project, the national project aimed at raising the profile of music educators and the role music teachers play in teaching students about the musical heritage of the United States.

As the MENC news person, I have been lucky to be present at several NAP events—the official launch on Capitol Hill with The Oak Ridge Boys, Girl Scouts, a color guard, MENC officers and members of Congress; the unofficial launch of the NAP Road Show during Army-Navy Game weekend in Philadelphia a couple of years ago; road show stops in Richmond, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland.

• I’ve taken photos of shiny-faced kids in NAP tee shirts passionately singing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” as their teachers directed them as a well-rehearsed performance. And I've seen them proudly wearing their NAP medallions, the red, white and blue ribbons dangling proudly around their necks.

• I’ve seen little boys race their dads to put the words to the national anthem in the right order on a magnetic scramble board and a group of young singers from a school for the deaf perform “The Star Spangled Banner” in sign language.
  

• I’ve enjoyed watching entire families giggle through a karaoke version of "The Star Spangled Banner" and then say "Can we do it again? "
• 
  
• I've seen teachers deftly handle television interviews that put a well-deserved on spotlight on their music programs.
  

As an editor, in Teaching Music and Music Educators Journal I have laid out pages with photos of teenage boys playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” on electric guitars, little girls and boys in an instrument zoo and happily banging on a variety of percussion instruments.

The Road Show reached a lot of people as it crossed the United States and many music teachers have told us that their music programs have become more visible as a result.
The project will end with a Grand Finale June 14 (Flag Day) to 16 in Washington DC and in Annapolis, Maryland.

I just came from a National Anthem Project Committee meeting where a group of us discussed the Grand Finale (visit The National Anthem Project Web site for the grand finale news). It will be a grand event indeed with students and teachers from 39 different states traveling to Washington to sing in concert at the Sylvan Theater on the Washington Monument grounds. the President's Own United States Marine Band along with The Oak Ridge Boys .


Hey, if you happen to be in DC next month join us. Or plan a trip. DC is beautiful in early summer. We'd love to see you.

And I will see you next Thursday.Toodles
RF

MIDWEEK MEANDERINGS and MISCELLANY VIII: EUREKA! EUREKA!

EUREKA! EUREKA!
No, sorry, no grand discovery, just the name of the survey company that's helping MENC with a preliminary study of how/if members use the national standards in the classroom! The survey went out last week, with some going out this week, and we've had a bunch of responses directly to MENC with feedback/reactions to the survey. This survey is only a preliminary look MENC will be taking/making regarding use of standards, so stay tuned in coming months for notices of additional surveys on this topic!

In addition to fielding the queries from the survey respondents, I've also been immersed in another component of that project - going through the arts/music standards for every state to see how they align to the national standards, comparing to the state standards information Eureka put together last November. I've been in touch with many state supervisors of music, and have been drilling down through state DOE websites... See the RESOURCES below for an easy quick way to get an overview of what's going on in the standards in the states!

Speaking of Surveys - have you seen the MENC Question of the Month for May? click here!
This particular survey always gets a lot of response. We've asked these same questions in December 2004 and 2005; I get the feeling these are topics members like to talk about! Add your thoughts!

RESOURCES
Did you know there was a EUROPE chapter of MENC?
CLICK HERE for a link to all the state MEA affiliates of MENC, and scroll down to E to get to the link for the European MEA!

STATE STANDARDS and other ARTS ED POLICY info:
AEP
ECS

AROUND THE WATER COOLER
I predict major withdrawal symptoms in two weeks as AI goes into the finale....but then again, will be nice to
not be so tied down to Tuesday and Wednesday nights! (why can't I be this disciplined for OTHER pursuits?!)
What a waste of a show to have BeeGees music sung by the contestants.... Sorry, just not a fan of Mr. Gibb at all!

See you next week! SR

The Rock-a-Thon

My nephew Warren plays alto sax in the band at Autrey Mill Middle School in Alpharetta, GA. His teacher is MENC member Wendy Milstead. Last month, the music department hosted a fundraiser called a Rock-a-Thon. The kids came up to the school one evening with their rocking chairs and rocked for four hours to raise funds for the music program.

Nearly $3000 was raised! And at the end, the highest fundraisers got to throw pies at the music teachers! Here is a photo of them before getting splattered. True professional music teachers -- they obviously know that being prepared is the key to success. (Left to right: Amy Creamer (drama/general music), Cristy Ray (chorus), Tim Anderson (orchestra), Wendy Milstead (band) -- all are MENC members.)

Of course it's too bad that these kinds of fundraisers are necessary, but perhaps a silver lining is that they do serve as team-building experiences for the kids, parents, and teachers. Last year, in Fulton County, GA (where Warren lives), all the elementary band programs were scheduled to be cut. Parents, students, and teachers worked together to get that decision reversed, which thankfully it was. (MENC and Georgia Music Educators Association also lent a hand in the effort. Here at MENC, we try to help our members and the parents in their communities by providing them with the information they need to show school boards how kids benefit from being part of a strong music program -- check out "Advocacy Central" for links to our resources.)

Band has been a wonderful experience for Warren. I never played in a band (I was a piano and chorus kid), and I'm in awe of band and orchestra instructors. The idea of taking little kids and molding them into an ensemble, and knowing enough about so many different instruments to be able to do that, is just amazing to me!

Have a good week -- EWL

P.S. I have a photo of my nephew rocking with some of his buddies, but I don't quite have time to pursue getting the permissions to publish it -- if those come through, I'll add the photo later on.

Countdown in My World

Where in the world and in mine is WaKeeny, Kansas? I don't have a clue -- except that George Heller in his 1982 Reflection on MENC's 75th Anniversary Perspective looking toward the 100th states, "In reflecting on the seventy-five year history of the Music Educators National Conference and projecting toward the centennial in 2007, it is clear that music education in America has a firm foundation on which to build its future. . . .In sum, it seems likely that surface problems such as economic hardship, political controversy, and changing structures will cause difficulties for the profession in general and MENC in particular. On another level, however, music will go on, it will have to be taught, and music teachers will want to share their experiences with one another. An organization which has survived World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Sputnik, Vietnam, and Watergate will celebrate a richly deserved centennial in WaKenny, Kansas, in 2007." I looked up WaKenny (on the map it was WaKenney) off of Interstate 70 and found the following stats: Population 3319; population over 25 is 2342. Interesting factoid is that those 3319 are living in 1258 households. The good news is there is a bed and breakfast built in 1906 which, of course, would be available for an MENC convention?

Yes, the countdown is under way for two events: (1) Keokuk II Symposium in Keokuk, Iowa (May 31-June 2) -- which by the way also has a bed and breakfast and is an absolutely charming community as seen from photos that MENC Immediate Past President David Circle took when visiting the community last year; (2) MENC Centennial Celebrationb (June 25-28) at the Coronado Springs Resort Hotel & Convention Center. If you have not made plans to attend, do so now. You can find information on the MENC web site.

As with any celebration, the planning started a long time ago in a galaxy far far away -- OK, I'm daydreaming -- it seemed like a long time ago. We are putting together agendas, notebooks, background materials, along with getting ready for a National Executive Board meeting that will take place a few days before the actually Centennial meeting June 25. Oh my, it should be so much fun and I would hate for you to miss it. Harley has made several trips to Orlando to check out the places we are going to have you meet. Here he is in the lobby of the Coronado Hotel. And don't forget the MENC Centennial Dessert Blast on Thursday, June 28, at Epcot. Come and have dessert and then be treated to the fireworks at Epcot. Harley also loves Epcot and made many friends one year.

Looking forward to meeting you in Keokuk and Orlando. Make plans now and go to the MENC site to register for BOTH events. Thank goodness, I did discover where Wakeeny, Kansas was today. Also did you know that they have a "Threshing Machine Canyon" that you can visit. Harley just might have to jump a plane and go see where in 1867 a party of travelers were transporting three threshing machines belonging to Brigham Young along the Smoky Hill Trail and while encamped..... sorry you will have to wait till next week to find out what happens.

Interviews and Parking

Hello all!

Well this has been quite a busy week for the Government Relations and Outreach Department. We've also been interviewing for an assistant and have narrowed the field!

All of this interviewing made me reminisce back to when I interviewed for MENC. I remember that when I came the beautiful cherry blossoms were in full bloom and greeted me when I arrived excessively early. As I sat in my car waiting for a more appropriate time to come inside, I thought, "What a beautiful place to work," and knew I would like it instantly. Of course the fact that my parking space was in full view of my interviewer's office didn't strike me until AFTER I started the job. And we all know who drives what car...there may be 58 of us, but we still know when an "new" car arrives... ;)

People definitely have their favorite parking spaces, too. The most controversial is which "side" you park on. When you drive into our parking lot, you can either park on the right side or the left side. People are very particular as to which side they park on. I, along with several others, have theorized that where you park is a direct result of where you parked for your interview. In fact, I have found few exceptions--except me. But I have a good reason! I changed sides after someone kept hitting my car with their door and leaving marks. I'm sure they didn't realize they were doing it, but regardless, my car is happier on the "other" side. This picture is of the "right" side.

Also interesting (and maybe only to me) is the incidence of the "pull-through" and the "back-in." Because we have somewhat staggered hours at MENC, the "pull-through" works well. Those arriving earliest (and therefore leaving earlier) pull through to the front spaces so they can leave in a forward manner. Then those arriving later park behind them, but can pull through when they leave because the early employee cars are now gone. The "left" side, as pictured here, are clearly "pull-through" people as evidenced by every... single...car in the picture. The "right" side adheres in the morning, but I've found more people on the "right" side leave the office for lunch and so disorder follows in the parking lot as employees are forced to use reverse when leaving.

There is also one car lover who truly loves his car and his parking reflects it. So much so that it begs mention. He parks in the same space every day in the back row so no one will park by him. He also always backs into his space to give a clean start every time. Just in case anyone considers parking next to him, he's started parking in the middle of two spaces to clearly say, "Stay away!" It makes me smile. And not park in the back row.

Isn't it amazing how much you can tell just from a parking lot? Thankfully we have a wonderfully maintained and well-kept parking lot (thank you JR) and we are a rather flexible bunch!

Around the Water Cooler: I'm so proud of Blake. I was really worried about him after last week and frankly, disheartened. I LOVED his rendition of "You Give Love a Bad Name" and think it is the most orginal version of a song on American Idol over all six seasons. Really. I think he is a true artist that belongs in today's pop music scene. GO BLAKE!!

Thursday Interlude: Rattle Those Pots and Pans

Hi Everyone,
I know you are never, ever, ever guilty of this, putting off something you kept meaning to do until it is too late to actually do it? A few months ago my good friend BS here began asking staffers and MENC members for recipes to include in cookbook to commemorate MENC’s April Centennial.


I immediately thought of a recipe to submit—"African Chicken Peanut Stew," a recipe I found a couple of years ago. My 13-year-old son Matt and my husband Steve are always happy when this dish shows up on the dinner table. The Africa Guide

I love to cook and on Sundays I often put together dishes that take a bit more time. The stew is great the day you eat it, but is even better the next day if you have leftovers. It is quite yummy, especially if you like peanut butter.

Any who, I never got around to submitting my recipe and you guessed it, the cookbook came out this week MENC Centennial. (Thanks for converting the book cover to a JPEG, MB.)

It is great fun to read and the recipes cover lots of different cooking styles. It is item #1000, $12.50/$10.00 for MENC members. You can also call MENC at 800-336-3768 for more information. KR did a great job of design and layout and the tasty recipes are accompanied by mouth watering photos from the aforementioned BS but alas, no recipe from yours truly.

The cooks who actually responded to call for recipes include Nancy K. Olson, a 12-year-member from Bottineau, North Dakota, who offers a recipe for Butter Horns or Scones that she says, “ are always big hit a bake sales,” and Karl Glenn, a 33-year member from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who submitted a recipe for “Perfect Restaurant Steak.”

And save some room for dessert. Candace Cook’s Raspberry
Chocolate Cake looks yummy, for instance. She is a retired member from Mesa, Arizona.

There are lots of great recipes in appetizer, bread and rolls, breakfast foods, cookies and candies, desserts, main dishes and other categories. Many of the recipes are accompanied by little stories and suggestions for music to listen to when you dine.

So, to make myself feel better for (sigh) missing the deadline, I present my little story, music suggestions from my son and the recipe itself.

My Story: A couple of years ago when my son was getting picky about food, I searched for recipes based on ingredients he liked. Peanut butter and chicken topped his list at the time and when I found a recipe for African Chicken Peanut Stew, I thought I had winner. I knew I was right when he asked for seconds, as did my husband and it has become one of my go-to recipes when I plan menus for the week.

Recipe for Success in the Classroom: Last year when Matt took Teen Living in seventh grade, he had to cook a meal at home and it was the first thing he thought of cooking for his project. We took pictures of him chopping and stirring various ingredients. His teacher was impressed that he had chosen a recipe that required a lot of chopping, but it’s really not a hard recipe to make. He got an A on his project!

Suggested Music: Matt believes anything by Bob Marley would be great, as would “Big Rock Candy Mountain” from the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. Of course the latter is just because he likes that song and the soundtrack. He also suggested "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley .

Try the stew and let me know what you think. You can now post comments by clicking on Reply below. What is your favorite recipe? What kind of music do you like to listen to during dinner?


African Chicken Peanut Stew

One and a half hours cooking time, including 30 minutes of prep
8-10 servings, 12 cups
1 tablespoon peanut oil
2 lbs boneless chicken, cubed
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 sweet potato or yam, cubed
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2/3 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy, your choice)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 bell pepper, any color, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped


1. In a large, heavy pot, heat the oil on med-high. When hot, add the onions and sweet potatoes, stir and cook until onions are soft and translucent.
2. Add chicken, cook til opaque.
3. Stir in the garlic, curry powder, coriander, cumin, and crushed red chiles. Cook 1 minute.
4. Add the carrots, celery, ginger, cinnamon, bay leaf, salt, chicken broth, and tomato paste.
5. Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 45 minutes.
6. When the stew has cooked for 45 minutes, stir in the peanut butter. Cook another 3 minutes, uncovered for the flavors to blend.
7. Stir in the chopped tomato and bell pepper. Simmer until the tomatoes and pepper are softened but still retain their shape, 3 to 5 minutes.
8. Stir in lemon juice. Serve with the chopped cilantro on the top, and additional red pepper flakes on the side, if you like.


Around the MENC Water Cooler: Or should I say, in the third floor kitchen. I have kitchen duty this week. Every two months or so we each are assigned to take responsibility for the kitchen for a week, loading a dishwasher, restocking supplies, swiping down surfaces, etc.) It just takes a few minutes to keep the yuck to a minimum.

One day this week while on chaos control in the kitchen, I ran into TH, our intrepid tech guru here at MENC. “How is your family?” I asked, and he shared the great news that his wife is expecting their third child in October.

He has a pre-teen daughter and a younger son and said he isn't concerned about gender, just wants a healthy baby. Given the fact that he urges everyone here at MENC to “have babies,” I was happy to know he is following his own advice.

He suggested I put his news in “that thing you do,” so here it is. Congratulations TH and more importantly, Mrs. H!

One quick note about American Idol, last night. So relieved that Jordin was spared, despite her screeching performance on Tuesday. Hey, she's allowed one misstep, ok. She is 17, for Pete's sake. She has been so fab all season, and I still think she can win. Phil and Chris. Eh. For those of you who are fans, see them on tour this summer. As for me, I was happy with the way things went.
See you next Thursday
RF

Midweek Meanderings and Miscellany VII: Tra La, It's May, or, Why I work at MENC!

Every day when I come into MENC, I step across a walkway of bricks inscribed with names of folks who taught
music, love music, work for music, or are remembering how music played a part in their lives (The Walk of Fame)

I've often thought of buying a brick to honor those in my life who introduced me to music and made it possible for me to enjoy, learn and perform music.... I try to commemorate them/honor them in each day I work at MENC. Sounds corny, I know, but it's true. The people who gave me my love for music are the ones who opened up the door to what I consider to be one of the best things going on this planet.....these folks are kind of my Fairy God People who are with me and come out whenever I listen to, sing, play, or otherwise engage with music or music learning/activities.

It'd be too long to go into detail about each of them - suffice it say that each in their own way was incredibly influential, made an indelible impression on me, and inspired me to keep learning, trying, doing, engaging with music. I could write a chapter on each, but due to lack of space, time and fear of boring readers (whom I sure have their own inspiring Fairy GodPeople of Music), I'll just list them as briefly as I can - (must say SOMETHING about them!) - in lieu of buying a brick for each which would cost me a fortune (which I'm sure MENC could use, but, sorry, so could I!) It's a bit self -indulgent of me, but as this is what's on my brain this week, lucky you all get to hear about it!

Lest this sound like an Oscar Award acceptance speech....ummm....well, it kinda does. My apologies. Get your gagging done now or just skip over this section. The point of all this is - without these folks, I'd not have a clue about music and therefore would not appreciate or WANT to work at a place like MENC. Working at MENC is my way of giving back to the field, to help perpetuate and preserve it so others can experience some of what I had the fortune to.

There's of course first and foremost, my parents. touchstones: the Weavers, Dad singing his old choral music around the house (Stenka Razin, Gospodi Pomilui, Russian choir stuff.....and of course, one that tickled us kids, from his army days, I think "OH porkchop, you shall be free, with gravy on them!"); Artur Rubenstein at Symphony Hall in Boston with Mom; five years of Saturday lessons in piano, theory, voice and children's choir at the New England Conservatory; records for my birthday and Christmas; my constant friend, the old red piano in the basement; the ever present support and encouragement... and memories of Mom teaching me at age 5 how to sightread (generally speaking), "Mighty Lak a Rose" in our old folk song book on the couch, and her praising me for being able to make my voice go up when the notes went up, and down when the notes went down.......singing to my infant brother in his cradle...falling in love at age 4 with Mary Poppins and vowing to be like Julie Andrews! Who says kids don't know what they want to do at an early age?

My first piano teacher Linda Hawes, who taught me theory and the basics; scales in each key written out in pencil in my composition book, helping me (albeit begrudgingly at age 7!) learn my ABCs, the building blocks of theory....my elementary Music teachers Ms. Daniel in 3rd grade, Mrs. Farmer in 4th and 5th who opened up the wonders of group singing to me and recorder and harmony and descants....

Mrs. Edna Geary in 6th, with her exacting standards and very professional conducting. My first exposure to the "real" world of professional music! (she was a little scary, but boy did I learn a lot!)

Then in 7th grade - oh dear, a man! But not just any man (Little did I know at the time! how we 7th grade girls dreaded class with this "old" man!). William Rice, father of Tim Rice of Jesus Christ Superstar fame; Mr. Rice shared with us the first recording of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which had just opened in London; he also taught us (what patience he must have had!) music that was more than kid stuff - sophisticated contempory harmonies and choral pieces - "The Summer Knows" from the Summer of 42 - we thought it was sappy and soupy but did it ever linger in my mind and did I ever realize the haunting beauty of it later in life. He was a genius we did not appreciate!

Martha Dahl in 8th, who was the idol we all ascribed to be/know, the dream teacher, beautiful and talented and funny and fun and fair and who gave us so many opportunities....her voice like gold crystal, her concern for us, we all wanted her to be our Mom! She was and is awesome! what crushes we had on her!

Lo and behold, thinking a new world of choral wonders awaited us in high school - sequestered and relegated to the 9th grade GIRLS CHOIR, deemed not "old" enough to be part of the elite "SELECT" Mixed choir - what frustration! and to make it worse - who was leading it, but our old nemesis (so we thought!) Mr. Rice from 7th grade! How had THAT happened?! Ugh. We were merciless on him. But he put up with us yet another year, teaching us despite ourselves...and then we were allowed entrance into the auditions for the ELITE SELECT Mixed choir having "done our time" in the 9th grade girl's choir!

AH! SELECT CHOIR. The legendary choir that went to Russian, Europe, the most talked of group in the school....led by the wonder of the school, Robert "Bob" Wentworth - shaggy golden beard, trim lithe build, long blondish hair reminscent of a lion-like Rasputin - he was a character and half - and he commanded the choir - you WANTED to sing for him - everyone loved Bob and he loved everyone back - he had a way of making EVERY SINGLE person feel like THE most important person in the world TO HIM, and yet, he could bring you to tears of shame when the choir acted up and he'd walk out on us to get us to realize he meant business. It was no easy task conducting up to 70 high school students each morning (yes! we had choir FIVE DAYS A WEEK! WHAT LUXURY!) at 7am.... the music he got us to make, the opportunities, how they filled us...when we found out he lost his hearing a few years after we graduated, how we cried! But it was nothing like the tears that flowed and the outpouring of alumni who came and sang the beloved Alleluia (Randall Thompson) at his memorial service when he died too young of a heart attack, those d..n cigarettes he constantly smoked!). No one was like Mr. Wentworth....

(More about him, I'm happy to provide....concerts with Randall Thompson conducting us as we sang his music; Michael Colgrass' premiere at Boston Symphony Hall of the contemporary choral piece "The Earth's a Baked Apple"; Thompson's "Alleluia" at Graduation; "Wimbawe" as we left the risers at springthing (see below); Mah-may-me- moh- moo every morning warm up and how Mr. Wentworth would vary it to keep us on our toes; the lecture hall (Earth's only paradise); Carmina Burana; Vivaldi's Gloria.....it was heaven on earth, the only thing that made coming to school really something to look forward to, starting out each day feeling fantastic and alive......nothing has ever come close....)

Of course, select choir would not be complete without Dean Aldrich and his wonderful piano accompaniment and quirky ways; and Dean handled the ultra select "special" choir, we did mostly madrigals, he was so good at working with a small bunch....quiet and quirky, he knew his stuff. Mrs. Putukian came to play one year when Dean was not around; she was great!

Those long Saturdays in Boston - I could not forget the lady who taught me all I know about singing - Ms. Afrika Hayes, daughter of the famed African American tenor Roland Hayes....at age 12, what did I know about life, music? But she was patient and giving and knew how to get me to relax and find my voice; I stayed with her til age 22...... what a presence, what a voice, what a beautiful lady......thank you thank you thank you Ms. Hayes!!

Then there was scary, Ichabod Crane looking Mr. Devries, piano maestro extraordinaire, whom I sure was exquisitely frustrated at having to teach such a slow stubborn study as I.....yet, through his introducing me to Czerny, Bartok and other contemporary/Eastern European piano greats, I learned technique and history I never thought I'd be able to..his scary pushing did something after all!

There was also the lovely and shy theory teacher, I've forgotten her name, but so dear and gentle and smart, teaching me all about theory, harmony, sightsinging and dictation, what a challenge and what a fascinating skill! I had to give up Mr. Devries as I could not practice as much as he would have liked me to (after all, I was a singer and into theater!). So we found wonderful Mrs. Balekdjian, private piano in town, whose passion for her instrument, music and down to earth way of teaching and talking kept me at the keyboard another two years despite my flagging interest. Thank you!

And at college - James Olesen, music professor/choir director MASTER,at Brandeis - another superstar, amazing talent, caring, high standards, taught us fantastic vocal technique, gave us such challenges, his artistry and passion, his love for music and way with people - just someone incredible.....what a sound he got us to produce!! I was never prouder than being in the choir under his direction! He was and is a pro......

SO...why "Tra La It's May? the Lusty month of may, the lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray,
It's time to do a wretched thing or two, and time to make each precious day one you'll always rue!"
Camelot as sung by Julie Andrews
While in high school, every May the school put on a "Spring Thing". Back in the 70's, this meant plenty of batik, silk screen printing posters, art work, outdoor musicians, food, sports, and raffles....plus events, concerts and theatre (no plastic moonwalk bounces for us, thank you very much! it didn't even exist then!). The kids of the school ran it and planned it. The center piece was the spring choral/band/orchestra concert, and the theatre department's spring musical. My freshman year, the musical was Camelot. As a lowly freshman, I was allowed to be only in the chorus....but that didn't matter. Watching the upper classpeople perform was a gift. May became a magical time, not just due to Spring Thing's festive air, but because performing in Camelot in our headbands of flowers and long dresses, secretly swooning over the guys playing Lancelot and Arthur, and pining to be the gal who played Guinevere, "The Lusty Month of May" became our anthem for May and spring and all things wonderful associated with music....it rings in my head every May since!
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WORK RELATED (just so you know I do work!)
Catching up on back requests, as the school year is winding to a close, people are contacting us for resources on curriculum for next year, budget issues, sacred music issues, cut backs to staff issues, materials for courses they're planning next year, and students with their final papers. Eureka has sent out the survey this week, and I've got to get on the stick updating the info on state standards that Eureka will use in the analysis of the results!

RESOURCES
Latest SBO survey on use of music tech in the classroom

MUSIC ED on line

AROUND the WATER COOLER
Very effecting, this girl can SING! Not the complete video, can't find - from Idol Gives Back, Jeff Beck and Kelly Clarkson

You like Idol? You like to vote? Help pick the song the finalist sings/records!
American Idol songwriting contest

See you next Wednesday! SR