Bit of a drama at MENC Monday, a city transformer blew somewhere in the vicinity of the MENC headquarters. Coming back from a lunch time errand, I noticed the traffic lights at the foot of our road were out. As I walked into the building, instead of the usual bright light, a night-like darkness enveloped the reception area beyond the glass enclosed lobby. The entire MENC building was without power - not even the emergency lights! Except for the offices with windows, the entire inner part of the building was pitch dark. I felt like a mole in a mole hole, feeling my way in the dark, calling out for fear of bumping into someone! Some staff were giddy, it was like a snow day, to have everything quiet, interrupted, and wondering if power would come back on ....and, when we found out that power would not be restored for nearly 2 hours or more, staff were let go.....early release day! How often do you get THOSE?! Some staff brought work home with them, and others came in extra early the next day.....MENC's business must go on!!
Hum of the school year definitely back and everyone busy as bees. A few things that came across my plate this week.....keeps me on my toes, and makes me appreciate what I do here!
- a request from a Mom who had played string instruments growing up, and who was in a quandary about how to encourage (or not) her young 3 year old daughter with her music making. The problem stemmed from the history of the family: the writer's Grandmom had wanted a career in music, and so pushed HER daughter (the writer's Mom).....but, the writer's Mom DIDN'T WANT a career in music, and resented her Mom (the writer's grandmom) for pushing her, so, the writer's Mom did NOT encourage the writer in HER music career.....and so now, this third generation daughter who wrote MENC was torn about how to handle her OWN 3 year old (4th generation), who was showing a natural inclination to music, and seemed to have a knack for the piano, as she was going over to the piano a few times a day on her own initiative, and picking out tunes and scales. CONFUSED?! Think how the poor writer Mom feels!!
- a phone call from Tunisia, a doctor calling on behalf of a friend in Ghana, who wants to come to the U.S. to continue post -graduate studies in music; they wondered if we had any resources for scholarships
- an associate professor of music education undertaking a study on the effects of breast cancer on musicians (she herself a survivor), asking if MENC could somehow get word out about the study - CLICK HERE if you're a breast cancer survivor and musician!
- another long time MENC member CW has her oldest son coming home from Iraq this week, after a year and 4 months in the service, and her second oldest son getting married, all within a day of each other!
- another MENC member, EF, tragically lost her 9 year old daughter in a car accident in mid-August.....
- long time MENC member (now retired, but still incredibly active in private lessons, church music, university band music and other events and activities) DM notified us that she was chosen by her city as one of 29 "Good Neighbors" in Louisville KY; people who went above and beyond in helping their community.
I ran across this the other day while searching for info on youth orchestras, thought it might be fun to share:
2005 U.S. Census Bureau survey on Arts and Leisure in the U.S., had some statistics regarding "Adult Participation in Selected Leisure Activities" . Of 44 possible activities (singing not a choice, but flying kites was!) MUSIC landed in the TOP 13! As an activity/pastime, 5,563,000 people responded that they did "Play a musical instrument 2 or more times/week". The activities that beat music for having more people engaging in these activities 2 or more times/week involved food (naturally!) and words and games!
reading books 43, 036,000
surfing the net 39,182,000
dining out 21,202,000
crosswords 14,216,000
cooking for fun 13, 145,000
barbecuing 11,499,000
video games 9,432,000
baking 7,274,000
entertain friends or relatives at home 6,928,000
word games 6,832,000
playing cards 6,304,000
electronic games (not tv) 5,920,000
(note: blogging was not a choice!)
For more info and detail, see Table 1225 HERE!
CHECK THESE OUT!
European Union directive on noise abatement contains a provision that will limit the "noise" of symphony orchestras beginning early next year! In all serious, this is the warning issued! "Listening to live symphonic and opera music may cause conductive, sensorineural, or central hearing loss".
Read all about HERE! and HERE!
And see MENC's Health in Music Education Position Statement
And, two university "wellness" departments for musicians/artists
U. North Texas Center for Music and Medicine
George Mason U. (VA) Center for Arts and Wellness
Speaking of hearing loss, the Washington Post Sunday magazine had a very moving and thought provoking essay by a musician confronting his hearing loss: MASTER GUITAR MAKER
Mentioned El Sistema in last week's blog, the children's orchestra for at risk street kids. Read what Julian Lloyd Webber has to say about "Venezuela's social and cultural miracle" "One man's dream has ensured that Venezuela is not only the first South American country to play classical music better than football, but that its youth orchestra is the finest advertisement any country could wish for". "Every one of (the young musicians) has a story to tell". "I'd either be dead or still living on the streets smoking crack like when I was eight," said a french horn player.
READ the full article HERE
(For more links to stories about the Youth Orchestra, write info@menc.org)
and JUST for fun!
Chocolate is for everyone!
Have a good week and see you next week! SR
