Wow, what a busy month it has been! There is a lot to reflect on - hopefully I can remember it all.
School - so far, so good. It's translating 5-finger patterns into major chords for me in Class Piano. Moving on to the Baroque Period (1600-1750) after studying the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Music Appreciation. I love that we're getting into music that I've performed before (Handel's Messiah is in this unit). Unfortunately, school was cancelled all of last week due to snow and ice, so I'm guessing we'll be moving through content pretty quickly to catch up. I probably should have been reading ahead on my snow days...
Church Music - I made a commitment to myself in January that I would spend time outside of my congregation in the coming months to learn more about other church music programs and worship formats. I got the pleasure of starting the adventure this morning at First Presbyterian Church here in Oak Ridge. So much music in their service - hymns, responses, prelude, postlude, plus an anthem - with a choir that sings every week. I was honored to be invited to sing the anthem and serve as cantor for one of the Psalms. I even got to wear a choir robe. I thought it was wonderful that Rev. Sharon leads the choir in a blessing before service. Their choir is truly seen as a vessel of God's word. That's powerful. I'm looking forward to another visit at First Pres in March.
Concerts in February - As in, this will never happen again. :) Poor Peter Mayer traveled all the way to Oak Ridge from Minnesota for a concert last night. All the weather forecasts said the temperature would rise into the mid 40s by Noon, clearing away the wintry mix we'd been fighting all week. But, painfully, it never got above 34 yesterday. Everything stayed frozen or a dangerous slushy mix. The church parking lot was an ice rink. So, we decided to cancel the concert. Which, of course, is an administrative nightmare. There are MANY thank you's in order for all the folks that worked so hard to get the concert ready and several more who helped host Pete this morning while I ran off to sing at First Pres. I was totally depressed to miss his musical offerings to our service, but I did get a chance to touch base with him briefly afterwards. I got to share with him a little bit about this journey that I'm on. He was impressed that I was going back to school and really making a go of this dream. It was fulfilling to get that kind of support from a musician I admire so much!
Support - I have found all kinds of support in so many places. Friends who watch my kids so I can pursue my dreams. A spouse who watches the kids more than his fair share and has started doing laundry - I can't believe how spoiled I feel when clean clothes just magically appear! Music colleagues who share resources, give me advice, and invite me to sing. People who make a special effort to tell me how they liked my song or how I led a hymn. A day job where I feel valued and supported in pursuing my passions. And just when I need a break, friends who invite me to craft class and church events that reconnect me to my support network. Each of you reading this blog make a difference in my life. Thank you.
Special Thank You - Today was especially long for me. I was at First Pres by 9 to rehearse, followed by service at 10, then a church event (Everybody's Birthday!) at ORUUC, then a kick off meeting for OWL (sexuality education course for my 11-year old), then a rehearsal and performance of Psalms, then grocery shopping for the week. My husband is out of town, so my 9-year old daughter had to tag along with me ALL day. As in, go to service at a church she has never attended (but thankfully had a friend there who she spent the night with), leave quickly afterward to go to the Birthday event and ORUUC kids choir rehearsal, then sit around for TWO HOURS of my meeting (Netflix on the iPad - I'm not proud), then sit around for another HOUR of rehearsal and another HOUR of concert. She sat attentively and respectfully during the concert BY HERSELF. Then helped me with grocery shopping without a complaint. I would have given her anything she wanted in return for dragging her around all day. And all she asked for was peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks. You got it, kiddo. I'm adding a special shout out on my blog because I could NOT have made it through today without her cooperation. She's amazing.
