Anne Goes to School

School started this past week.  I'm taking two classes: Music Appreciation and Class Piano I.  Here's what I've learned so far:

1. Get over it.  Yes, I am the oldest student in the class.  I spent a remarkable amount of time getting dressed for class on the first day (do I wear professional clothes because I'm an adult?  jeans and a t-shirt because I'm a student?  sweats because that's what I'm used to working from home?). When I got to class, I realized that I just need to let go of my self-consciousness and instead worry about learning. You know, the thing I'm here to do.  By day two, I stopped caring and started listening.

2. Time for homework!  Oh wow, had I forgotten about this part.  When I registered for classes, I set aside time for class.  Rearranging my work day and workout schedule to make way for class time.  I totally forgot about homework time.  And I'm an incredibly slow reader, so doing 20-30 pages in a night takes forever.  Plus, there's listening homework, too.  I need to revisit my schedule to carve out homework time. And practice time for piano. 

3. I know stuff!  Hey, did you know that I know stuff?  Who knew?  On Day 1 in Music Appreciation class, I was able to identify that a song we were listening to only had strings.  So that was validating.  In our first piano class, I already knew the notes on the keyboard and basic rhythmic notation. Whew.

4. I don't know stuff!  As I read my Music Appreciation book, I find myself overwhelmed with descriptions of music - dark, rich, brilliant, piercing, warm, expressive.  These are kind of foreign words to me  at this point.  I recognize that interpretation is really left up to the listener, but I feel like I've got a lot to learn in choosing words to convey what I hear.  That is, of course, the point of the class.  So I'm in the right place.

5. I'm already learning stuff!  I've never thought about five-finger patterns before.  (Ask me what they are when you see me.)  I'm learning to play them for all the major keys. With both hands.  My left hand doesn't like to keep the beat, I find.  It's not used to using all the fingers independently.  I've also learned there are instruments in the orchestra that I've never heard of.  Including an English horn, which is neither English nor a horn.  And ways of playing instruments that have formal names I've never heard of, like pizzicato (again, ask if you want to know).  And a pick, guitarists, has another name.  I also learned that notes have set frequencies.  Something tells me I'd enjoy a science of music course.  

So far, so good, friends.  Thank you for the continued support.  :)

How I've Kept Busy

These past few weeks have been emotionally pretty challenging for me.  My sense of self-worth is built on being helpful.  So I spent the first few weeks of January trying to convince myself that I could be helpful in ways beyond directing the music program at ORUUC.  Ashton has taken over the program so seamlessly that I felt kind of "empty" with such a reduced workload.  And since school doesn't start until later this week, I didn't think I would have much to fill the void.  Thankfully, that wasn't the case.

First came a request from Anna Thomas, the Music Director at First Presbyterian, to sing "O, Divine Redeemer" for a memorial service.  I gladly agreed and the whole experience was so fulfilling.  It met my need to fill the time void with rehearsing as well as my desire to be helpful.  The service was this past weekend and I was filled with such gratitude to be able to share my voice. 

Next, my new status as "student" afforded me the opportunity to attend a presentation by President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Second Lady Dr Jill Biden at my new school, Pellissippi State Community College. I mean, what are the chances?  That I now live in Tennessee, that I decided to go back to school, that I registered at Pellissippi, that I got a ticket in the lottery, that my work schedule is flexible enough to allow me to attend... It was just a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I truly enjoyed it, despite my rants on starving that many of you have heard.

I've also spent time with my family.  We all went to see the new "Annie" movie, then my daughter and I watched the stage production in Knoxville.  We also went with some friends to see "Into the Woods."  I like to think of this extra time with the kids as making up for all the time I didn't see them in the Fall, but really I think my kids don't know what to do with me when I'm around.  I get groans when I say I'm making dinner at home instead of going out.  :)

Most recently, I've filled my time with anti-racism work.  I've co-led an effort at our church (with Heidi Brenner) to create an Allies for Racial Equity group.  We had our first meeting this weekend and I was really pleased with the turnout.  Many of us attended the local MLK Fellowship Breakfast this morning and several others participated in the Knoxville MLK Day parade.  We have a group of 6 people getting trained to deliver Beloved Conversations workshops next weekend, so that our entire congregation can benefit from this powerful workshop.  We've got a group planning to join the 50th Anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" March in Selma.  And there are so many more ideas coming forward from this team.  I'm really proud to be a part of it.

So, there you have it... how I spent the past few weeks.  Wednesday officially begins my new chapter as "student" once again.  I'm looking forward to it - with a little hesitation in being twice the age of most of the people in the room.  But that's a story for another day.  :)

Wrapping up as Temporary Music Director

As of December 31, I wrapped up my role as Temporary Music Director for ORUUC.  But not before a few final lessons could be learned!

On Monday, Dec 22, the day before our Solstice Concert, I came down with the flu.  Like, the real flu - where I went to the clinic and got a swab up my nose to find out that I had Flu A.  Chills and fever and all that stuff they talk about on TV.  I won't lie, it SUCKED.  I spent three full days in bed, even with the Tamiflu.  I felt physically horrible and emotionally even worse.  I could not fulfill my commitment to host the Solstice Concert -- and I also wasn't able to attend Christmas Eve service.  I felt like I let my congregation down.  And I was also disappointed that I wouldn't be able to direct the choir in these two events.  It was heart-wrenching.

I was saved by several music heroes.  I'm calling them out in my blog because I'm just so darn appreciative of these people.  Michael Raymond took charge of logistics for both events.  Nancy Starr directed the choir pieces.  And Gina Grubb made sure the band was set up for success.  This team took over for me when all I could do was send emails from my phone on my sick bed.  And both events happened.  Music was made.  And although I was not a part of it, I felt like my planning contributed in some small way to making it all happen.

After I felt a bit better and was no longer contagious, I went into the ORUUC Music Office to pack my things and leave some helpful information (passwords, coming events, etc.) for our new Interim Music Director, Ashton.  It was bittersweet - feeling proud of what I've accomplished in keeping our music program moving for the past three months and really sad to let go.  This role has confirmed my calling ... and I will always be grateful for that.

This past Sunday was spent in meetings with Ashton, describing responsibilities and the status of various projects.  Then, as my final act as Music Director, I directed the choir in a Christmastide Festival.  It's a way for our local church choirs to get together and hear the pieces performed around town during the holidays.  And although 15 or 16 of our choir members had said they would be available, the flu and other illnesses are still going around... so 8 showed up.  That might freak out other Music Directors, but looking at those who were willing to sing, I knew we'd be alright.  I decided to sing along, too.  And, thankfully, I got used to directing from within a group when I led our a cappella choir in high school - so head nod cut offs come naturally.  Our small ensemble of 9 (Nancy, April, Annie, Linda, Michael, Dave, Larry, Duane, and me), accompanied by our wonderful pianist Charlotte, rocked the Christmastide Festival with tight harmonies and accurate cut offs.  It was a fitting - and beautiful - way to transition from leader to choir member. Thank you all.

And that brings me to this week.  This week, I don't have to organize or prepare or direct anything for ORUUC Music.  My music classes don't start for two more weeks.  Other than my regular Monday evening and Wednesday evening commitments, my schedule is open.  So, I'm trying to enjoy this brief downtime.  Anyone wanna do lunch?