Today I sang out at a senior home that is still pretty new and the personnel has changed so many times that I am still learning my way around there. I have sung there a few times before, so some of the residents look familiar but they have been pretty shy in terms of response to me until today.
Sometimes a new group takes some time to warm up to me. They look at me for the first few songs as if to be sizing me up and I think that is fair. In a place where so many have come and gone, I can understand their hesitancy to sing with me. I think singing is a very personal thing too and many are shy in public to do it.
So is it a great moment when I choose a song that brings a smile of recognition and eyes alight. That song was "Bye, Bye Blackbird." It is a song I don't sing a lot but I will from now on. Check out the lyrics below. I think the lyrics speak of finding your way in a new group, "no one here can love or understand me" At least for me that is a line that stands out.
From there I sang other songs that were also well received "Sentimental Journey", "I'm Looking over a Four Leaf Clover', " Five Foot Two". When I finished playing, many told me it was "tremendous", "wonderful" and their applause and smiles made me see the music had won them over.
Sometimes I wonder, when I am their age, what will the song(s) be for me that will make me smile?
How about for you? what song would make you smile?
Bye, Bye Blackbird
Pack up all my care and woe
Here I go, singing low
Bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet, so is he
Bye bye blackbird
No one here can love or understand me
Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye bye
Reply
Blue O'Connell / Blog
VSA Art Show
The VSA Art Show is one of my favorite events of the year. VSA (very special arts) is an organization I work with that promotes experiences in the arts for people with disabilities. I lead sing alongs with several groups per month and as a result I have gotten to know many gifted and inspiring people.
The evening got off to a friendly note when I walked in carrying my guitar and a woman came running up to give me a big hug. "We miss you when you aren't there!" I was a little caught off guard because while she looked familiar to me, I could not place which group I knew her from. I said, "ah... which place is that?" She laughed and told me JABA. That's a place that has a very big group (over 30) and I'm not there as regularly. Anyway, what a nice way to be greeted!
I've been part of VSA Arts for over 8 years now and so it was wonderful to see all my friends beaming with pride with their artwork showcased on the walls at the MLK Performing Arts Center. Even the local TV station came and a few were interviewed! See this link for that. The event was very well attended (well over 100 people) in spite of the rain and cold. I feel so lucky to be part of this community.
I am pictured above with my friend Carol as I hold up her artwork in the new VSA Arts Calendar.
Reply
Beauty is Everywhere
I went hiking at Ivy Creek Foundation yesterday and came upon some interesting mold formations that looked like flowers. I also saw some bright orange mushrooms out there but I regret I didn't take a picture. (will do next visit!)
So what does this have to do with music? To me, it is a metaphor in finding beauty all around us. Even a clump of fungus can be beautiful if we see it that way.
It's the same with music. Not all songs I sing with others at the nursing homes are the most earth shattering gems you hear in concert halls. But that is what makes it beautiful for me when I sing with others . The unpolished, unadorned, muddy shoes, earthy old folk songs. The beauty is how our voices blend and create music out of simple melodies. Some voices more like flowers, others (like mine :) more like mold--they are real and true and even mold can be beautiful. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't sing. It is not true. We need the weeds as well as the leaves, the roots as well as the branches, the flowers as much as the fungus. Beauty is everywhere.
Here's the link to this entry on my blog:
http://blueoconnellsmusicaladventures.blogspot.com/2013/07/beauty-is-everywhere.html
Reply
Bye Bye Blackbird
Today I sang out at a senior home that is still pretty new and the personnel has changed so many times that I am still learning my way around there. I have sung there a few times before, so some of the residents look familiar but they have been pretty shy in terms of response to me until today.
Sometimes a new group takes some time to warm up to me. They look at me for the first few songs as if to be sizing me up and I think that is fair. In a place where so many have come and gone, I can understand their hesitancy to sing with me. I think singing is a very personal thing too and many are shy in public to do it.
So is it a great moment when I choose a song that brings a smile of recognition and eyes alight. That song was "Bye, Bye Blackbird." It is a song I don't sing a lot but I will from now on. Check out the lyrics below. I think the lyrics speak of finding your way in a new group, "no one here can love or understand me" At least for me that is a line that stands out.
From there I sang other songs that were also well received "Sentimental Journey", "I'm Looking over a Four Leaf Clover', " Five Foot Two". When I finished playing, many told me it was "tremendous", "wonderful" and their applause and smiles made me see the music had won them over.
Sometimes I wonder, when I am their age, what will the song(s) be for me that will make me smile?
How about for you? what song would make you smile?
Bye, Bye Blackbird
Pack up all my care and woe Here I go, singing low Bye bye blackbird
Where somebody waits for me Sugar's sweet, so is he Bye bye blackbird
No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me Make my bed and light the light
I'll arrive late tonight Blackbird, bye bye
Reply
Growing older is a privilege
Today I visited an assisted living center where I have gotten to become friends with some of the residents. After we sang, "The Hammer Song", Melanie told me about when she saw Peter, Paul and Mary in concert years ago. This led to talking about Pete Seeger and I mentioned he was still alive and still making music in his 90s. Then Helen said she is 93 and we all agreed she didn't look it. All of this led to talking about aging and I said I thought it was a shame that so many people talk so negatively about getting older. Then Melanie said, "it's a privilege". And when I asked her why, she said, "because we have wisdom." And then I remembered the quote above and told it to her and she said, "yeah that too." I feel lucky to have elder friends who inspire me. I don't dread my elder years because like the saying goes, it is a privilege denied to many.
http://blueoconnellsmusicaladventures.blogspot.com/2012/10/growing-older-is-privilege.html
Reply
Blue O'Connell's Musical Adventures
Here is the link to my photo blog about my adventures:
http://blueoconnellsmusicaladventures.blogspot.com/
Reply
Choose the Sky
I started working on my CD over two years ago but had to put it on hold to undergo cochlear implant surgery. At that time, I was unsure if I'd be able to enjoy music again. Cochlear implants are more of a speech processor and not known for musical achievement. But I worked with a music teacher right after my implantation and did some ear training and I was not only able to recover what I had before but surpass my previous musical abilities.
This is because now I can hear every single note on the guitar! (before it dropped off at the 7th fret)
If you'd like to purchase a copy of "Choose the Sky" you can do you in advance and that would help me a lot! Thank you! here's the link about it:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1866045875/choose-the-sky
Reply