I didn’t perform much this spring so I was pleased to have the chance to flex my singing muscles a bit at our annual faculty recital.

In part, because my spring was very full and in part to push myself to keep practicing improvising in performance, I made the choice to sing by myself in the recital. I am glad I did. The Whitney Theater has a lovely sound system and I sank effortlessly into the sensation of being wrapped in the sound of my own voice.

When I teach improvising, I often talk about solving the problem or creating a problem to solve. At the start of this piece, you can hear me set myself the challenge of singing a well-known tune over an unknown (even to me) pattern. I even took a brief detour for a short story.
All in all, time well sung. *smile*

From our director …

“I’ve wanted to direct Peter Pan at Northeast Middle School for many years. It’s a story that so perfectly and poignantly captures the experience of this age. There is boyish and carefree Peter Pan and his exciting fantasy life in Neverland. And then there is mature, sensible, nurturing Wendy who lives very much in the real world. Just like Peter and Wendy, middle schoolers are making bittersweet choices everyday between the innocence of childhood and the opportunities that come with growing up. While the characters decide they cannot live in each other’s world, I hope that our community is reminded of the joy and magic that can spring from our imagination.”

…

We are a little under a month out from the show and the question on everybody’s lips has been “Will Peter Fly?”

With your help the answer can be yes.

“Part of the magic of Peter Pan for both the audience and the performers is to make Peter fly. But we need your help. Flying Peter, Wendy and the boys is beyond what we have raised for our program this year. This will cost $6,200 and we are $1500 short of the goal.”

Two ways to help

1) Please consider donating $10 to the Flying Fund. You can use the donate button below to send your donation today. Your donation is tax deductible and any amount will help!

(If you prefer to mail a check, send to: Northeast Middle School PTA, 2955 Hayes St. NE, Mpls MN 55418.)

 
2) Come see the show! Show dates are Thursday April 18th and April 19th. Both shows are at 7pm. Tickets $8 adults, $5 student.

In March of 2006, I held my first Songtaneous session on a Wednesday night at a church in South Mpls. To my delight (and somewhat to my surprise), about seven singers showed up and our 2 hours together flew by. We sang, we laughed, we connected and Songtaneous was born.

Since that wonderful, and highly improvisational start (I thought that sing would be a one-time thing! *grin*), I have made it my pleasure to sing with other singers at least once a month. Sometimes, a workshop takes the place of a Songtaneous sing, but at the heart it’s the same. I make time and space to sing with others. And the gifts are many.

…

First and most important are all the lovely people I have met. From one-time explorers to returning regulars, from choir members to conference participants, every person who sings with Songtaneous adds to the community.

You, my dear reader, are part of the community even if you’ve never been to a sing. *smile*

…

(As you can see, *smile*) I’ve been thinking a lot about how Songtaneous and singing have changed my life (and me!) over the past seven years. Some of the changes are obvious. For example …

Seven years ago, I worked at a woodworking magazine.

Seven years ago, I had never been to Canada. Or Tuscanny, Tenerife or Amsterdam.

Or Paris. (Ah, Par-ee)

…

Seven years ago, I had never written a blog. I had written newsletters, but they were for volunteer sexual assault counselors and advertisers of woodworking products. Now, I write about singing. *grin*

Seven years ago, I had never taught a workshop or led over 300 people in spontaneous singing.

Seven years ago, I had yet to meet so many of the wonderful singer friends and collaborators I sing with now.

I mean, seven years ago I was just figuring out what community singing meant.

…

And, I’m still figuring it out. *smile*

Something about holding a space once a month for singers to come together and share and laugh and SING is transformative. For me and (I hope) for those who attend.

I have learned so much about spontaneous singing and what it means for me to be a singer from all of you. Your voices, interest, support and participation have made Songtaneous possible.

Here is to each and every one of you and here’s to seven more years!

(P.S. If you’ve never been to Songtaneaous, you should come sing with us sometime. *smile* The next Songtaneous is Saturday, March 30.)