Fairy Tales

A Guest Post By Susanna

I yearn to be in lands of magical lights.

I belong where there are fairies and knights;

Where there is not only one moon that gleams so bright,

But two or three to chase away all fright.

I dream of centaurs, who study skies untold;

Trees that whisper enchanting songs of old;

Of castles and battles,

Pirates and princes;

Of hay spun to gold,

Dragon tales ages-old.

I wish to see the magic pumpkin carriage,

Or the Beast's love, ending in his marriage.

I want to be captured by a unicorn.

And rest my hand upon his brilliant horn:

We will fly. Up to the golden sun,

Down to the sea. Oh now, we have just begun!

Dreams belong to naiads,

And mine with dryads,

To the bearded dwarves,

And lop-eared Minotaurs.

Though I fear only one door to Never Land

Is found, in pages fastened by a band.

Mind you open them often, for only here

May we slip through its ink ... and disappear.

Susanna is a fifteen-year-old homeschooler and the fourth daughter in a family of six children. She loves God, animals, and gourmet cooking and plays violin and piano. Oh yes--and she just happens to be our beloved younger sister who always has a special gift for us, whether that be her entertaining tales, her beautiful music, or her behind-the-scenes service. She recently took first place in a poetry contest for this original work of art, and we could not be more proud of her achievement!

Photo Credits:
#1: ToNToN CoPT
#2: Raquel of God's Daughter

What Do You See?

Should a man see only popularity, he becomes a mirror, reflecting whatever needs to be reflected to gain acceptance.  Though in vogue, he is vague....

Should a man see only power, he becomes a wolf--recognition is his prey and people are his prizes.  His quest is endless....

Should a man see only pleasure, he becomes a carnival thrill-seeker....With lustful fever he races from ride to ride, satisfying his insatiable passion for sensations only long enough to look for another....

Only in seeing his Maker does a man truly become man.  For in seeing his Creator, man catches a glimpse of what he was intended to be.

-Max Lucado, God Came Near

Photo Credit: Seq

Concert in the Works

Although the planning and music selection began in December, with two weeks remaining before Lauren and my annual Spring Music Recital, preparations have definitely kicked into high gear. We are making a list and checking it twice, drawing on the experience of five years of past studio recitals, and incorporating the great methods and ideas of past instructors and fellow music teachers and friends. So here are the plans for this year's event--some new, some tradition, some borrowed, and some original.

Begin Teaching Recital Songs by February

We chose every student's piece during our winter break, and ordered all the necessary music. For many students, I tried to give at least two options so they could pick their favorite piece and be excited about investing four months into a piece. Many students learned their pieces by ear, and therefore will be performing songs well above their music-reading level (those kids have no idea what eighth notes are, but they are playing them in perfect rhythm).

This also gave plenty of time to emphasize good memorization--every piece must be memorized for the recital (though there have been those times when kids are allowed to play with music, memorization is still the required standard). I like to have my students memorize each hand separately and then together--it challenges them to memorize intellectually, rather than just by muscle memory. Next year, I hope to be even more organized at starting recital pieces early, because trio pieces (we have three trios performing this year) weren't handed out until April, and a few kids had to wait until mid-February for their piece because of back-ordered music.

Pick Date Early and With Everyone's Help

We weren't so good at picking the date early (it didn't get decided until the beginning of May), and consequently one family will not be able to make it. However--one family out of 37 students is not bad. Every year, we use a Google form to poll the families for dates that work best for them. It's a wonderful way to easily figure out if our favorite date will prove impossible for half of our students. This is one of the few years that one of our students won't be able to make it; we're usually able to find a day that works for everyone.

Host a Practice Recital

One year, we had a lot of new, young students. Worried about how they would react on recital day with quivering nerves, unfamiliar acoustics, a sea of strange faces, and a different instrument (for the piano students), we organized a practice recital. It was such a success, we've continued the tradition every year, choosing a date one or two weeks before the recital at the venue where the recital will occur. We review performance techniques, point out the tape on the stage for the violinists to stand on, and run through the entire program with the just the kids. But lest the evening get too boring, we break up the performances with fun, musical games to engage the kids and get them to meet each other.

During the practice recital, kids also get to vote on their favorite music-themed artwork that has been submitted by students in the preceding weeks. The winning artwork will be printed on the front cover of the recital program!

The Big Day

A CD plays the prelude music while we hustle and bustle here and there, setting up flowers picked from our yard, making punch, tuning violins, organizing our accompaniment music, setting up a table to hold everyone's violins, decorating the food tables, and setting out music programs. Ahead of time, we asked for a loose RSVP to insure enough programs and tableware. Students arrive fifteen to twenty minutes early and hand us their music and their instruments to be tuned. Much to our delight (and some students' chagrin), everyone comes in formal, dressy attire to communicate their respect for the audience and themselves; we make it very clear ahead of time that this is not a jeans, tennis shoes, or flip flop event.

This year, we had a semester-long practice contest, so our recital will not only include 36 solo and ensemble pieces on violin or piano, but also an awards ceremony for the winners of the practice contest. Every student will additionally receive a small token of our appreciation for them. Finger food refreshment afterwards is a wonderful time for the students to mingle and revel in the joys of a job well done. We supply musical cutout cookies, punch, and table service, and everyone else contributes a finger food for a fun completion to a wonderful evening!

Are you hosting or attending a music recital this year? What are some of your favorite ideas for pulling these events off? I'd love to hear in the comments!

For a wealth of information on recitals and all things piano pedagogy, visit Music Matters, one of my favorite music blogs.

Our 2009 Recital

Our 2011 Recital

Picture Credits:
#1: darkmatter
#2: Colton Witt Photography
#3: christing-O-

Three Generations, One Big Adventure!

Saturday, Sunday, Monday.  Three days.  Three generations.  You're invited along for the ride, but it involves swords, spaghetti, volcanoes, and a Bigfoot sighting, so come at your own risk! 

Micah means business...

...and so did Mikaela when she wielded an almost equally as fierce blade to chop all these pounds of carrots!

Grandma, Papa's mom, looks quite cheery as she washes dishes with a servant's heart...

...and all these gentlemen look equally as cheery as they celebrate Micah's entrance into manhood: his thirteenth birthday!  Each one of these men, young and old, have had an impact on Micah's life, and they gathered from near and far to encourage and exhort Micah as he becomes a man of God.  We served dinner and dessert on the lawn.  Outside, peace and quiet reigned and we girls felt outnumbered...

...but inside, this snapshot of chaos gives you an idea of the hustle and bustle that was going on!  Grandma and one other dear friend helped us serve the meal, and we definitely needed every one of the seven pairs of hands enlisted! 

Each of the men shared a word of exhortation to Micah--precious wisdom that he cherishes. 

The men gathered to lay hands on and pray for Micah. 

Micah closed the evening by sharing thoughts of gratitude to each of the attendees.  He carefully planned and spoke these words out of thankfulness to all these men and young men have done for him. 

Micah, Jonah, and "the gang" (which includes Darcy the furball, of course!)

The next day was Mother's Day, and we were thrilled to have Grandma and Grandpa with us on that day of celebration!  We took Grandma and Grandpa to the lilac gardens near us, and Mama snapped a picture of all of us beneath the giant wisteria.  (I couldn't resist the 60s filter on Picasa, by the way!)

While we were there, a group of Renaissance Madrigal singers serenaded us with their delightful a capella selections! 

Jonah on the left, Grandma and Mama on the right.

After a hearty lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory, we drove out to the grist mill that we love to go to on Mother's Day and enjoyed showing Grandma and Grandpa around!  It is so peaceful and beautiful there, but you have to speak up over the roaring water!

Jonah and Micah: Who's king of the hill?

 

Planting a smooch on Grandma, then giggling! 

 Aren't Susanna and Micah adorable? 

Melanie on the bridge

 On Monday, we decided to take Grandma and Grandpa up to Mt. St. Helens, since it had been awhile since any of us had gone.  The day was gorgeous, and we could see the mountain all along the drive up.  This is remarkable, you must understand, because it is usually shrouded in clouds. 

 Micah and Grandpa take in the scenery. 

We stopped at the Seven Wonders museum on the way up, a new experience for all of us.  This museum was incredible!  Run by an older Christian couple, it offers a creationist perspective on the volcano.  (You remembered that today is the 32nd anniversary, right?  I thought so!)  Mr. A. gave us an hour long slideshow presentation that was fascinating and extremely well done.  We learned all of the different proofs that Mt. St. Helens offers for creation, and much more about the volcano than we had ever known before! 

This scenic spot called our names for a picnic lunch!

 

 Of course, when it's 84 degrees outside, doesn't everyone stop by the side of the road and go sledding?  Sunscreen and snowboots--what could be better?

 What about a fierce snowball fight?  I'm afraid some of us ganged up on Grandpa, and he threatened to feed me to the chickens!  (-: 

The crater of the mountain. 

I can't tell you how powerful it is to see the volcano and all the surrounding landscape.  Some of the land around looks beautiful and pristine, but in other areas you can still see bare logs scattered like matchsticks, leftover from that day 32 years ago.  Some of the land is barren, and the very strangeness of it is provocative of memories.  My parents clearly remember the sun going dark in the middle of the day and the ash covering the streets like snow.  My mom was babysitting at the time, and her first thought was that the Lord had returned.  When she heard her mom's voice on the phone, however, she breathed a sigh of relief.  If God had come back, she knew her mom would not still be on the earth. 

The rivers were so backed up by the ash that the road that we now live on was flooded by the small creek that runs next to it.  No one could drive the road for two weeks afterwards.  Stories like these abound in Washington, and yet God's mercy can still be seen in the destruction.

 A beautiful view of Coldwater Lake, which was created 32 years ago by the volcano.  (A tidbit for some of you: yes, there is a Coldwater Creek that runs off of this lake!)

 This A-frame house was a few days away from being finished when the mountain blew and it was buried and flooded by the mudflows.  It was a total loss. 

 And who says Bigfoot doesn't exist?  My brave brothers don't seem much daunted, however!

It was a weekend of hard work, belly laughs, off-key singing, delicious food, and wonderful conversation.  What could be better?  Now I want to hear how you spent your Mother's Day, and any stories you may have to share about Mt. St. Helens!

Deadline

When I was working on the Bible portion of my degree in music ministry, Thursdays were my deadline. Some professors required assignments to be submitted by 9 PM, and so I got them sent by 8:59. Others said midnight—and with five minutes to spare, I would slide across the finish line. Now, I only have a few music classes to finish up, but guess what? No weekly deadline. And with a full roster of music students, serious health problems that Mama has been grappling with for the last year, and all the genius ideas and important ministry and necessary duties that call, finishing has been pushed to the back-burner.

Funny how life is like that.

People achieve the outlandish under a time limit. Of course, we strive for organization and shedjules: to finish things whether there’s a due date or not. Give any responsible person a task and a deadline, and it most likely will happen. It’s why music teachers hold recitals, paper mills have boiler audits, the IRS claims April 15^th, schools test, bloggers set days for blogging, and farmers get the tomatos pulled before frost. It’s why we strive for goals.

It’s the benefit of death.

Each one of us is living with an expiration date that trumps library book due dates, marathon training programs, and referendum signature-gathering deadlines. We are born with a ticking clock over our heads, and the older we get, the more we realize: this life isn’t forever. But we should be glad for death—we should embrace it. It has no sting anymore; it holds no fear for the person who has surrendered his life to Christ. When my grandma was a little girl, her pastor explained death to her in a way that resonates to this day: “Death is just coming home from the chilly winter outside. You pass from outside to inside, and you take off your coat.”

Imagine how indolent and restless our lives would become if we lived forever, or even just for the better part of a millenium. I don’t envy Mephibosheth and Seth, though I know God sovereignly planned each one of their centuries just as He sovereignly ordains each one of my decades. I will live forever—after death, in a beautiful state of glorifying God.

For now, on this side of death, I have a deadline looming above me. It’s not a dark cloud. It’s an energizing thought—one day of my calendar is circled in red, and there will be no more days on earth after that. So much to do, so little time. It’s the story of my life, and probably the story of yours. Aren’t you glad we work well under deadlines?

Photo Credit: Fulvio Bisca