We had our first in person recital in three years!! Due to the pandemic, it was outdoors. Aria played Witches Dance by Paganini and Charlotte played the Bach Bourrees. They've both been working hard on music during quarantine. Ariadne took a fiddle class and learned note reading. Charlotte joined a cello rock group and had her first year-long orchestra experience with California Youth Symphony. I may post more about those later, but here's the recital!
Aria playing Witches Dance
Charlotte playing the Bach Bourrees
Posing with their teacher afterwards. We've been meeting with her online for almost three years, and in person for five before that.
Cousins! We had several family members able to attend. Here are the girls with their cousin.
And for posterity, this is what our outdoor recital looked like to anyone walking by, late pandemic, 2021. Most if not all of the 16 year olds to adults are vaccinated, some of the 12-15 year olds have had a chance to get their first shot. Outdoor and social distancing are still key to any get together. The governor had lifted the mask mandate the week before.
One of the longest standing classes at the kids' homeschool co-op has been ballroom dancing. It outdates everyone at the co-op, save the teacher, Dorothy Rose. Fifteen years (at least), she has taught there.
The kids don't just dance on Friday afternoons during class. Some of them, and even some friends who've never taken ballroom, make a habit of attending the twice monthly live music dances at a local ballroom studio.
Big band sounds, live and in person, tempt them onto the dance floor. The group grows and shrinks given the whims and schedules of any given month. At the end of May, it was a particularly large group, somewhere around 18 in all. The rest of the clientele tends to be geriatric, though I've seen an increase in 30 and 40 somethings in the two years we've been going.
I admit, that when our 12 year old wanted to get dropped off at a public dance, I was a little trepidatious. But as it has turned out, I can hardly think of a more wholesome (or fun) way for teenagers to go to a dance. Is there running around and gossiping? Do the 'ship' each other? Date on occasion? Sure they do. But everyone dances, and dancing with someone is not a be-all-end-all statement on a relationship. As Nova pointed out, it is actually good exercise (more than once, I've picked her up with flushed cheeks and a little sheen of perseperiation). The high drama, tears, and standing around waiting for someone to ask you to dance are generally absent. I figure this is because it as much about actually dancing as socializing, and because it happens a couple times a month, the stakes aren't so high. And there are always 2-3 parents who camp out in the balcony to chaperon.
PS, While it looks like the couples don't change, they actually do. I only had my camera out for one dance.
Charlotte likes to play with her cello. As in, the cello becomes a playmate. Waiting for Solomon and Nova to finish orchestra rehearsal last winter, the cello got dressed like a snowman. Sometimes Aria pretends to be a very special kind of human cello (I think she mostly likes to hide in the case, which is just her size.) On the way to Charlotte's cello concert last spring, I overheard the following conversation:
Charlotte: Hello Cello
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: I like Happy Farmer and May Song.
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: We are going to play Happy Farmer today.
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: What do you like to play?
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: I like harmonics too.
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: What is your favorite color?
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: Between orange and red. That's nice, I like those colors too.
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: My favorites are green, blue, silver and purple.
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: What is your favorite thing to do? I know, I bet it's playing music, right?
Cello: music that sounds like 'no, no, no, no, no'
Charlotte: It's NOT?!
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: You like to be put away in your case? What to do you like about it?
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: Mom, she said she likes the soft velvet inside and the chance to rest and take a nap.
What is your second favorite? Playing music? NO?
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: Getting your end pin pulled out? Why? Does it tickle?
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: She said it's like a massage.
Cello: music sounds
Charlotte: Oh, I see. She was just kidding, her favorite thing to do is play harmonics. The other two are her second and third favorite.
And here they are, playing Happy Farmer by Robert Schumann (Note: this is from her group class a few weeks before the recital. If I find the video of the recital, I'll put it up).
Solomon and Nova have been going to Fiddle Camp for a number of years--in fact most years since they each reached 7 or 8 years old. Every once in awhile, they get a chance to play at the State Fair. 2015 was one such year.
Granne and Grandpa John came to see them (and give me a hand with the two younger kids). Afterwards we got some pronto pups, then headed to the midway for some thrilling adventure.
Ariadne and I enjoyed the carousel and the giant yellow wave slide. Nova and Charlotte were daredevils and went for the trampoline and bunji jump ride. We looked at some enormous horses in the equestrian building and Charlotte got to try braiding a horse's tail. We wrapped up the afternoon with the Ferris wheel and some slushies.
Between this blog and Facebook, I've posted plenty of things about my oldest three playing musical instruments. But the solo stuff is only half the story. If you are a Suzuki parent, you'll know what I mean. Group class happens just as often as our individual lessons--at least for strings (that's once a week folks!). An intensive note reading class happens around third grade, followed by the addition of orchestra to the Saturday morning lineup. Both photos above and below were taken the morning of a play-in, where all the groups get together and play. The orchestras also played, which triggered a dress code. The kids are wearing the unofficial Suzuki uniform--dress black and whites.
What is group class? What does it look like? What does it sound like? Well, it changes as the kids age, but it starts out as pre-orchestra and ends up more like mini ensembles or sectionals. Think early childhood music classes to begin. The first one starts out with no instruments (except the instructor's guitar) and plenty of parent involvement. We sing, we do dances and movement, we get to play with lummi sticks and shaky eggs. We explore musical concepts like dynamics, tempo, staccato and legato. We sing fun and silly lyrics to Suzuki songs. Here is Charlotte's first group class performing 'Apple Apple Apple Dumpling' (AKA Song of the Wind from Suzuki Book I).
As the kids get older, they play review songs together. Rounds and the like help them get used to playing together. They play games like 'hid the rosin', a musical version of 'hot and cold.' They take turns playing solos for each other. They try to sound like 'one big violin' (or cello). They get to know a new teacher. They get to know each other.
If a particular song is going great, a group might perform at a Friday Night Recital together. Last year Solomon's group class really settled in to a piece by Telemann.
*Note: I am including both stills and video for video selections where possible as videos have failed in the past.
This Halloween we once again had everyone in costume, in part thanks to a halloween themed recital the older kids signed up for (before we knew it was halloween themed--but I'm not complaining, it was fun).
We capitalized on past costumes and serindipitous cartoon sequals. When Nova was about six, she was Aang, from the Avatar; The Last Airbender series. Since then Nickelodeon has come out with the sequal, Korra; The Legend Continues, which is set about 70 years later (a fictional 1920s). As it turns out Aang's granddaugthers Ikki and Jenora wear the same traditional air bending outfit their Aang wore as a kid. Nova's Aang costume became a Jenora costume, and I made an Ikki costume for Ariadne, using the larger one as a pattern.
Solomon wanted to be Sauron from The Lord of the rings. Sadly, we could not figure out how to make the mask and spikes compatible with playing the viola. He settled for Robin Hood, which we purchased completed. I have figured out I only have 1-2 costumes in me per Halloween. The kids need to either rotate, do it themselves, thrift, or borrow from the dress-up box.
We had just read Coraline for book club in mid October and Nova seized on the idea of being the Other Mother. To my surprise, this ended up being the hardest costume. A key componant of this very creepy character are her button eyes. While many have simply attached buttons to their faces. However, I figured Nova would find it difficult to walk on stage and play a violin solo blind. We found a tutorial that used eyeglass lenses, limo tint, and clay. Since Nova has 20/20 vision, we got some fashion glasses from GoodWill and popped out the lenses. Grandpa John helped grind them into to the right shape. Some limo tint and clay later, we had see-through button eyes. After trying everything imaginable, we discovered scotch tape is the best way to make the eyes stick. For the hair we gave a long black wig a bob while it was on Nova's head. Polkadots and red trim were the defining characterstics of the Other Mother's dress in the movie version. Luckily we had a great dress for the Other Mother already in Nova's closet.
Mere blocks from our house is a Halloween wonderland. (It is so good, in fact, that virtually no one trick or treats on our block). Ghosts, ghools, witches, and super heros throng the street. People camp out in their front yards with bonfires as they give away candy--there are so many trick-or-treators there is no point going back inside. The scary house below was most likely the instigator of the extreme popularity. Decorated to the nines, the boulevard has both statues and live
'actors' ready to terrify. It is hard to tell the difference until the move or shout 'boo!' Some kids love it, others insist on crossing to the other side of the street. Neighbors joined in, going so far as to screen kid friendly Halloween movies in the driveway, popping corn in a carnival cart to share.
Halloween night Solomon had a birthday sleepover, Nova went to trick-or-treat with a friend in a neighboring suburb, and Charlotte and Aria trick-or-treated with friends in our neighborhood. The night finished off with hot apple cider and a little play back at our house.
"That's the Okee Dokee Brothers!" Ariadne exclaimed as our Suzuki playlist unexpectedly rolled into 'Bluegrass for Breakfast' one day in late winter. When passing the History Center she pointed and said the same thing "Okee Dokee Brothers!" And when she saw a rainbow, she also recalled the Grammy award winning children's musicians. We had not listened to the band in months.
It is hard to say what will become an indelible memory at the time it occurs, especially for a small child. Certain things do up the likelihood. Strong emotions (particularly negative ones), something unusual, events that make a story, these things all help. Strong emotions were abundant. The History Center's mascot, a bright blue person-sized dog known as 'The History Hound' was in attendance. Ariadne was terrified of it, despite it's friendly overtures. Even 100 yards away with 100 people in between, she clung to me in fear, declaring 'Bad Ruffy!'
There was anticipation, the kids were looking forward to seeing a favorite band in person. And lastly, we had suspense. As we found a patch of grass on the hillside, towering gray thunderheads blew into the sky. Umbrellas boomed like flowers, black plastic cloaked the speakers, and the drops came down fat and round. They were just about to call off the concert when the sun broke through, forming a rainbow against the dark clouds. Soon it has cleared up and the concert was back on. The evening worked itself into an nice narrative, and rainbows certainly count as unusual. If there is such a thing as a memory making recipe, we had all the ingredients covered.
Clapping to the beat and throwing their hands in the air, the crowd was really getting into it. Preschoolers (and older children as well) thronged around the edge of the stage. Charlotte, Nova and Aria got right up to the edge. One of the songs included percussive clogging.
I daresay it was even a memorable occasion for me. I thought about blogging about it at the time, but given the endless parade of summer activity, wondered if one evening concert warranted its own post. Given the intervening months and the lasting memories (particularly those of my youngest), I see now that it does.
Perhaps it was memorable for some of these folks as well. We ran into several friends among them, including an old high school friend of mine (incidentally, the very person who had gotten me to Counting Crows and Lilith Fair concerts and played percussion with me in band). She and her two year old were visiting from Baltimore and taking the local music scene.
Here is Nova's first Scratch Project. She is very proud of it, and happy that it is finally done. From beginning to end, the entire project was completed without any help from grown-ups. She recruited her younger sisters to be voice actors and coached them through their lines.
If you watch it in full, you may be surprised at the end. *Spoiler Alert* The monster wins. Part of me wanted to strong-arm an ending I found more morally satisfying. Shouldn't good win out? What about the village? Why did the good witch capitulation when captured? Shouldn't she put up more of a fight? Play the martyr? When I made objections, Nova responded 'It is a happy ending for the monster.' And that it is. When I questioned further, she explained that ravaging and pillaging was simply what monsters did, and it did not make them bad.
Replace 'monster' with 'cat' and 'ravage and pillage' with 'hunt', and you have an argument I've given many times. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. For a minute I thought about how we would have to rearrange our lives to broadcast an 'all life is sacred' message. A vegan household with a crazy cat sprang to mind.
But on further examination, I do not believe such a lifestyle is necessary to promote compassion and kindness, and neither do I believe there is really anything wrong with the ending of Nova's video. Fiction and play are both safe ways to explore different ideas and different points of view. Adults underestimate children in this regard quite often. Playing the villain does not make a child bad. It makes him curious, even compassionate. They are imagining the world from a different point of view. I trust that Nova would protect humankind from a monster if one appeared in real life.
Solomon and Nova participated in a Friday Night Recital this December. Each Suzuki teacher is a little different. While their previous teacher did studio recitals like clockwork each November and May, their current teacher has no studio recitals at all. Instead we do a sort of 'a la carte' version by participating in school wide recitals (which also means there is a variety of instruments, which is fun). Typically kids will choose songs that they have played for quite awhile for these, so they will be really polished. Solomon and Nova each chose an old favorite--Witches' Dance by Paganini for Nova, and Gavotte by Becker for Solomon.
We made good use of happy hour at Kindee, a Thai fusion restaurant down the street. We tried a little of everything, making a meal of many appetizers. Charlotte was very fond of the calamari until she found one that looked like what it was. The cranberry cream cheese puffs and tempura green beans were favorites. Ariadne was all about the sauce. It was fun to take the kids out to a fancy restaurant, and we had the place ourselves for most of our meal.
The kids did very well performing. Nova whipped right through her song and was all smiles at the end. Solomon started off beautifully, just like he had played it umpteen times already that day--and then encountered his first case of stage fright. It had to happen sometime, I suppose. He found a good spot to jump back into the song and finished admirably. Though he was less than happy about the way it went, I think it was a valuable experience. Resiliency is an important trait that you can't build up without a few mistakes.
The last week in July is fiddle camp. Solomon and Nova have attended fiddle camp more often than not since they have been old enough (7 or 8). Most years one of the three days of camp falls on Solomon's birthday. It is just plain fun. They always come home really happy. I believe they are playing Swedish fiddle music below. This year they also focused American fiddle music. The kids favorite song this year was 'Sally Goodin.'
In addition to the music, there is always a craft. In the first photo Solomon is playing 'You are My Sunshine' on his one-string dulcimer--this year's craft. With staples for frets and a cigar box body, this 100% playable craft project has been declared the coolest yet. Solomon tried to keep it a secret during camp, but Nova just couldn't stand the suspense and spilled the beans. Past crafts include bodhrans (Irish drums), Mardi Gras masks, and bones (the instrument).
Ross Sutter, the mastermind behind all the crafts, helps the kids tune their dulcimers.
What is fiddle music without a little dancing? The kids also learn folk dances at camp and on the last day they get as many family members on the floor as possible. Ariadne proved a little young for this particular dance, with all its allemandes, chasse and ducking under dancer-made bridges. Granne and Solomon, and Charlotte and Nova held their own though. Imagine all the adults going under the little bridge made by Nova and Charlotte's outstretched arms. Ariadne got in on the last dance with me a--less complicated, but no less fun--circle dance.
