A Musical Interactive Sunflower Story!

 

Here's a fun and worthwhile music teaching game: 

1)  Find some slow music in which to "grow".  A slow movement from a symphony by Brahms, Mozart, Dvorak, or Haydn work well.  Of course, it is also perfectly acceptable to put on any slow folk or rock music if that is to your liking.

2)  You and your child or class should start out in what I call seed position which means you are curled up on the floor and ready to uncurl and grow upward as soon as the music begins.

3)  As the adult or teacher, feel free to give direction such as, "Okay seeds, the sun is out and we are growing toward it.  Oh goodness, here is a little breeze and some raindrops so you will be swaying a little bit."

4)  Use your creativity from there, whether it be to use your arms as stems and your fingers as the growing sunflower seeds.  Maybe some imaginary birds will even fly over and tickle your sunflower seeds! (your fingers)

5)  As the children are ready to be done, you all may slowly curl back down into seed position as the snowflakes make the flowers heavy.

Getting Through Winter 2021 During A Pandemic!

Greetings in the new year!  While we all are conjuring up as much hope as we can due to the Covid-19 vaccinations starting to happen, we still need our healthy coping skills to make each day positive and productive.  One of my coping skills is listening to and making music.

During the month of January 2021 I was lucky enough to work with Tony Axtell, a Minneapolis sound engineer as well as a mighty bass player and pianist to produce my new composition, SPELL.  The other musicians that helped record this tune were Joe Elliott--electric guitar; Greg Schutte--drum set; and me--vocalist and wind synthesizer.  

Composing the lyrics and music to this vocal jazz ballad focused me on the art form of creating.  It was a joy and the next highlight was working with the musicians involved.  So, not only was I coping, I was overcoming the negativity of the pandemic.

Here are pictures of the musicians and if you'd like to hear the piece, here is the address to the Joan Schubert And Friends Facebook page where you may click on the link to SPELL.    https://www.facebook.com/Joan-Schubert-And-Friends-2087644207914367

I wish all of you the best as we forge ahead into this wonderful new year!      Joan Schubert