So, how are things?

Happy Tuesday and welcome to the first day of October!

I had plans to share a long post today about my experiences at Leadership Institute 2013 this past week.  Unfortunately due to many different things it's just not quite ready yet.  I'm shooting for tomorrow.  

 
I've been busy with a few projects I have yet to share that I can't wait to explore with you.  One, is my new position of Contemporary Music Director at Central United Methodist Church in Lawrence, KS.  I have hit the ground running and playing a little catch up to prepare for worship for the last few weeks.  This hasn't left much time for writing but I am confident my schedule will settle down once a few more things are organized in advance.

I have also been doing a ton of reading about the United Methodist Church and the future of our denomination with an eye towards worship and the arts.  We are looking at ways to rethink what it means to be a church for the future.

In addition to all that reading I have created the rough draft of a vision statement that I have been mulling around for the past few days:

Connecting people of all ages and enriching people's lives with music 

in the church and the greater community.  

Easier said than done for sure but it's a great goal and one that I feel is worth striving for.  I can't wait to see this evolve in the next couple months.

So, how are things with you?  Are things getting busier for you this month?  What are you doing to stay sane?    

Looking Back: Reviewing 2012

After reading this annual review and a list of music goals here, I was finally ready to start thinking about what I had done and experienced in 2012 and what I would like to accomplish in 2013.  This post was planned to be part-one in a two part series that would reflect on 2012 and look forward to 2013.  Life happened and I didn't get around to posting.  I figure it's never too late to reflect and do some goal setting.  So, let's start by looking back.  

Here are some of the high lights from 2012:

January
-Started the Certification for United Methodist Musicians paperwork process after finishing my last class to complete the education requirements in December of 2011 at Saint Paul School of Theology

April
- I celebrated my 30th year!

May
-Put together a music resume CD.  
-Read "Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality" By Donald Miller
-Certification paperwork was sent and references collected.  Background check was not completed due to lack of funds.  First paycheck of 2013 should fix that up quite nicely.   

A Wesleyan Statement in One Sentence

"A journey of holy discernment enhanced by our traditions, cultivated by our experience, guided by scripture, and enlightened by reason."

This statement was generated as a United Methodist Doctrine class exercise on what it means to be Wesleyan and United Methodist.  This is my statement that came out of that project.

Introducing My New Music Job Search Series!

I wrote a post several weeks ago about my frustration at not being an employed music director. Since then I have been making strides to try and figure out what I need to do to make that a reality. I have evaluated my education and practical experience, reworked and updated my resume and cover letters, put together job listing sites that I regularly check and have started to get the word out that I am serious and looking.

As I have gone through this process I realized that looking for and applying for music ministry positions is not easy. You aren’t asked for the same information that an office professional or a food service worker would need to provide. The jobs you are looking for probably aren’t in your local paper’s classifieds section either. There are quite a few things that are specific to musicians that aren’t discussed when you start looking for help in your job search online.

So, that is where this Music Job Search Series was born. My goal for this series is to share some of my experience and make the process a little smoother for someone else. For the next few weeks we will walk through what it takes to job search in the music world. I will cover how to find the perfect job, resumes, cover letters, additional application requests specific to musicians, selling yourself to prospective employers, and what to do while you wait.

This is a unique opportunity for us to write the book on what it takes to job search in the music ministry world.  So, I encourage you to share your stories and tips in the comments as we journey together.

380 Posts and Counting...

The Elliott Music Studio is celebrating a blog-versary this month.  380 posts have been written since I started this Blog in February of 2008.  I can't believe it has been that long.  When I started I wasn't sure this was something that I could keep up with or even do.  I have learned quite a bit since I started and now I am loving sharing my passions with you by blogging here each week.   

Here are few of the most popular posts of the last three years:

Hope: Advent Devotional Week One

10 Piano Quotes to Celebrate National Piano Month

Video of the Week: "I am Restless" by Audrey Assad

The Simple Woman's Daybook - September 14th, 2010

I have been looking toward the future and goal setting the past couple months.  I am feeling the need to start accomplishing some of my big dreams this year and that is really exciting to me.  I can't wait to share this journey with you and write the next 380+ posts. 

Is Music Really My Passion?

I have been reading an amazingly helpful blog, Blogging with Amy, that has given me tons of insight into what it takes to make a living from blogging and how to follow your passion while doing just that.  In a recent post, Amy shared questions to get you thinking about what you are truly passionate about and how that might translate into a theme for your blog.  The answers to these questions would help to focus your writing and give your blog a specific voice.  I thought it would be fun to share some of my answers as I explore my own passions and ideas for this blog.   

• What enjoyable activity do you get so involved in that you frequently lose track of time? ~ I could sit at the piano for hours and used to regularly before my children were born.  I also enjoy searching the Internet for unique music and creative ideas.  I can spend hours online sometimes reading all the things I want to read.  My RSS Reader can get pretty full sometimes.  

   

• If you were given one week to spend any way you liked (and all your responsibilities were taken care of), what would you do? ~ I would yarn craft like crazy, listen to tons of music and do score research, learn a few new pieces on the piano and for solo singing, spend quiet time reading and reflecting, Get out and see a show or listen to some live music, finally record some of the songs I have always wanted to record but haven't had a quiet house to do it in.   

• If you were given a check for $2000 and ordered to use it on something fun for yourself, what would you spend it on?  ~ I desperately want studio time to do some professional recording so my first instinct is to say I would spend the $2000 on that.  My other thoughts would be to invest in myself and go to a music and worship conference that I have always wanted to go to and with the remainder buy a nice outfit and have a night on the town experiencing the Jazz music scene in Kansas City or the Opera.  I don't get out to live music enough.  If I could fit in some updated professional photos of myself I would, too.

 

• If you were guaranteed a handsome salary no matter what, what would be your ultimate dream job? ~ My dream job has been anything music related for as long as I could remember.  Lately my real passion has been to lead a choral group again, sacred or secular.  I just need to get back into conducting and interpreting music.  I could work for a community chorus or as a church music director.  I have also thrown around the idea of starting a professional chorus.  

• What do you do consistently in your free time simply because you enjoy it?  ~ I read a lot.  Mostly magazines because I can carve out a few minutes here and there and get an article read in that time.  I also have built my blogs in my free time.  I never thought I would be a writer but I enjoy this format and don't feel overwhelmed by the shorter stories and articles that blogs call for. 

For more questions and insights on sharing your passions check out Blogging with Amy.

Goal Setting & Making More Music in 2011

I am a list maker.  I make lists so I don't forget things and to keep myself organized and focused.  A couple years ago I made what I called the "Big List" that would include all my goals and ideas for my life as a professional musician.  I included unfinished projects, goals that I once had but wasn't sure if I could or wanted to accomplish and things that I felt that I should complete based on social conformity.

So this year I took that list and broke it up into four main areas:  Worship & Sacred Music, Music Recordings & Performances, Blogging & Music Website, and Music Fun & Enrichment.  I also trimmed the fat so to speak and took out things that didn't make sense for me to be doing right now or ever.  That took some courage but I am now happy with the result. 


Goals and Ideas for 2011

Worship & Sacred Music

-Find & Attend a Kansas City Area Taizé service

-Find out more about Emerging worship
-Video Tape Myself Leading Worship for resume building
-Reignite Kansas City/Raytown Taizé worship if possible
-Find a Worship Director / Church Music possition so that I can continue to use my skills

Music Recordings & Performances
-Record 1st Vocal Christmas CD

-Make a Children's Music CD to go along with E-book

-Record a Taize Music CD

-Make a Wedding & Sacred Music Sampler CD
-Find more ways to share music with others through local performances
-Work on Jazz and Pop Standard repetoire

Blogging & Music Website

-Add a Music Player on My Blog, Website and Facebook to showcase recorded works

-Finish rep list on biography page of website and blog
-Continue tweeking and making the site better.
-Stick to my weekly writing schedule and even prepare posts in advance
-Write my first e-book and learn how to share it.
-Grow my affiliates and sponsers by selling limited ad space

Music Fun & Enrichment
-Create a play-list of my favorite songs for my MP3 player

-Go out and listen to live Jazz in Kansas City

-Sing at a Piano Bar
-Go to the Kansas City Jazz Museum

-Buy a large conga type drum and take part in a drum circle


My next steps will be to list all the little things I need to do to accomplish the big items and create some deadlines.  So, every Saturday my Musical To-Do List posts will help me focus my actions and share with you what I am doing to achieve my goals for 2011.  I need the direction, extra motivation and accountability this will provide. 

What are some of your goals for 2011?  How are you bringing more music in your life?

A Music Director's Search

I have been without a choir for almost four years.  I fill in behind the conductor’s stand every once in awhile as a substitute but I miss the weekly rhythm of score prep and practicing pieces for rehearsal, designing a music plan and working with the choir that week for performance.  

I guess I feel I need to put this into words because lately the music I have been making has been far from a satisfactory experience.  I feel like the leadership that I currently sing under is uninspiring and quite frustrating.  Maybe this is coming from a place of bitterness.  I’m just not sure.  But I do know that a change is needed.  I feel that I am being held back and a little voice inside me wonders why I am still putting up with this mess.    

I am struggling with the fact that I am good at what I do and I am dedicated to making myself better every step of the way.  I have a God given talent to interpret music and work with a group of people to make it come to life.  I hold myself to a very high level of excellence but I am still not taken seriously because I don’t have “35 years of experience” or maybe because I am a woman or because I don’t hold tons of music degrees.  I am 28 years old.  How long is it going to take before someone finally gives me a chance to truly succeed?

There is a reason that in 2001 I opened my mail and found a flyer for a church music director position at my home church with an invitation to apply.  I have been called to this from the very beginning.  Every music experience I have had, every conductor I have sung with, every music class I have attended has prepared me for this.  That pastor could see my potential and that interviewing panel took a leap of faith and said yes to a 19 year old, freshman music student.  

I had an amazing time learning and growing as a musician and serving my church.  I was the closest to God that I have ever been bringing music to worship each week.  That chapter of my life ended after five and a half years simply because of life and the changes it brings.  I got married, had my first child and we moved to Kansas City to be closer to my husband’s employment.  I had to say goodbye.  One of the hardest things I have had to do.    

I have had my hopes up a few times since then when job openings would come up in the area and I would apply, each time praying that my application would be considered.  I got really close last year when I applied for the music director position at my new church home.  I was even told that I was the number one pick but that they wanted to widen their search before making a final decision.  I really wish that they hadn’t said anything because now I have to deal with that knowledge wondering why not me?  What made them the better choice?  What’s even more frustrating is that I have continued to stay on and sing knowing what I know.  

As 2010 draws to a close, I am reminded of my goals for the year and what things I would like to accomplish in 2011.  Can I spend another year on this path?  Do I even want to?  Do I need to start looking for another church that will better use me?  It is looking even more like I am going to have to create my own way if I want to really use my musical gifts.  I do have options and they will take a lot of energy on my part to get them going and the success rate is unknown.  I will be embarking on uncharted territory. 

Have you ever felt like you were at a major cross road in your life and were really unsure about your next steps?  How did you handle it?  I would love to hear your stories.    

10 Piano Quotes to Celebrate National Piano Month

I love to read and share good quotes.  I feel that just a few well spoken words can make a big impact in someone's life and even motivate them to greatness.  That's why my "Quote of the Week" was one of the first things I added to this blog.  In September the National Piano Federation celebrates its National Piano Month and what better way to join in the celebration than with some inspiring piano quotes.  Enjoy!



1.  "Pianos are such noble instruments - they're either upright or grand." 

~ Author Unknown

2.  "The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air." 

~ Kenneth Miller

3.  "One man gets nothing but discord out of a piano; another gets harmony. No one claims the piano is at fault." 

~ Author Unknown

4.  "I've never felt anything that moves me as much as my piano. I'm an emotional player. I don't really like people. I prefer my piano to people. It's totally reliable and it's alive. I can hear what it's saying."

~ Tori Amos

5.  "When you play music you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed." 

~ Bill Evans

6.  "To play without passion is inexcusable!"

~ Ludwig van Beethoven

7.  "Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art."

~ Frederic Chopin

8.  "I sit down to the piano regularly at nine-o'clock in the morning and Mesdames les Muses have learned to be on time for that rendezvous." 

~ Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky

9.  "It is wonderful how soon a piano gets into a log-hut on the frontier. You would think they found it under a pine-stump. With it comes a Latin grammar, and one of those tow-head boys has written a hymn on Sunday. Now let colleges, now let senates take heed! for here is one who, opening these fine tastes on the basis of the pioneer's iron constitution, will gather all their laurels in his strong hands." 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

10.  "All I need is a big surfboard and a piano."

~ Dennis Wilson

 



Quotes provided by:
http://www.famous-quotes-and-quotations.com/
http://www.brainyquote.com

Music and Passion with Benjamin Zander and Chopin's Prelude

There are so many things about this TED talk that I love.  Benjamin Zander is amazingly passionate about two things: classical music, and helping us all realize our inner love for it.  He believes that classical music can open us you to new possibilities, new experiences, and new connections.

I, too have been playing the Prelude by Chopin that he shares with the audience and then plays for them.  My practice of this piece has been quite methodical at best and this presentation couldn't have come at a better time because I had added the sheet music back to my seemingly endless pile that I will get to someday because I was a tad bit roadblocked.  I could play it technically but I wasn't really sure or maybe not confident enough to bring the music to life.  I think I might need to try Benjamin Zander's "One Buttock Technique" for expressiveness.  I'll keep you posted.  Enjoy! 

Was your Monday a "Meat Free Monday"?

I ran across this video performance by Paul McCartney of his Support Meat Free Monday song he wrote for the campaign he started in England to make us more aware about our food and the environment.  It's quite catchy.  Enjoy!



I have been a pescatarian for 14 years now and feel so much better when I choose to eat this diet.  It's a form of vegetarianism where you eat seafood occasionally, eggs and dairy.  My belief is that even small steps related to bettering our environment and what we put in our bodies are steps in the right direction.  Many celebrities who are some form of vegetarian are also endorsing Meat Free Mondays.  Check out Gwyneth Paltrow's blog, "Goop" where she talks about her diet choices among a variety of other topics. 

You can get more information about Supporting Meat Free Mondays on the official British website.

The Eight Principles

I can't get over this video this week.  It hit my google reader at just the right time.  I have been visioning and brainstorming and putting plans together to finally accomplish some goals both personal and professional that I have had for some time now.  I have to keep reminding myself as I do that important planning step that the next step is action.  I bet we all have unfinished goals and dreams that are just dying to be accomplished.  Take the next five minutes to let this video transform and re-energize you.  Enjoy!  



Here are the Eight Principles mentioned in the film.

Get focused and...

1. Stop hiding who you really are

2. Start being intensely selfish

Be Creative and...

3.  Stop following the rules

4.  Start scaring yourself

Use Your Wisdom and...

5.  Stop taking it all so damn seriously

6.  Start getting rid of the crap.

Take Action and...

7.  Stop being busy

8.  Start something

My favorite quote of the whole video is...

"Don't wait any longer for permission to do what you want to do.  There are always reasons to procrastinate just a little longer.  Enough!  Just start!"

The Eight Principles video was made by www.BoxOfCrayons.biz

One Hundred Things

   1. I was born in Lawrence, KS
   2. I moved around the Midwest when I was growing up
   3. I have lived in 3 American states: Kansas, Missouri & Nebraska.
   4. I went to 8 different schools
   5. I was born loving music.
   6. I thought I would be a teacher when I grew up.
   7. I don't remember a time when I wasn't singing.
   8. I was and still am an avid reader
   9. I love books
  10. I was the only child my mother knew that got in trouble for reading too much.
  11. Reading kept me from cleaning my room and doing chores.
  12.  From 7th -9th grade I was a member of the Lawrence Children's Choir
  13.  As a high school student I assisted with the LCC's feeder choir, the Choristers
  14. I have always felt older than I really am.
  15. Ready to do more and be more than I was allowed to be.
  16. I don’t like it when things don’t come naturally
  17. Musical things come naturally.
  18. Working with kids comes naturally
  19. Being friends with people who are quite older than me comes naturally
  20. I have been told I have a gift for conducting. 
  21. Conducting has become one of my passions over the years.
  22. My other passion is creating and leading relevant, artful worship.
  23. I got my first church music job at 19 years old. 
  24. I stayed at Centenary United Methodist Church for 5 years.
  25. My first job was working at in a retirement community's Kitchen as a dietary aide
  26. I have had some amazing musical opportunities over the years.
  27. I attend the University of Kansas as a Vocal Performance Major
  28. I studied voice with Un-Chong Christopher & Joyce Castle
  29. I have sung under the direction of Simon Carrington & Dr. John Paul Johnson
  30. I have been in choirs coached by Charles Bruffy & Bob Chilcott
  31. I have worked with Jane Marshall, Alice Parker & Helen Kemp
  32. After Graduating high school in 2000 I made my first trip to New York
  33. That's when I sang at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Simon Carrington
  34. My second time on the East coast a few years later I traveled to Washington D.C.
  35. There I sang at National Cathedral for evening service with KU's Chamber Choir
  36. We also performed at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York
  37. I love traveling
  38. Most of my travels have happened thanks to music.
  39. I met my husband at Henry's Coffee Shop.  Neither one of us drinks coffee.
  40. We dated for a year
  41. We were engaged for a year
  42. We got used to this being married idea the next year
  43. We call year number 2 of our marriage the year of the baby
  44. I also call it the year of the hospital.
  45. That year my husband's appendix ruptured and my daughter was in the NICU for 3 1/2 weeks
  46. More time than I have ever spent in hospitals.
  47.  But we all survived.
  48.  Moved to Kansas City, MO in 2006
  49.  Wasn't sure about that move.
  50. Have since grown to love my home.
  51. Still trying to finish United Methodist Certification for Lay Musicians
  52. I have one class left
  53. I’ve never been out of the country. 
  54. My husband has dual citizenship to Canada.
  55. I want to start my own professional vocal ensemble
  56. I am also exploring starting my own children's chorus
  57. I miss conducting.
  58. I am determined to get back at it.
  59. I was a percussionist in high school
  60. I want to own a marimba some day.
  61. I also was in the marching band's color guard
  62. Those were good times.
  63. I have a small monkey collection that I now share with my daughter
  64. I love being a mom.
  65. But sometimes motherhood is frustrating
  66. and it's not easy.  No matter how people say I make it look. 
  67. I like my large blue eyes
  68. My daughter Madeline got them, too
  69. And so did my son Oliver
  70. We look quite handsome together.
  71. I love to cook and people say I'm pretty good at it.
  72. I wish I had more time to get into photography.
  73.  I love the smell of pomegranate candles.  It's quite awesome.  
  74. I wear jeans most every day
  75.  I seem to work better at night but never past 1:00 am.
  76. I can't stand cola soda
  77. But I do like Dr. Pepper & Root bear occasionally.
  78. I love Sunkist Soda and drink far too much
  79. I'm a pescatarian but nobody really gets that
  80. so I just tell them I am a vegetarian.
  81. Pescatarians eat eggs, dairy & seafood
  82. I want to live somewhere with a metro where I don’t need a car.
  83. I want to recycle more but feel limited by my lack of space.
  84. My focus now is reduce, reuse. 
  85. My husband taught me how to crochet when we were dating.
  86. I now do it more than he does.
  87. I also loom knit. 
  88. I love yarn crafting so much that I created a group for charity giving
  89. It's call Yarn Blessings. (look us up on Facebook)
  90. I enjoy making the prayer shawls and baby blankets.
  91. I took 5 years of Spanish language in school
  92. Over the years I have sung in 12 languages the last time I counted
  93. I used to joke that I was a Chinese, Mexican, Italian in a past life
  94. because those were my favorite food categories. 
  95. I want to live in a simply designed home with lots of storage
  96. And it must have enough lawn for a garden
  97. and a clothes line
  98. Fall and Spring are my favorite times of year.
  99. This took longer to write than I thought it would.
 100. I guess I can't believe I had 100 things to say about me.  :-)

Creating a Musical Vision for 2010

For the past month I have been working on my musical vision for myself in 2010.  Each year I try to organize my activities to better reflect the goals I have for myself for that year.  Not everything goes as planned and some tasks get rolled over but each year it helps me stay focused.  I feel doing this activity this year is even more important than ever before for several reasons. 

1. I'm 27 years old and want to make sure that before I hit 30 that I tie up current loose ends and finish any projects that I have left undone so far.  I would like to enter that next decade with a somewhat clean slate, ready for what comes next for me. 
   
2. Now that I have two children my time to do what I love seems to be getting shorter and shorter.  I have to make sure what I do spend my time on is worthwhile and truly helps me accomplish my goals.
3. Many different versions of the "Bucket List" have been showing up for me when I'm reading online.  I must be calling these to myself for some much needed reflection.
4. I have so much I want to accomplish as a musician that I am a little overwhelmed.  Organizing and prioritizing my ideas should help take the stress down a bit.   
   

For this post I thought I would focus on my brainstorming sessions with the many "Bucket Lists" I have found.  I ran across 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind and decided to start there.  This list is all over the place and got me thinking about life and how I want to live it.  Then I was off to Day Zero where you can "Plan.  Create.  Motivate. Achieve."    Day Zero is the home of the 1001 day project.  It challenges you to complete 101 tasks in a 1001 days.  The tasks in your customizable list must be specific and be clearly defined.  Each task must also be realistic and stretching.  At first I had a hard time thinking of 101 things that I wanted to accomplish but Day Zero gives you suggestions that really helped to get the ball rolling.  Here are a few of my music goals from my list at Day Zero.   

1Go see an Opera

5 Sing karaoke at a bar

36 Record 1st Vocal Christmas CD

37 Create a play-list of my favorite songs for my MP3 player

38 Create & Offer a Family Music Class for the studio

39 Offer Music for Little Mozarts Music Class for the studio

40 Audition for the Kansas City Symphony Chorus

41Send info to Kansas City Chorale to audition

49 Record a Taize Music CD

50 Record a Sacred Music CD

61 Attend several live music events

66 Go to the Kansas City Jazz Museum

67 Go out and listen to live Jazz

68 Video Tape Me Leading Worship

71Sing at a Piano Bar

72 Record Wedding & Church Music Sample CD

73 Practice & Perform my 2nd Solo Recital

74 write 4 articles a month for my blog

75 Find out more about Emerging worship

76Attend a KC Taize service

78 Start my own Kansas city choir or ensemble

79 Book myself for Christmas 2010 music gigs related to my CD

80 Hold First Christmas Winter Concert w/ Choir-Ensemble

81 Hold First Late Spring Concert w/ Choir Ensemble

82 Hold a Spirituals Concert during black history month or MLK Day w/ choir ensemble

83 Reignite Kansas City/Raytown Taize for Advent 2010

90 Hold auditions for my choir/ensemble May 2010

91Have Choir Ensemble retreat August 2010

94 Hold German Leider Recital w/ Don Forsythe

97Add Music Player on Website to showcase recorded works

98 Finish rep list on biography

100 Prepare an audition notebook w/ varied selections

This is such a great way to keep track of personal goals of any kind.  I am looking forward to checking some of these things off my list.  I encourage you to take some time this week and make a list of all the things you have yet to accomplish on your 2010 "Bucket List".  Then make a plan for your year.  Research what it would take to complete some of your goals and break them down so you can manage the steps.  Stay confident and enjoy the journey.  You will reap some amazing rewards.

In this very moment I'm...

Listening to: My radio (elliottmusicstudio) on thesixtyone.com

Crushing on: My new Yarn Blessings fan page on Facebook.  I'm so proud of it!

Lusting over: Lion Brand Yarns & New Music Books. 

Consuming: Sunkist Orange Soda on the rocks.  My favorite!

Rocking: Jeans and a T-shirt with socks because its just that cold around here.

Reading: The Internets

Watching: Music videos on Youtube.com

Stressing over: Paying the bills while I do what I love.

Scared of: Loosing my passions to the monotony of everyday life.

Style I love: Simplicity with pops of color

Make-up essential: My new Pixi make-up kit from target.  Thanks Mom!

Wanting: More Music Books, A new haircut & wardrobe, time to write.

Loving: The quiet with a hint of music in the background.

Hanging for: The new music books I ordered for my daughter.  I can't wait to share piano with her.

Addicted to: Quorn Gruyere Cutlets.  They are amazing and totally vegetarian!

So tell me... what are some of your currents?

Studio Update: 2009 Wrap-up

Well, Christmas Day has come and gone and now we have entered the fun in between time of the 12 days of Christmas and Epiphany.  The past couple weeks have been an interesting time for my family as we prepared for the Christmas holiday.  My husband and daughter passed around a flu bug that wasn't fun for anyone.  I am so thankful that neither I nor my 6 month old son caught the bug. (knock on wood.)  Kansas City received an insane amount of snow that halted pretty much everything in the area and made it so that my family couldn't attend Christmas eve services or church this past Sunday.  I had so looked forward to ringing handbells and singing with the choir so I was quite disappointed and the Children's Christmas program for the Sunday after didn't happen either.  I did get to enjoy Christmas eve unexpectedly from my computer with a live feed from the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection located in Leawood, Kansas.  I remembered at the last minute that they had started that ministry.  I really enjoyed worshiping that way since I had small children and couldn't get out because of the weather.  I would encourage anyone to check it out.

I have learned a lot this year and continued work on my goals for the Elliott Music Studio and can't wait to begin looking to 2010.  This year we embarked on our first try at a studio recital and just couldn't pull it off due to scheduling conflicts.  But we did get some great recordings that I hope to share soon on my website and here on my blog.  Plans are in the works for at least 2 studio recitals / performance opportunities for next year.  One in the spring and the other in late fall.  I like the idea of a Holiday Recital but I am not sure about the logistics.  We may make the Christmas Recital a virtual event that we put on YouTube for families to watch all through the season.  I also enjoyed collaborating on several studio pieces this year and look forward to more opportunities in the future.  The studio is still growing as we work towards are goal of 20 students in 2010.  So, don't forget to share us with your family and friends!  A more detailed list of my music goals for 2010 is forthcoming this week.

I wanted to share a couple of Christmas items I found that I thought you all might enjoy and had planned to share earlier but couldn't with all the hubbub.  The first one comes from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and it's entitled, "The Christmas Story Through Period Art".  I found it last year and have kept going back.  It is such a beautiful experience.  You won't regret the visit.  The second one is a fantastic video from Straight No Chaser and their rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas."  I believe it needs no more explanation.  Enjoy!

Wear Sunscreen

This speech resurfaced a few days ago and has been in my head ever since. It reminds me that life is a lot simpler than we make it sometimes. I need that advice right now and I bet you do, too. Enjoy!

Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young
by Mary Schmich
Chicago Tribune June 1, 1997

Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Source

http://www.chicagotribune.com

Elizabeth Gilbert on Nurturing Creativity

I enjoyed reading Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Eat, Pray, Love" and found her to be a fascinating person who completed an amazing journey of self discovery. But after I put that novel down I really hadn't thought about her much until this TED talk surfaced a few weeks ago. It doesn't focus on music specifically but I wanted to post it for this week's video segment.

I believe everyone with a creative mind would benefit from her thought provoking ideas about creating and what it takes to create. As musicians we create something new every time we interpret a piece of music. Our jobs are to take what's on the page and make it come alive. We also are asked to put ourselves out there and be vulnerable while we do it. I hope you enjoy this week's video clip.

Books for the Church Musician

I have been going through my library and reading quite a bit lately about what it means to be a church musician and what skills we need to be the best at what we love to do. So, here's my list of must reads for the church musician. Please share your go-to books in the comments. I love a good book and could always use some suggestions.

• Alive Now - This is my go-to devotional guide each month. Our church has a subscription that I pick up every couple months. I was drawn to it because it seemed to have an artists touch about it. Each theme is shared with quotes, articles, poems and art work. A complete package. You can get additional free daily devotional readings, a widget for your desktop and more information online at http://alivenow.upperroom.org/

• From Postlude to Prelude Music Ministries Other Six Days by C. Randall Bradley - I was thrilled to find this book several years ago when I first started out as a church musician. No one really talks about all the other stuff there is to do besides the music. It opened up a whole new world for me of possibilities and helped me to better realize my responsibilities. It also helped me better navigate church meetings during conversations related to the music ministry of the church and my position as director of music. A must read for all church musicians!

• The Musician's Soul by James Jordan - I love everything by James Jordan. I got to work with him a few years ago while at Christian Music Summer School and I wanted to run away to Westminster Choir College to work with him forever. If only my Husband would live in New Jersey. His entire body of written work is an amazing collection 0f information and ideas for the director and musician. I love how he talks about making music with respect to your fellow musicians. In choral music that's a hard message for conductors to live by but truly necessary for making quality music. For more about James Jordan, check out his website.

• Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller - It is so hard for church musicians to do our work on Sunday morning and also treat that time as a sabbath experience. We just can't. We aren't like other people in that way. This book helped me to realize that we aren't limited to Sunday Sabbath. We can create a personal Sabbath for ourselves whenever we need it. There are ideas and rituals that you can choose to help you on your way to finding the Sabbath experience that is right for you. Also a great book for group study.

• Preaching to the Choir: The Care and Nurture of the Church Choir by Wayne L. Wold - This book is worth reading just for the section starting on page 37 called "Eleven Things Not to Say at Choir Rehearsal".

• The Complete Worship Service: Creating a Taste of Heaven on Earth by Kevin J. Navarro - After you read this pass it on to your worship planning staff right away. I loved all the ideas in the book. It seemed to address all the concerns that I had related to worship design, marketing, building issues, welcoming new church visitors to worship. Navarro also brings up the issue of quality and how we should have a quality worship experience every Sunday morning and what we bring to God should be nothing less than our best work. I devoured this book on an hour plan ride. Great read!

• Grace Notes: Spirituality and the Choir by M. Anne Burnette Hook - This book will help you better understand your role as music director and spiritual adviser to your choir. Every time we come to church we are seeking an experience with God wither its through worship or our weekly music practice. This will help you nurture your faith as a musician and the faith of your fellow worship musicians.

• The Church Musician by Paul Westermeyer - This is a must read for anyone in church music leadership or interested in getting a church music position either paid or volunteer. Nicely written.

• Somebody's Got My Robe: A lighthearted Look at Choir Directing by John Yarrington - This book is full of comic relief and simple but effective ideas to make directing your next choir rehearsal a little easier. If you get a chance to attend one of John Yarrington's workshops you won't regret it.
  

That's All - 5 Years and Counting

I knew when I found this song that this was the song to sing at my wedding. Well, actually my reception. Being a professional musician and all you would think that I would have had all the usual music for my ceremony but I opted out. We had processional music from my favorite meditative CD that went with our Asian theme and that was it. It really set the mood quite nicely for our evening, candle lit ceremony. I also didn't want to sing during my ceremony because I felt like it would turn into the "Emily Show" and that was not going to be the focus of that day. I wouldn't have sung at all except that it was my soon to be husband's only request. The reception seemed to be the perfect spot. I sang while my friend and brides maid, Kelly played the piano right after we were introduced and then Kelly played the song one more time for our first dance. This all happened five years ago this week.

This weeks video clip is Michael Buble's version of this jazz classic and one of my favorites. Enjoy!