Music and More: Sara Penny Blog

Thanks to everyone who partcipated in the recital. We appreciated a supportive audience and it was an adventure to play with dancers. Thanks to MaLaan Shumate and John Mead for the photos. Peter Firth Kasey Hinton Ling Yu Bach with Dancers Videos thanks to John Mead:  Prelude and Courante Lark Ascending Cello Suite #2, three movements Bach with dancers Dress rehearsal dancers with Sally, Sara, and dancers Kloë Giles Mei Chian Lim Delaney Duetschlander Adeline Lawlor

  Unexpected Joy by Sara Penny A melody or a painting can trigger "unexpected joy" in a most delightful way. This phrase jumped out at me when listening to a music therapy podcast.  It is why live music is more exciting.  We aren't exactly sure what is coming next.   When a dancer makes the perfect leap or the soprano hits the high note beautifully it can be thrilling. A painted landscape or photograph can reveal beauty we didn't notice when we were in that location.   Recently I was able to enjoy the 30 year celebration of the SUU Ballroom Team with many exciting jumps and lifts.  It was fun to have the alumni dance together.  One of the most moving performances was the "Dust Bowl" piece, which was quite the contrast with the more exuberant and celebratory dances. The Cedar City Music Arts performance with the Kruger brothers was another fun evening. It felt like family on stage.  They were originally from Switzerland and have made...

  Storytelling Builds Connection by Sara Penny Storytelling is a valuable skill for daily life. Dry facts and graphs do not connect with audiences as well as a good story.  Whether it is a sales pitch or a grant application the better the story the more successful the outcome. Stories are not just for entertainment.  They build emotional connections and reveal truths that are otherwise not evident. Think of the crucial value of stories in your life.  What books opened new insights? How do you see yourself in relationship to family stories? I love reading because it takes me to places and times I would otherwise not know about. With a really good book it is hard to finish because it is like good friends are moving away.  My daughter gave me "The Small and the Mighty" by Sharon McMahon. It tells the stories of twelve unsung Americans who changed our history. The author explained she wrote the book because "the best Americans are not the critics, but the doers...

  Fold or Flourish? By Sara Penny, CCAC VP What is your art form? Do you write, paint, act, dance, or make pottery? Are you taking photographs, playing music in a group, or singing in a choir?  Having art as a daily part of your life is healing.  You might write poetry for yourself, do embroidery, or do sketches for family or friends. Art is art and everyone can participate. When we feel brave enough to share our art that is a bonus.   Having an artistic goal can be exhilarating, but there are commonly frustrating moments. Having a growth mindset helps to proceed. Accepting failures as a learning opportunity is the best response, instead of a stop sign on the project. So flourish rather than fold. The key concept is to keep moving forward.  There are countless examples of books being written over years instead of months. “You can’t use up creativity: the more you use, the more you have,” wrote Maya Angelou. “Too often creativity is smothered rather than nurtured...

Creating Order from Chaos  by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President Putting a puzzle together is about creating order from chaos. Sometimes, an arts project feels like scattered pieces that just won’t fit—but when everything locks into place, it can be wonderful. LuAnne Brown wanted to add a string program at the Escalante Valley Elementary in Beryl. She knew there were smaller instruments in the Dalley Collection at SUU, but they were overly loved and needed repairs. A mini-grant from the Cedar City Arts Council helped with repairs so there is now an orchestra for the school. Special thanks to Luke and Vicky Heaton for excellent string services at Whittlesticks. LuAnne explained how important these instruments have become for her students, "We have had some amazing students in our class, both last year and this. One boy comes to mind. He came to our school when he was in third grade. He is part of the Latin American community who are an important part of the valley. When he came to...

Circles of Success  by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President Motivation follows action, but you have to be motivated to act. Every artist feels this paralysis.  Probably every person.   At a violin workshop they talked about a circle of success for practicing music.  When you practice you increase your ability which leads to the motivation to practice so you have a "circle of success" with regular practice.  Making it a habit makes it happen. The "circle of despair" is no practice, decreased ability, and loss of motivation.  I have to admit I am a Class 1 procrastinator. I think about getting the project done, but often wait until there is a deadline.  It is very easy to put off until tomorrow or even to the next week and then months go by with a good idea unrealized. What spurs you to action? How do you articulate what is worth your time?  On the other hand how do you balance with enough rest and recreation to have the ability to pr...

Annie Barley Givler article in  Suzuki Association of the Americas Journal Vol. 51, No. 3 Her article's key idea is to " separate child from instrument".  Instead of saying  You need to shift  Take out you Now you have direction: "Here is the place to shift" “Downplay the performance Elevate the preparation” Give leader leadership opportunities with less advanced students  Allow feelings to be expressed without judgment. From Sara: Being able to use music to express emotion and deal with the ups and downs of living is one of the many valuable benefits of learning an instrument.  When a bow is crooked I have the child watch in the mirror so they can see what is happening or I have the mother do a short video so the student can observe.  They love that they are  "the boss of their bow" and can make it behave.  Children get to be the boss of very little so it helps them assert control and be in charge for a change. Some children are so hard...