Music and More: Sara Penny Blog

  Creativity Activated  by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President "Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow," is a famous quote by Henry David Thoreau. It is often helpful to take a walk to unlock new ideas and to solve creative challenges. Physical movement helps unlock the flow of ideas by activating the part of the brain where thoughts get organized. Sometimes you just need a break to prepare the mind for performances. It is recommended to take a walk as preparation for a concert. One of our past orchestra conductors, Gerard Yun, recommended a banana if you need to calm down, or a piece of chocolate if you need a spark of energy.  April is a particularly demanding month for the arts community.  Students in the schools and at the University are performing in plays, dancing, and concerts. Many are participating in regional and state competitions. The students have worked all year and now is the culmination of their efforts. School calendars...

Believe Recast as Be-Live by Sara Penny, CCAC Vice President “Believe! Be live! What a word!” exclaimed Amy Krouse Rosenthal in the  Anthropocene Reviewed . This collection of essays by John Green uncovers fascinating insights into everything from lawns to the Monopoly game. He rethinks the commonplace world with new perspectives. My grandson and daughter got me the book and I can recommend it as interesting with a healthy dose of humor. Each essay is self-contained so you can choose the ones of interest, when you can find a few minutes to read.  One chapter credits the Council on Books in Wartime as a crucial use of books to bolster morale during World War II. In 1942 the Council sent thousands of pocketsize paperbacks to U.S. soldiers because "Books are weapons in the war of ideas." For example, Betty Smith's  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn  and the F. Scott Fitzgerald's  Great Gatsy  were among the selections. A soldier reported that the books were "as popular...