Monday, April 20, 2015

MUSIC- FANTASTIC THERAPY!!




Music Therapy is gaining more importance in this 21st Century as musicians, medical personnel, and families who care for sick or handicapped members, are discovering incredible benefits and healing qualities of music. Even if one is not sick or impaired, yet feeling a little down, the therapeutic gifts of music can transform one's mood or even mental health.
There were times in my young adult life, when I needed to retreat to my bedroom and sort out my feelings. I would turn on Debussy's 'La Mer" and listen, letting my mind relax and then 'work' to solve the problem. The beauty and complexity of the music always reminded me that the truly magnificent things in life aren't really things that you can touch. Music also helped me to realize that my 'problems' at hand were pretty superficial in nature, and really weren't worth fretting over so much. While studying in college, I found a short, but powerful book that I read and used in my psychology class- "The Gestalt Art Therapy"( author unknown.) I realized then, that our brains are probably more complicated than our most complex music. Yet our brains and the music we humans have created, have some kind of power connection that is both physiological as well as spiritual.
Within the last several years my nephew, his wife, and their sick daughter spent so much time at CHOP, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, due to their daughter- Emily's Leukemia. I experienced firsthand, a music therapist who literally brought Emily's blood pressure down to a more normal range. We all benefited from the music therapist as she interacted with Emily. What a gift to Emily, as well as to Tom and Kari, the two parents! All the hospital noises and equipment beeping was forgotten for the beautiful hour that the therapist played and sang with Emmie. I know that that therapy, along with terrific doctors, medical breakthroughs, and prayers saved my great niece. It was amazing!
So I have been hearing a few things that some of our students are going through with their family members, and I thought I would try to help from a musical perspective. The following are a few YouTube videos to spark your interest in the healing possibilities of music. Then following that, I would like to offer some great listening pieces that have inspired me throughout my life. To all those going through difficult times right now, my prayers are with you!
VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwf76MUkto                             
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p80h63ZNoEE     
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFLJJlOCVsw             
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDXuCE7LeQAMTA Logo

MUSIC:
 Randall Thompson- Alleluia
Debussy: -La Mer, Claire de Lune, Reflets dans L'eau, La Cathedrale Engloutie
Samuel Barber-  Adagio for Strings
Faure- Pavane, Claire de Lune
Mendelssohn- Hebrides Overture
Beethoven- many things, but start with Violin Concerto, first movement. 
Chopin- any of his Nocturnes, esp. C# minor and E minor
Rimsky-Korsakov- Scheherazade
Sibelius- Finlandia
Respighi- Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome, Ancient Airs and Dances, 1-3, La Primavera
These will get you started at least...but Oh, there are so many more!
Here's to healing and healthy vibrations to help! Keep a song in your heart always! Jenny Stawinski

Monday, January 26, 2015

Winter Music Challenge

Hi Everyone,
In case we get snowed in for a few days, and you start getting a little 'stir crazy,' try my Winter Music Challenge. This month's composer is American composer- Aaron Copland (1900- 1990)!  
We are studying his life and musical works in General Music this quarter. All HES musicians will know how to sing the Shaker tune, "Simple Gifts." which Aaron Copland creatively used as a main melody in a ballet that he called, Appalachian Spring.























This ballet was written at the request of his friend named Martha Graham (1894-1991), who was a famous choreographer, ballet dancer, and founder of a ballet school. The ballet,  "Appalachian Spring," is still very popular among ballet companies; it is danced and performed today.
So the Winter Music Challenge is this: 1. Choose a section/movement from one of Aaron Copland's famous pieces such as :
Appalachian Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man, Rodeo, Billy Kid, Old American Songs, or Ceremonial Fanfare. 2.Listen to it together as a family. Then decide what you would like to do with it. You could, 3. Move to it and add whatever props you have around the house. Or, You could draw a picture that is your artistic idea of how the music would look as an artwork. Or, you could try playing a main melody on water glasses, pots and pans, or whatever musical instruments you have around the house. Record your performance. Or, finally, make up a miniature drama/ scene to go with the music and act it out with costumes and the music accompanying you in the background. It's a great time to put down the game controllers, turn off the TV, put away your cell phone and take a break from that computer screen. Let your creativity take you on an adventure! It will be something you and your family will always remember for years to come. I would love to know if any families take this music challenge, so please don't forget to tell me about your experiences when you are done. Better yet, show me your video, art work, or theatrical scene!
 P. S. For all my recorder players I promised you a link for the interactive fingering chart. Here it is:
http://www.hrs.hampshire.org.uk/finger/cfinger.htm.      


Always be musical,  Jenny Stawinski