"If I can see further than others, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants" - Isaac Newton
Last summer, when I conceptualized the course I'll be finishing tomorrow - Women of Heart and Mind: A Changing Musical Landscape - I suspected the non-musical research required might be substantial. I did not anticipate how many unfamiliar trailblazing women that research would introduce to me, each more remarkable than the next. I've included the Wikipedia link below for Jeanette Rankin - one of the women unfamiliar to me until developing this course - mostly because her story had an outsize impact on me, but I could've easily done the same for several others. Rankin and others helped shape our national conversation about women's rights. All of us are in debt to these pioneers.
And then there are the moments of musical communion that occur in nearly every class. Two weeks ago, after session #1 concluded, a participant told me how moved she was by Woman of Heart and Mind - my course's namesake - a Joni Mitchell song from 1974's For the Roses. Turns out she had never heard the song. She went on to say that my laser focus on Joni's lyric about the way some people struggle with authenticity ("You imitate the best and the rest you memorize") had a powerful effect on her. I live for moments like this.
I love reading posts like these - not only for how much you have learned that you can share and the appreciation of the students - but the pleasure you have gleaned from the effort regardless of the monetary compensation. That is exactly how I feel about my Nia classes. They enrich me beyond measure. And despite the minimal amount of money, it is enough to support my continued desire to keep learning and growing. Perhaps it could be viewed as cyclical. One thing feeds into another....Or maybe it is a spiral!
ReplyDeleteInes; Thanks - as always - for the unwavering support of my blog. And I love cyclical/spiral reference in your comment as well. Needs a neologism, don't you think? How about spirlical? Yeah, that works.
DeleteI was blown away by your presentation at the Spring Lake Library, Pat. And--I, in homage to the greatest musicians--intend to steal the line "you imitate the best and the rest you memorize" for a writing prompt. I can't help it It's too good. Of course I will site the sources--you, and Joni. Thanks Pat.
ReplyDeleteRegina; I'm pleased you enjoyed the truncated version of my course so much; your positive feedback means a great deal to me. Only correction to your comment: When citing the source of that lyric as a writing prompt - the line that spoke to you (the same line that landed so profoundly with the woman in the first session of my current class) - be clear that Joni - NOT ME - gets top billing. I'm honored to be even peripherally mentioned in the same paragraph as her BUT the words are hers alone.
DeleteLove the name of the course, & would be interested in artists you featured there. My wife has helped me down the Joni road, and appreciated the name and lyric reference as well.
ReplyDeleteAndy; Nice to see a comment from you. Next time we get together, I'll be happy to share the names of all the artists I featured in that six-hour course. Glad we have a date on the calendar!
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