BeauLea Band Shorts

 

Ah, the life of a music teacher. Sometimes it's a major celebration that a student performed a piece of music "just right"! Sometimes it's a class full of kindergartners piling hugs on me. And, sometimes it's reaching deep down into your soul to pull out that last thread of patience, after you've told the same kid the same concept 50 times. Sometimes, it's going home after a day of work and crashing on the couch for an hour until you get so hungry that you get up and make dinner. Or some semblance of dinner anyway. 

I find that there are some concepts that my band padawans just have a hard time with in the beginning. Most recently, there was a student having a hard time remembering how to move his fingers in order on his clarinet. Granted, clarinet uses 9 fingers and that last little thumb on the right has to hold the whole thing. That's a lot of fingers when you're just starting out. In class, I had them move their fingers in order up and down; first on their right arm and then on the full clarinet. It went something like this, "Pinkys up! OK, lift the ring finger, middle finger, pointer, thumb! Now go backwards..." Most got it.

For the one who struggled to remember to use his left hand, much less which finger moved next, I thought, "Maybe there's a way I could record myself doing it. Then he can look at it at home. His parents may not have any idea how a clarinet works and that would help them visualize what we're learning as well so they can help." (Our administrator is constantly reminding us that "parents are our partners!") 

The bright idea occurred to me that there are several small items like this on beginning instruments that could use the same treatment. We'll call them Band Shorts. My bright ideas usually burn brighter than the energy to make them happen (see above!) but I'm hoping to collect a list of beginning instrumentalists' challenges and help them overcome them with these short videos. Hopefully the lighting and backgrounds will improve as well! :) 

Let me know in the comments what concepts you've run across we can cover! 

https://youtu.be/ZCIPItTNN7w

New Year, New Padawans

 I love the beginning of each school year. This year marks my 12th year of teaching music full-time at various schools around the U.S.A. It is always so fun to plan, decorate and meet the kids. It's especially  interesting for me to see the crop of kids that decide to take the band elective class. The school I'm currently serving, unfortunately, only has time for a beginning band class.

For those outside the band world, some of this won't make sense. For my band nerds, try not to let your eyes roll too loudly! Before the year started, I tried to meet each family that signed up for band at orientation and give them the beautiful flyer I had created that gives them all the information they will need for band. When classes started, we had 4 classes in which we talked about how to make a good sound and how music was constructed (theory). Then came Meet Your Instrument day! Here's how it went:

• One clarinet with bent keys and covered in mold. 
• One blue flute.
• One student dropping out saying "it wasn't for him".
• One student, who didn't have his instrument, trying to teach another how to put their clarinet together. It was backward.
• Several reed players with upside-down reeds.
• Two flute players who were delighted to find they had flute stands.
• One trumpet valve that was in pieces (still not sure if the player did it or it came that way!)
• Most trumpet players able to get two pitches on open valves.
• Flutes getting an actual sound.
• Clarinets learning how to move their fingers for the first five notes.
• And the prize: several clarinets leaving their sectional saying "that was fun!"

And the teacher went home, put her feet up and made a note that next year, we have a face-to-face parent meeting! 

BeauLea Official DEI Statement

It's all the rage. If you want to be recognized anywhere in the decade of the '20's, you must have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement. This morning, I ran across this statement from the International Clarinet Association that seemed to me full of division; the opposite of inclusion! Evidently, it is supposed to "give strength to the voices of underrepresented populations in our industry." Wait. Doesn't good music stand on its own? I thought we were here to play beautiful music, not divide us all up into how we believe, how we look or how we love. Here is my statement:

There is neither Jew nor Greek,

There is neither slave nor free,

There is no male and female,

For you are all one in 

Christ Jesus

-Galatians 3:28

 What do I see with statements other than the above? I see politically motivated people with a different perspective than me. They may say I am hateful or afraid of them because of their perspective. I have no idea where that thought comes from. The Apostle Paul wrote the above statement; words given to him by God The Holy Spirit. He had a lot more to say about it in a letter in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. 

(An early draft of my 1 Corinthians 13 project)

 I actually love how he sums it all up at the end of chapter 13:

11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12For James 1:23; [Num. 12:8; Job 36:26; 2 Cor. 3:18; 5:7]now we see in a mirror dimly, but 1 John 3:2; See Matt. 5:8then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as See ch. 8:3I have been fully known. 13So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

            1 Corinthians 13. https://my.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.13

I suppose that the prevailing and underlying idea is that of Progressivism. I prefer the statement that has endured for 2000 years; that unites, not divides. The idea that was given to us from a Source far wiser, powerful and eternal than any political fad that comes our way. 

I am far from perfect. No one on this beautiful planet is or was, except Jesus. That's why I think I will stick to His statements. 

James 1:23; [Num. 12:8; Job 36:26; 2 Cor. 3:18; 5:7]now we see in a mirror dimly, but 

1 John 3:2; See Matt.then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as 

See ch. 8I have been fully known.13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

It's Made of Wood!

 V: There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.
P1: Are there? Well then tell us!
V: Tell me... what do you do with witches?
P3: Burn 'em! Burn them up! (burn burn burn)
V: What do you burn apart from witches?
P1: More witches! 
P3: Wood! .....
V: Does wood sink in water?
P1: No
P3: No. It floats!...
V: What also floats in water?...
King: A Duck! (all look and stare at king)
V: Exactly! So, logically...
P1: If she weighs the same as a duck... she's made of wood!
V: And therefore,
(pause & think)
P3: A witch! 

Jones, T,. Gilliam, T., (1975) (Directors) Monty Python and the Holy Grail, [Film] Python                   (Monty) Pictures.

BUT.  What if the wood doesn't float?

Photo Credit: Yamaha.com How the clarinet is made.

Theoretically (of course, I wouldn't want to put my whole clarinet in the water because it would ruin the pads!) if I put my clarinet in a tub of water, it would sink to the bottom. That's because it is made of the densest of woods, Grenadilla! 

The Padawans often mistake my beautiful Bennie for being made of Ebony wood, and that's a common misunderstanding. Ebony, however, is actually darker than Grenadilla wood and from a different family. Grenadilla is more closely related to Rosewood, and indeed there are lighter-colored clarinets made of Rosewood. 

Grenadilla is one of the densest of woods, which allows for the sonorous tones and stability between dry and humid conditions. It is so dense, in fact, that harvesting and shaping the wood requires tools that are more common for cutting metal than wood. It also has a high oil content that will further protect the wood. 

I remember my first clarinet, a hard rubber Bundy student model. In 6th grade, I chose clarinet simply because I liked the look of the silver keys on black. I suppose in retrospect, that's not the worst reason to choose an instrument! Mine was given as a spec instrument to my high school band director, tried by the whole section and purchased by me (and my parents) as a graduation gift. I totally fell in love with the sound it made! It's been my constant and faithful companion through good times and bad. 

One of the characteristics of a clarinet is that it has such a wide range of timbres. I find switching out mouthpieces and reeds has the biggest impact on the sound, but my favorite is a dark, rich and resonant sound that can only be attributed to the type of wood from which it is made. 

So, back to the illustration of witches and wood. Keep in mind, my clarinet is named "Bennie" after Benny Goodman and therefore, a "he". I find a different script:

ME: There are ways of telling whether he makes magic.
P1: Are there? Well then tell us!
ME: Tell me... what happens when you create magic?
P3: The people watch in awe and wonder. (wonder!)
ME: What kinds of things make magic, apart from witches?
P1: More witches! 
P3: Wood! .....
ME: Does wood sink in water?
P1: No
P3: No. It floats!...
ME: Actually, magic wood sinks!
King: A Duck! (all look and stare at king)
ME: (Stare at the king) Apologies, m'lord, allow me to create some magic on my beautiful tube of black wood. (Begins playing a low-pitched, slow and sonorous tune on the clarinet. The melody rises up into the higher ranges of the clarinet, speeding up and causing the hearts of the listeners to gasp in amazement and wonder. The crowd then begins dancing as the melody turns to Dixieland style second-line festivities style)
P3: A witch! 
ME: Nope, just a pretty tube of black wood with good engineering and a lot of practice!

Sugar Is Poison!

 

I always saw myself as the cookie-baking, story-reading type of granny. My mom was that type of granny. My mom also had diabetes toward the end of her life and died of cancer at 76 years of age. I entered adulthood with the typical American diet and usually ended dinner with dessert! In fact, I recall that I kept Pop Tarts (30g sugar) and Tang (29g sugar) in my dorm room in college for the days I didn't want to get up in time for breakfast! Fast forward to just before my 50th rotation around the sun. 

It started with a strange looking rash. Was I dying of skin cancer? I made an appointment with a dermatologist, who recognized the condition as Psoriasis. She prescribed some creams and told me it could get worse, and handed me some pamphlets on the condition. The condition did get worse, and I was prescribed a self-injecting biological medicine. I soon discovered that Psoriasis is your T-cells attacking your soft tissue, which becomes inflamed. Great. Most of "me" is soft tissue! Not surprisingly, about 2 years later, my knees started to hurt. 

I was between insurance coverage and was not taking the biologic. At first I was fine, until I wasn't. Of course, it manifested itself just as I was ready to embark on a dream vacation on a Disney Cruise. My right knee felt like someone had stuffed mashed potatoes into it. Eventually, I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) had to use a wheelchair, got back on to my biologic drugs, hobbled around with a cane, and spent the next 10 years trying to figure out how to get back to normal. I found the best rheumatologist in Tampa (Dr. John Carter, highly recommend!), got some physical therapy and started researching diet. What I found was quite surprising; sugar is poison. 

The surprising part wasn't the actual refined, white sugar in a bag. EVERYBODY knows that's bad for you, but where sugar can be found and the fact that it can cause inflammation. The Cleveland Clinic says it best: 

Research shows that refined carbs may cause inflammation in your body. “It’s similar to added sugars because nothing slows their breakdown. They hit your bloodstream quickly and spike your blood sugar. And elevated blood sugar creates an inflammatory response,” says Coates. “Your body is trying to remove the sugar from your blood, so it stimulates that inflammation.”

Cleveland Clinic, Health Essentials (June 15, 2020) https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-foods-that-can-cause-inflammation/

Check out this book! 

Just a quick search online can find a Glycemic Index Chart that shows what foods contained those hidden sugars. Why is the index important? According to Dr. Ken Berry, MD, in his book, Lies My Doctor Told Me (Berry, 2019, pp. 80-82) bananas have an index of 47, bread is 70, skim milk is 32.  Isn't that a typical "healthy" breakfast? Your body doesn't discriminate between types of sugar. Fructose, dextrose, sucrose or lactose, it all spikes your insulin. Personally, I have found it better to just wean myself off the taste of sweetness and eat low-carb, which is also low glycemic. Amazingly enough, my hunger has decreased, my joints ache less and I am losing weight! Dr. Berry is a treasure trove of information. If you want to know more, scoot over to his YouTube channel and be amazed. 

All of this has been a process for me. For instance, I just spent a few days with some of those sweet grandkids of mine. We ate donuts. We ate french fries. My joints ache again. I think instead of being the sugar normalizing granny, like my mom and her mom before her, I need to forge a new path. Instead of cookie baking, we can go swimming and out to a farm to pick berries. I really don't want the next generation to end up like the past, with diabetes, dementia and cancer just because they couldn't stay off the sugar! 

Standing On The Promises

 Raise your hand if you've never gone through trials in your life. If you did, you're probably young and just haven't had anything major happen yet.

Keyword, "YET".

R. Kelso Carter was a professor, doctor and hymn writer. Though a professed Christian, it wasn't until he had a medical event with his physical heart that his spiritual heart was awakened. His hymn, Standing On The Promises was written when he was reminded of Isaiah 43:2, When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee. 

I arranged this piece for easy band after passing through my own deep waters:

• The loss of adequate income
• The loss of all parents and parents-in-law
• The separation from my adult kids
• Mr. Beaudry's cancer diagnosis, treatment and eventual death

The two promises that kept me going were, 

"God loves you" and "God always wants the best for you"

Those two thoughts were intertwined in the piece by the songs Jesus Loves Me and God Will Take Care of You.  Deep waters don't even begin to describe the darkness and hurting one goes through at a time like that. It fundamentally changes a person. These three songs, along with Scripture, were the only thing that brought comfort during that time.

If you're interested in listening to the arrangement, Click here.

If you're a band director and want to purchase the arrangement for your band, Click here.

If you're just a person in need of someone to talk to, comment below or find a pastor or Christian counsellor. 

God loves you and He always wants the best for you.

What I've Learned In 2022

 

Christ

I'm not a staunch Calvinist. I'm not going to die on the TULIP hill. However, the cultural conflicts that have arisen since 2020's infamous lockdowns have certainly brought some introspection. The questions arise on what beliefs am I holding that are actually backed by Scripture and which are just cultural habits. This year has brought home the realization that it actually goes beyond that; The Godhead Trinity is magnificent far beyond what totally depraved humans can comprehend. 

I think I'm a pretty good woman. I go to church every week. I serve on our church's music team. I studied Bible and music at two Christian colleges. I even teach at a Christian school, listen to and support the local Christian radio station and eat Chick-fil-a for breakfast (another topic discussed under the title, Coffee). Yet, the Bible is clear: "as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10) 

Hey wait a minute! Not even me?

Nope. 

I remember that time a "little white lie" just passed through my lips without hesitation. The time when I dismissed another depraved human for being depraved, even though I know that's just what we do. Indulged in gluttony and sloth, "just because". I could go on, but it hurts.

To tie that in the the whole point of Job 19:25, yes, we're all a hot mess down here. The difference comes in whether or not we "know our Redeemer lives". The cultural conflict comes from those who are resisting that knowledge, for whatever reason, and those who remember that He, our Redeemer, Christ, the Son, the second member of the Trinity, will be the last to stand upon the earth.

Clarinets

In the music category, I think the main thing I learned this year was that music should be enjoyed by everybody. 

Wait, didn't you already know that?

Well, yah, but did I demonstrate that in practice? I think I held too tightly to a belief that the only way to REALLY enjoy music is to learn it classically. Students need to know that music is another language and should become musically literate at as young an age as possible. The Suzuki Method? GARBAGE! Once the student gets past Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, how are they going to sight read the new piece we need to learn in our band class? I believed that because it was exactly what had happened to me too many times. 

It's like Jesus turned and gave me a look that said, "really?" and pointed to some blind maestros that He had created. A quick Google search brought up many of the greats. The big ones I thought of were Andrea Bocelli, Ray Charles (a famous Tampa resident for a time), and a new artist, whom I've come to really enjoy, Blessing Offer. Then Jesus gave me several students with reading challenges. Not really much different in practice than not being able to see the music.

Maybe Dr. Shinichi Suzuki was on to something? 

2023 will be a continuation of my learning how to incorporate some of these methods into my classroom. 

Coffee

Things that have come out of my mouth over the years:

• Fasting? I can't fast, I get too shaky if I don't eat.
• Intuitive eating? I feel like I need donuts.
• I need to eat a good breakfast, and then maybe go lighter during the rest of the day.
• I need to eat several small meals to keep me from being so hungry all the time.
• The four food groups: Cookies, Candies, Cakes and Pies! (OK, that last one was Mr. Beaudry's line)

My total cholesterol has gone from "normal" to Doctor saying, "Maybe we should start statins.

My glucose and A1c levels, though in the normal range now, have gone up into the area where Doctor declared me pre-diabetic. Happily, the levels are back under that big, red line. He's not calling me pre-diabetic anymore. That's a win.

I lump all of my food discoveries under the word "coffee" not only because it works with the alliteration, but also because coffee is one pleasure that holds me together. At first, it was coffee with Stevia. This year, I've been delving more into the subject and discovered that any sweet taste, even without carbs or calories, will trigger an insulin response, which in turn will make me hungry. I've found a great mentor, who backs all of his thoughts with medical research in Dr. Ken Berry. Here's just a sample of what he says about hunger and bulletproof coffee. Every day now, it's a French press full of coffee, poured into a cup with a little ghee and mineral drops, frothed up to delightful perfection. It's satisfying, hacks hunger hormones and when properly frothed, is reeeeally good!!! 

It's been amazing to me also to discover that fasting can be accomplished by such a mess as I am. I'm following what is commonly known as a 16:8 plan, without snacking. It didn't start off easy, I had to push through a few days. The more I learn about how big food and big pharma are changing our culture it makes it easier to stick to a "Proper Human Diet". I know I've dumped a ton of links in this post, but if you choose to watch this last video link to Cynthia Thurlow, see if you can watch it without feeling you've been duped. 

I fall off the wagon way too much. I like Chick-fil-a for breakfast. I still don't look like I know what I'm talking about. Thus, it's hard for me to even bring the subject of diet up in a conversation. Have you even noticed how our culture tends to dismiss those who are overweight, no matter the topic? However, I've learned a lot and hopefully, I can initiate the things I've learned into a habit of much better health in 2023!