• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • San Diego Momma
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
San Diego Momma

San Diego Momma

Sharing some humor, a bit of writing and way too much information

Home / Etcetera / Arts Alive

Arts Alive

Etcetera

DSC_0039.JPG

 

Today Toots, Booger and I went to an “arts” day put on by a local non-profit and drummed, painted and sang for most of the early afternoon.

 

In one room, there was a singing party where a woman played the guitar and led the kids in all the oldies but goodies, which made me remember my early musical instruction.

 

I distinctly recall the moment I fell in love with music. I was in the third grade, and my music teacher, a hippie named Dennis, seemed so completely enraptured by music, that we all caught the fever. A few times a week, my classmates and I would gather in the gym for a delicious hour while Dennis strummed his old wood guitar and taught us “Both Sides Now,” by Joni Mitchell,”Fly Like An Eagle,” by Steve Miller, and “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. He even taught us “At Seventeen” by Janis Ian, a decidedly gutsy song choice for a third grade teacher, even if he were a hippie.

 

I can still sing you every word of those songs and see so clearly the poster board hanging on the wall, where he’d scrawled the song lyrics so we could follow along.

 

DSC_0046.JPG

 

For the first time in my life, I’d felt connected to something bigger than myself. The longing, sadness, and regret in these songs touched me most and I understood in some small way, even at my age. The songwriter’s ability to express emotion intrigued me and I believe this is when I began to look at words differently. They weren’t pencil marks in a composition notebook, they were other worlds, heartbreak, devotion, destruction. Singing, although I couldn’t do it well, and writing, which I was better at, became a part of my life then, and it happened because of Dennis and that music class.

 

DSC_0029.JPG

 

Today, as I watched Toots and Booger in that music room, I wished the same for them. Creative expression is liberating and life-changing. I hate to think how the arts are undervalued in our public school system. I dare say that to access your “real self” through whatever you call art, and give it a name, a place and a life, is a fundamental skill we can’t afford to deny our kids.

 

It was a good day.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

March 8, 2008 · 2 Comments

Sure I’d love to see you again

Previous Post: « Most Boring Post Ever. (Or Your Money Back)
Next Post: Clean Water: NOT an Oxymoron »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Angela says

    March 9, 2008 at 8:31 am

    Ah, my friend Kristen just bought her one year old “Kindermusic” classes for her first birthday. She LOVES it. They both do. How fun!

    Reply
  2. Da Goddess says

    March 11, 2008 at 1:46 am

    If the girls had fun there, bring them to Gator By The Bay on Mother’s Day weekend. There’s a ton of music and there’s always someone with instruments for the kids to play. Two years ago, Little Dude and I tried to learn to play spoons. It was oodles of fun.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

I love words. Every one, every time. (Except “moist.” That word can go.) …read more

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Sure. I’d love to see you again.

Categories

Archives

Blogroll

  • Blog This Mom
  • Da Goddess
  • Dirt and Noise
  • Discover San Diego
  • Foolery
  • Juggling Life
  • Mama Mary Show
  • Mel, A Dramatic Mommy
  • Mom Zombie
  • Mommy’s Martini
  • Motherhood is Not for Wimps
San Diego Momma

Footer

Archives

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

sandiegomomma

sandiegomomma
Back in Lake Geneva after 36 years… Circumstance Back in Lake Geneva after 36 years…
Circumstances have changed since post-Prom-picnic-circa-1986-vibes…
#WhereIsBryanAdamsNow
Dorm drop! 🏫👩‍🏫🥲💕 Dorm drop!
🏫👩‍🏫🥲💕
💫Travel poster for Saturday wine tasting.💫 💫Travel poster for Saturday wine tasting.💫
Celebrating the new 16-year-old with a quick Santa Celebrating the new 16-year-old with a quick Santa Monica trip.
And now she knows she doesn’t want to live in LA….
#LifeLessons
It’s happening….. It’s happening…..
Barely tolerating me….. Barely tolerating me…..
Beach day with my “little” one while big sis e Beach day with my “little” one while big sis explores Cal Poly…
Life transitions. Beautiful but I haz the olds.
#NotAboutMe #Whhhhyyyyy
A rare Bubbie sighting. Spotted in the wild. #HeDo A rare Bubbie sighting. Spotted in the wild. #HeDoesntLikePictures
Sunset squad. Brought a picnic and drinks to Del M Sunset squad.
Brought a picnic and drinks to Del Mar and watched the waves and horizon. Not too crowded or cold - another good hang with the neighborhood gang! ❤️❤️
Imprinting 2021 holidays on my brain (and in my In Imprinting 2021 holidays on my brain (and in my Instagram) (and in my antibodies). It’s a COVID New Year’s Eve…
Husband and I down for the count(down).
BUT. We’re doing decent and it’s cozy up in here…
Winery times! Winery times!
Guys on couch watching football; girls in kitchen Guys on couch watching football; girls in kitchen talking about everything.
Smells like a Sunday neighbor night. ;)
Line dancing lessons… My two left feet did nothi Line dancing lessons…
My two left feet did nothing right - but they did it with gusto.
Looking for a new book to read! #BookClub Despite Looking for a new book to read! #BookClub Despite the seeming divine intervention from above, we weren’t struck with the “perfect” next book to put on our list…..
Post-white-water-rafting super exhaustion. (Oh my Post-white-water-rafting super exhaustion.
(Oh my gosh you guys…! No! I’m not a sports model! But I totally understand how you might think so.) 😜😜😜
I wanted my hair to do that. #NordicSisters I wanted my hair to do that.
#NordicSisters
Dad’s hats on the people who loved/knew/laughed/ Dad’s hats on the people who loved/knew/laughed/sang with him.
Miss you Dad. Hope we do your hats justice. Lord knows we’ll have fun in them, just like you did. 😇
Paso Robles! Wine tasting beauty. It’s stunning Paso Robles! Wine tasting beauty. It’s stunning here. And the landscape is nice too ;).
Found my brother’s old ad copy. Good fun-writing Found my brother’s old ad copy. Good fun-writing inspiration...
Just in case I wasn’t feeling ancient enough, th Just in case I wasn’t feeling ancient enough, the rainbow jumper and white bobby socks oughta do it. No but wait! There’s a bowl cut. Annnnnnnddd giant gold-rimmed specs.
#CentennialFashion
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Hello Chicky

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT