Stream of Consciousness Saturday, Ode

Ode to Joy. This is often a beginners song in whatever instrument you are trying out. Here is one of my favorite recorder teachers teaching the classic. I am using this video to teach myself to play it on not only soprano but also alto and tenor. Both of the latter are much harder on my hands than the higher squeakier soprano.

Sarah Jeffery

I’ve always been interested in codes and other languages. Maybe the beginning code of my life was music. As a five-year-old, I can remember more of my music lessons than kindergarten or even first grade. Music code was followed by alphabets and Dick, Jane, and Sally. Not only did I learn that code, in the boring sense of black and white, but reading became one of my favorite things.

When I was little, I had a toy piano like Schroeder, with color coded music with keys that match the notes. Maybe that is why I see music and some odd things in colors. Smells have colors. Words have colors. My fingers on the piano keyboard make cartoons in my head. Okay, I never said I was totally sane.

Okay. Not Beethoven but cute, right?

Great for color-coded toy piano, not the best key for beginning recorder.

So sorry to have let my stream erode to elemental music but that is where my crazy ADD floats off to. I have overloaded on the code words when there were so many out there like these:

• biodegradable.
• photodetector.
• electrodermal.
• octodecillion.
• moderatorship.
• modernization.
• modernisation.
• photocathodes.

Just think of where I could have gone with photocathodes, whatever those are.

Per Linda:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ode.” Find a one- or two-syllable word that rhymes with “ode,” or use the word “ode.” Have fun!

Making Monday

Making music. My housemates and neighbors may disagree.

My free classes ended last Thursday. It was fun having a Zoom class making progress through elementary music.

I am a music major so I can read music,  no problem.  Well, except for the eyes that have problems seeing. But recorder music is only one line. As opposed to four or more in piano music. So recorder is easier.

Without the black and white keys I have had to learn finger positions. Seems easy enough. Except fingers, my fingers are short and have a hard time reaching.

Maintaining breath while hitting the notes and trying to keep time present challenges.

Any of you who had to take recorder classes in school might remember the screeching noises of the soprano recorder.

So I am attempting to learn the alto, too. I love it’s rich smooth sounds. But my hands hurt after more than few minutes playing.

All the music time cuts my knitting time. So the socks are just two inches from being done. Maybe this week they’ll be complete.

What are you making?

This and That Thursday

As I meandered my thoughts about today, I found my eclectic stroll even more so.

My current binge is The Walking Dead, again. My son has all ten seasons. I like watching the old way because there are extra bits like ‘the making of’ or interviews. The show parts I can let slide by as I have committed a lot to memory.

I was watching Outlander again. But it won’t have a new season until next year some time. I’d love to read another book or two, but I’m caught up there, too.

One thing I found in common between these two shows is the music. Guess what? Same musician in both.  Bear McCreary is amazing!

Today was my last Beginning Recorder  class with Jennifer Carpenter of the American Recorder Society.  They were free. As soon as I can, I plan to join. There are more lessons coming up in September. I’m loving learning on my alto and soprano recorders.

Meanwhile, I have a lot of Kindle and paper books to keep up the education.

And there are lessons on YouTube like those of Sarah Jeffery and Team Recorder. She is so much fun.

For those who think Recorder is for grade school take a listen:

That beginning photo at the top of my post? I stepped outside with the dog. The wind was hitting me in the face and the sky looked like it disguised itself with a mustache. It felt so grand to feel such a cool breeze coming from the north. That meant a lot less smoke for us today. I’m thankful for that!

Maybe soon I can start taking walks!? I did learn at the doctor’s appointment on Monday that I have lost over 23 pounds now. Lots still to go but hey, it’s working.

Review: The Recorder Fun Book: for Young Students by Larry E. Newman

The Recorder Fun Book: for Young Students by Larry E. Newman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Of all the books I picked up when I decided to play the recorder, this one wins. I needed something fun. All those kid or folk songs to get you going are here. The pictures that are fun alongside the instructions of notes, breath, and tongue articulating kept me going.

Unlike reading books, this one I had to take two steps forward then one step back. But in the end I have played from every page. I think eventually I will buy the paper version to fall back on later. Meanwhile, I have many other beginner books to try out.

If you don’t read music, this book could be for you. Having the tune in your head helps you know if you’re playing it right.

View all my reviews

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, igh

Sigh. Practice time is nigh. I’m getting better. It’s hard to hit the eighty-eight keys when midnight is in sight.

I’d love to say I’m improving on either recorder or piano. But I’m trying to keep the sessions light and as fun as possible. It’s been a long time since I put this much effort in. Trying to clear the practice cobwebs.

Sight is a problem. Cataract surgery not until after September’s consultation. Until then, I’m embarrassed to admit, I’m stumbling on what I could play flawlessly when I was 12. Having larger notations and less on the page helps. As I play a bit of cellular memory eases my plight.

On the recorder a lot is playing recognized tunes. I can read the music. It’s my fingers. If you don’t fully cover the holes air escapes and the higher squeaker tones come out. It’s a matter of laughing at myself and keep trying. Arthritis might be the problem. But if I stay relaxed and quit if it hurts too much, I’m more likely to try again later.

Housemates and neighbors haven’t complained at my late play time. The new position of my music/hobby room is far from open windows or others’ rooms. Still, when I wait too late I’m too tired.

So I’d better not delay the delight.

Have a wonderful Fourth of July!

And good night!

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “contains ‘igh.’” Find a word that contains the letters “igh” in that order and use it in your post. Enjoy!

Fast Friday

That’s how today has gone. Fast! When days like today happen, I remember when my kids were young. I remember being so busy the whole day and when my then husband got home the house was a mess and I was exhausted yet it looked like I didn’t do anything at all. I learned a little trick. Rather than write a list of tasks I wanted to achieve, I would list what I actually did. That made me feel so much better.

In fact, I think this blog is a bit like that for me. It is a way to help me not think that life has just passed by while I just lived it. You know what I mean? And it does help. If I want to know when the last snow happened, when the last pair of socks finished, what was I doing last year this date, I look it up here and say to myself, “See! I did do something.” ” Oh look it snowed bundles more last year,” etc.

So, I don’t have writing numbers for today as I haven’t written yet today. With yesterdays numbers I have Pandamapocalypse just 1,001 added. Marina’s Mission 5,360. As soon as I have this blog published I will go spend the time to make about 500 on Panda and 1,667 on Marina.

I did run through the Prelude from yesterday, not nearly as well. I think the light was worse for me at that time of day. Then I played a few bars of 

 

No, I didn’t play it one handed. I have in the past but right now I just want to make music. Lesson learned, do piano things earlier in the day while the piano is in the living room. When we move it, it will be lighter longer as it will get a southern exposure.

I did play with the recorder a bit. I will be using this YouTube to help for a bit.

Then when I just wanted to make the music I went to practice on this website.

Then I did a little playing by ear just to work on breath control and moving stiff fingers.

Speaking of stiff fingers I did a few rows on the newest pair of charity slipper socks. Working on ankles then cuffs, yay!

Now it is close to midnight and I have some stories to write before bed.

The Muses, Thursday, June 3, 2021

Busy day. The muses have given me a workout. I’m not done even now. But I thought I should report how amazing these Muses are.

First of the day I sat an played a couple songs by ear on my soprano recorder  I did find  a wonderful webpage to help me until I can get a few books. From that website I learned to play Lightly Row. That was fun.

I ran to my piano and played Prelude.  Why yes, that is a sticker (just above the Allegro) that I tried to rip off the page as I am embarrassed that I learned to play this way back when I was a teen or less. Now at 71 that sticker makes me want to cry. I learned so much from Mrs. Skinner. The first teacher out of church that I knew most of my early life.

I found the playing fun and I got up immediately so that I could remember music as fun.

I went back to the recorder for one more play-through and then looked up YouTubes. I ran across Kalimba lessons.

Hey! I have a Kalimba! So now I am on a kick to learn Kalimba, too.

Why all this musical attentions? Mrs. Skinner. I remember when I hated piano. Never Mrs. Skinner. But she told me not to play the piano for a while. She gave me her ukulele to go home and play with. She had a tuning whistle and a book. When I got pretty good at that she made sure I had piano music for voice and let me learn to sing to my playing.

So I am playing with music again to start to love it. Again. And the recorder, I hope will increase my breath control.

Oh! I nearly forgot, I spent time on my next page on the Dragon Coloring Book.

Now to get back to what I haven’t finished for the night. My JuNoWriMo projects. So far I have (not counting todays) 827 words added to Pandamapocalypse and 3594 added to Marina’s Mission.

Now to get back to work as the story is coming around!

Ta-Da Tuesday!

Yep, I’m at it again! JuNoWriMo. I didn’t finish, or even do much with last months editing. So I am combining the editing and rewriting that needs to happen to finish Pandamapocalypse. But a new book was calling to me so I have started on Marina’s Mission. So my count for Panda is 510 words added as the story still hasn’t finished. Yet MM is the second part of Panda. So this is going to get complicated. Even so I managed 1870 words. Yeah! 

I have complained that we get no spring or fall here. But this year the weather has been more of a springy feeling. I love my mesquite bushes just outside. They blossomed up and became nearly yellow with all the flowers. I finally got out to take a couple pictures.

Can you see the pods? Those are what makes the mesquite the most fun. In the summer when the pods turn brown they start popping open. If you are lucky, as you stand an look at these huge bushes, the sound of popping corn happens. It is so much fun to stand and hear a bush make noise!

It wasn’t really quiet as I took the pictures. There were so many bees that the buzz made me very nervous. I got away as soon as I could.

My newest socks are coming along.

The practice on the recorder was slight but I did manage to finger out Mary Had A Little Lamb, and Twinkle Twinkle. But I would love a book to read the music as I go. Tomorrow I promised myself to play one song on the piano just to reconnect.

For those that are curious as to how the Intermittent Fasting/Keto are doing. I’m managing OMAD (One Meal A Day) and that is a very healthy meal. I am rarely hungry later and if so water or tea will do the trick. My pants are getting loose enough to pull down without unsnapping or unzipping. I don’t weigh myself but at the end of the month I have a doctor’s appointment where I know they will weigh me. I think I will be happy with the result.

Today has been the warmest day all year. I think we hit 92. It is suppose to cool off the rest of the week. I think this was to help us get used to what is coming. Fans were running in every room all day.

Midnight is creeping up so I best get this published and head off to bed.

So This Was Sunday

Have you ever had a thing call you to do a something and suddenly you are doing it? No, keep it clean, you all! My music shelf needed sorting. My memory of singing in the truck last week finding I needed more air. Two things crashed. If I started playing the recorder again, I might make my breath stronger. I have recorder teaching books. At least that was the stream of thoughts. But straightening all those books, no recorder books. Darn! I did find my nice soprano recorder in my piano bench. There’s a plus. 

Then I decided to try and find an app to teach myself recorder. I don’t like the app at all. I spent two hours tapping our rests and whole notes on just the key of B and A. My fingers are hurting and I need more movement than just those two notes. I can’t imagine anyone liking that kind of lesson. I think I will go look for books on Amazon when I get paid. Meanwhile, I’ll just play around and see if I can keep the notes sounding pure and not squeaking. 

I think I am getting a music bug again. I miss it. And I miss coloring. And I miss writing. Well, JuNoWriMo is calling but I need to finish the old book before starting the new–or do I? What if I start something completely new?

Well, that is how my Sunday went. Muses are crashing into each other trying to get to me. I’m loving it!

Medical Monday

I’m tired. I had an appointment at 11:30 in La Pine. That’s an hour and a half away. So I set my alarm for 8:30. Kali had a different thought. She was waking me every few minutes from 6 o’clock on. I went to bed early, 12:30, just to make sure I’d get my 8 hours. Yeah. That happened.

I chose to do the trip alone. It had been a long time since I got the chance to sing with Barbra Streisand. Alone. Babs and I had a great time. Hardly noticed the pain of roads that needed work and the jarring of my back. What I noticed is that she can hold a note far longer than she used to. Okay, I realize it is quite the reverse. I can use more work on my breath. I need to sing more. Period.

 

When I got to the clinic, I called as requested to let them know I was in
the parking lot. I felt pretty good as I was there a good 15 minutes early.
They said they were horribly embarrassed as they didn’t know when they set up the
appointment that this Monday, and it NEVER happens, but the doctor is actually
in Bend. Well, Barbra didn’t mind my caterwauling, we could go another half
hour. That worked for them, and they were overly apologetic and planned to
rearrange appointments and lunches to fit me in if I’d do the drive. Google
driving instructions got me to the office.

I watched the procedure. I find medical things like stitches, shots, and the
like fascinating. One of my spots on my arm, I could watch the whole thing. It
was cancer blah, blah, blah in situ. That calls for a cryo– oh, here is the
definition:

Cryotherapy. Cryotherapy, or cryosurgery, is a freezing technique used to
remove sunspots and some superficial BCCs. The doctor, usually a dermatologist,
sprays liquid nitrogen onto the sunspot or skin cancer and
a small area of skin around it. This causes a burning or
stinging sensation, which lasts a few minutes.

But honestly, this is how I saw it: The doctor deadened the spot with a
couple pokes. Then he took a woodburning tool and burned the bad skin off. A
swipe and cleaning then once more burning the cancer skin. Then clean and a
tiny Band-Aid. I had another in the middle of my back, but, of course, I
couldn’t watch it. It was all done far before I finished the paperwork. The
deadening needle vaguely hurt, and it did its job fast.

Now, at home, having had a nap, I’m feeling great. What a fun day for me,
lf, and I, with Ms. Streisand. When I go to these two towns with my
husband, brother, or son, I usually chose the music we can agree on. Babs
doesn’t get the respect she needs from the males in my house!

A thought struck me as I skipped this song, what happened to Yentl when she went to America. Wouldn’t you love to see part 2?

 

Oh how I hate how block wants to come in and mess up everything I worked on. If you see the mismatched paragraphs and words cut off, blame block! UGH! Trying to post this the third time and whatever it is stays!