Just got up from the desk, caught my foot in the power cord to the new computer and tugged and tripped on it, waiting for the inevitable and dreaded sound of my computer hitting the floor. But what's this, it didn't crash (literally). Yep, that's one more great feature of the Mac, the fact that the chord attaches via magnet, so it pulled out rather than dragged the computer to the floor. Thank you, Apple, you just saved me a lot of agita. It did pull the computer dangerously close to the edge, but not over. And maybe that's just the bit of good fortune that I need to turn my emotional state from cold and grey to warmer and more colorful. Because Goddamn, I'm not really enjoying this transition to America.
So Rich, let me ask you a question... What have you learned over the course of your life that might have some relevance to the situation in which you are presently immersed? Is there some knowledge that you've gained over the years which might be useful at a time when you're not at your best? And this brings up the familiar thought that it's easier to have these revelations when you're feeling good and inspired, but when you're less so, it all seems like a waste of time. (I don't really feel that way at present, just remarking on a familiar pathway that my brain likes to take).
For me, the 'solution' needs to be a creative one, I need to be developing new work, not relying on the tried and true (and trite?) that has gotten me here. I really feel that frustration when I returned to the early childhood world and didn't have something new to offer, so my goal for this day is to get something new going, like right away, like now. Got to block out the distractions and let my mind enter that place where it has access to the bigger picture. So here's how I'll go about it. Looking at the calendar, I see that I have some upcoming gigs I'm not quite ready for, so let's see what they need and see how I can start crafting some new work.
There is a bunch of early childhood stuff coming up, that culminates with a big event on April 18 (Earth Day). I'll be doing two shows for the kids who are part of the U of O child development centers, and it's a well-paid, nice gig in a perfect location, at the 'longhouse' on campus. Before that, I have many opportunities for working with young kids, so it would be good to try out some stuff in advance of the Earth Day event.
So if I were to sketch out a perfect performance for a hundred little kids (and their teachers), what would it look like?
Opening Song
Get them moving in place
Get their voices going
Locomotion around the space
Story
Singalong
Closing song
Actually, now that I look at it and imagine the gig, it's a piece of cake. These kids just see me the one time. It's more difficult to conjure up stuff that will work over the weeks and months. So let's write some new early childhood stuff and come up with some new activities that will get the kids inspired and active.... Ready set go... uh, ready set go... uh, how do you do that, again?
I tend to want to grab a guitar, strum a C chord and see what happens... so let's try that, with a mind that is thinking about movement and animals and nature. I've been wanting to write something about the seeds that are planted at this time of year... Where's my guitar?
