Simple Awareness

So lately, my happiness, the steering toward my true north, has partially been found in simply being aware; aware of the variety of people, places, and circumstances that continually crop up around me. Sometimes little things can be the most profound. And so can little people: :)

St. Paul's Choristers working on their 'Ahh' vowels. Looks like a variety of vowels right now. :)

And so the varying circumstances I've noticed, are the instances one can pass by so easily, as sometimes they really can be so profound. I get to run my own chorister program. Sure, it's a small group right now, but so far, I'm loving every moment of it. The kids are adorable, and are already catching on very quickly. And of course, this quote really does say it all: "Kids say the darndest things." 

When I wanted them to exaggerate their vowels, I asked, "What does it mean to exaggerate things?" One of the little ones raised his hand, pointing at a giant, and I mean GIANT spider nestled in the corner of the ceiling next to me, "Like if I were to say, that spider is  million feet wide instead of a few inches wide!" Hah! I laughed hysterically, as did they. I also squeamed a bit as I didn't want that spider to wander toward me. Can you tell I don't like spiders? 

Anyway, children in their innocence and their constant state of being uninhibited always seem to inspire me, and at times help put me back into my creative, playful self. I love teaching them, and interacting with them at their level in some ways (while still keeping my own authority in the rehearsal of course). It's just so much fun to work with children, to get their perspective on things when asking them questions on what they think something means, and also experiencing one of those profound moments, when I ask them to change their vowel shapes, and they suddenly change from sounding like "whining horses" as one of my choristers described it, to a nice, smooth, resonant and cohesively blended sound. And they heard it too...I could see it in their faces. "Did you hear the difference?" I asked. They all nodded synchronously. 

And, as they all burst out of rehearsal full of energy, after we spent the latter part rehearsing the Ubi Caritas Taizé chant on a 'loo' vowel, at least three or four of them started singing it to themselves as they ran down the hallway, grabbing their things and looking for their parents. It made me very happy indeed. 

So as of now, I've found employment, happiness, and fulfillment in a variety of musical areas. Singing, rehearsing, working with kids, and occasionally playing the piano/organ.

Being asked to sing on a recording of a bunch of Marian music...hearing the reverberation in the church, and just...well...singing in such a wonderfully tightly-knit group, made my heart pound. Another feeling of 'doing without doing.' I continue to cherish these moments.

 In whatever path I take, whatever decisions I make in the future in how I guide my musical and personal journey, I will continue to try to notice these moments, and to let them help to continue to lead me forward, and in them, I hope that they will lead to grander and even more fulfilling opportunities.