looking back on grace, looking forward to expand

I just re-read my post from last year about grace, which was my word for 2016. It was an interesting read because I had forgotten how I felt coming into this past year. I can't really put my finger on it or give some life-changing revelatory moment that shifted my thinking, but I do know that things have changed. That doesn't mean I've mastered this art, of course. Giving myself grace and allowing myself room to make mistakes or change plans will always be a challenge of mine. (After all, I'm a 1 on the Enneagram. It will be a lifelong mission.) But I do know that God has worked in me this past year and I'm thankful to be in a new place.

As I enter into 2017, there's more of a comfort in knowing I can't do it all or be it all. God has never asked me to. And no one else has either. It doesn't feel like "giving up" anymore to pick what's important to me, do it, and then say goodbye to the rest. (Jen Hatmaker's chapter in "For the Love" about picking what's on your beam was really helpful and encouraging to me if you happen to find yourself stuck in that conundrum.) Ultimately, the choice in 2016 was to decide what I would believe. Would I believe what the world says - that having it all is really important? Would I believe the perfectionist or inner critic that can lurk inside of me? Or would I believe what God says about me, my life, my gifts, and my purpose? I must've opted for the latter more often than not because I felt lighter leaving 2016.

When I look back on the year, I think of two specific seasons when I reacted in a typically "out of character" way for me, proving that God was doing things in me and shifting my mindset.

First, I think about how releasing an EP with my band, Mopak, was a set plan for this past year. It was on the horizon with a very clear path leading up to it. These songs had been birthed in me during the recent years and I felt like they were ready to share. I was so excited to tell this story. As a band, we were writing, practicing a handful of times each month, and even playing places. (I know, a band playing gigs! It's revolutionary! But it actually was for us.) Everything was going as planned. Until it wasn't. We kept having to push our recording date back, the songs weren't completely ready, things were feeling rushed, and, to top it all off, our Kickstarter didn't get funded. Things stopped falling into place and it just didn't feel right to shove them there. Aside from all of that, our bassist was awaiting the arrival of baby #4 and I had just gotten pregnant with baby #3. It was obviously time for another shift from band mode to baby mode.

It wasn't a devastating time, but I was pretty sad to put that project on the back burner. However, it surprisingly took me less time to get over this disappointment than I would've imagined. Typically, my response would've been to sulk for weeks, contemplate the meaning of my life, doubt my skills, question my ability to do what I say I'm going to do, and internally punish myself for not meeting my very desired goal. But I knew deep down that if and when the Lord wanted this music to be finished, he would make it happen. Thanks to God, Colt, and my people, I was able to move on pretty quickly from this let down.

I hadn't revisited any of these thoughts or emotions until our pastor said something a few Sundays ago. He was listing off different life circumstances or feelings that might resonate with us. I sat at the piano feeling disconnected from all of them. Until he got to the last one. "I feel like I need to remind some people in the room that a dream delayed is not a dream destroyed." My eyes immediately filled with tears as I thought about this delayed musical dream. On the one hand, I'm living out the dream of having a third baby. But I am still holding this project in my other hand. There's a tension that exists in holding both and waiting. Yet, what a sweet reminder that this dream has not been destroyed. Who knows all of God's reasons for delaying it, but I trust he has some good ones.

So as I moved out of this season with the band, I moved straight into the first trimester of this pregnancy, my second example of when grace just had to win. I was an exhausted mom of two living with constant nausea, aversions, cravings, and intense emotions. Needless to say, a lot of things fell by the wayside. A bin of clean laundry to fold resided in our living room as if it were a piece of furniture. Many days, dishes were in the sink when Colt came home from work, which is not how I typically operate. We spent more money on going out to eat than we ever do. To-do lists were made and items weren't crossed off. I felt like I was a zombie going through life most days. And while I didn't do everything right in that season of life, I will say that I really did my best to not beat myself up about my lack of energy and accomplishments. I jumped into grace and made a nice little home there while my body was forming this new little baby. As someone who values hard work (sometimes a little too much), I am grateful for the reminder that my worth is not determined by the amount of household tasks I get done in a day. That's a hard one to remember as a stay-at-home mom.

2016 was a great year and I'm glad I got a bit closer to understanding what it looks like to live under the umbrella of grace instead of expectations, goals, and plans.

I have been thinking and praying about what my word would be for 2017 and I feel like the Lord gave me the word Expand. I type this word as my arms curl around the expanding belly in front of me. It's obvious that I'm expanding, but I think my belly is just one of the many ways I will experience expansion in the coming year.

My heart is expanding as it stretches and loves a new member of our family. Our family number count is expanding. Our home is expanding to squeeze 5 people in it. My capacity will expand to handle and manage three children each day instead of two. My perspective and mind will expand as dreams and hopes may look differently than planned or require a different timeline. And I have no doubt that the Lord has some ideas of his own around the idea of expansion. I am always a work in progress, figuring out what parts of me to hold on to and what parts of me to let go of, change, and allow the Lord to work on.

I am looking forward to an exciting year that will certainly be full of challenges and adjustment, but will also be rewarding and full of growth.

the story behind our new EP

Asking people for money is one of the worst things. But when you're a musician wanting to make a record in 2016, it's hard to get around it. The majority of music is practically free these days and not many people will even fork out $10 for an album done by their most favorite artist. Which is why I'm here asking you for help.

But before I get any further, let me start at the beginning.

First of all, I'm in a band. We recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund our next EP which we plan to release this summer/fall. Although our Kickstarter promo video shares a general idea of where these songs come from, I wanted to give a more detailed account here. So, if you're wanting the full story behind our upcoming EP, you're in the right place.

On July 20th, 2012, I released my first EP as a "solo artist." (I use quotes because while I do take my music seriously, I don't take myself that seriously. But I'm not sure what else to call that first project of mine.) My goal for this little EP was to have a simple representation of my music - just me and the piano. Up until that point, I'd always worked with our band, Mopak, on Colt's songs. Recording my own songs was a big step for me and I was excited to conquer that uncharted territory, small as it was.

On the night of that same day, July 20th, my life changed. We were out on a triple date with some of our best friends (the folks who make up Mopak and their wives) when I had an unbelievable and sudden panic attack. My first one ever. I had no reference point for this. Little did I know, I would spend the next days filled with excruciating anxiety, visiting the ER, and getting prescribed Xanax because "sometimes these things just happen." Needless to say, the accomplishment of releasing my solo EP was buried and marked in my heart and memory as being one of the scariest days of my life.

If you've been a part of my life or read my blog for any amount of time, you know the rest of this story. (The whole story is here.) After months of counseling, lots of prayer, and lots of wonderful people encouraging me, I reached a point where I had found a new normal. No, my anxiety wasn't eliminated, but I could manage it.

As I was coming out of this really dark season, I began to write songs that were very specific to my struggle. I dreamed of one day recording an EP that would tell this story from start to finish. I had a few songs written, but couldn't seem to complete the project. Those songs sat in my notebook for quite awhile.

Fast forward to May of 2014.

I was faced with new challenges as I waited on Nova's arrival (my second child), didn't experience the birth I had hoped for, and struggled to nurse her. There were some emotions that were uncovered through all of those hard moments that I hadn't really experienced before. A spirit of disillusionment, anger, and disbelief began stirring in my heart. For lack of a better phrase, I struggled with my faith. I think "struggled with my faith" sounds really sweet and hopeful sometimes. But this wasn't that way.  I was questioning the character of God and it was a devastating feeling.

As I moved through that season, I realized there were some common threads between those two journeys. Both of these journeys (the anxiety and the struggles with Nova) exposed who I really was and what I really thought. I learned things about myself that I'd never known before.

In the midst of that struggle in 2014, I dug those songs back out from 2012. I began adding to them, making changes, and writing new ones. Then it hit me. All of this went together. It was one big story about coming out on the other side of doubt, frustration, cynicism, anxiety, confusion, and abandonment. It's a story of being honest with yourself and others about who you are and what you think. It's a story of working through something really hard and allowing yourself to be changed because of it. It's a story that we all relate to.

We all walk through dark places. Not one person is exempt. But what we do with all of it either pushes us forward into better versions of ourselves or keeps us imprisoned to bitterness, grudges, pride, and isolation.

So that's the background of this whole thing. And here's where you come in.

We need help. More specifically, we need money.

Think of it as supporting people who are doing what they love. Think of it as supporting the art of music. Think of it as supporting honest storytelling. Or just think of it as a pre-order.

Releasing this EP will be a milestone for me. It's a way of redeeming that release on July 20th, 2012 that quickly became overshadowed by darkness. It's the end of a chapter, the tying of loose ends, the closing of a book. Sharing these songs is part of the closure associated with these seasons of life. Sharing these songs is part of the healing process. This EP is a full-circle moment for me.

I'm asking for your support to get this record done. I'm really proud of these songs and if you're a human who likes music and has endured any kind of hardship in your life, I think you'll like them too. I kindly ask you to please consider helping us make this EP by giving to our Kickstarter, and by spreading the word to any who might be interested.

Kickstarter

Mopak Website

Mopak on Twitter

Mopak on Facebook

Mopak on Instagram

moda spira

source

Sometimes there are bands that walk into your life (or your ears) at a specific time and because of who you are or what is happening in that very season, that band becomes unforgettable. It becomes tied to that season. That's how Page CXVI is for me.

Back in the fall of 2012, I had just begun seeing a counselor for my anxiety. I had also just completed my first year of motherhood. Everything around me and inside of me had changed and the night that I saw Page CXVI was a milestone for me. It was the first time since I'd been on my mental health journey that I felt like I had heard music that gave me the "Me too!" feeling. I think that's what most of us songwriters want. We want people to hear our songs, relate to them, be changed by them, and carry them in their hearts. That's what Latifah's song "Roll Over Me/Joy" did for me that night.

That concert also spurred me on in my own songwriting and reminded me to dust off my notebooks in the midst of chasing around a toddler. In a lot of ways, that concert was part of the push I needed to keep writing the songs that now make up the concept album that our band, Mopak, is currently working on. As I sat and listened to Page CXVI that night, puzzle pieces started coming together and this EP started to take formation.

All of this to say, Page CXVI has a warm fuzzy spot in my heart. My journey and their music aligned at a really sweet time. So when Latifah asked on Twitter if any bloggers wanted an early stream of her new project Moda Spira, I quickly responded!

It doesn't take long to realize that this album has a completely different flavor to it than anything Latifah has done previously. I love when musicians feel the freedom and courage to move in a different musical direction. Adding Latifah's dark and rich vocals to a blanket of cool synth sounds, creative BGVs, and electronic drums makes for a tasty feel.

The tunes that have really stuck out to me in all my listens are "We Hold On" and "Shaking the Walls." They both have an easy, pop, anthem-y feel that immediately gets you moving and nodding your head, yet they're still grounded in musical and lyrical depth.

I asked Latifah to give a little snippet about the project. Here's what she had to say:

"I have been wanting to flex my songwriting muscles in a different way for awhile. I knew I wanted to explore a solo project to write songs about my personal experiences. I wanted to make a record that had my guilty pleasure sounds with earnest content. Moda Spira came into being from that place. I love RnB, 80s pop, Jazz, Motown, Soul, Cinematic Indie Rock, etc. and it was a blast giving nods to my favorite sonic landscapes.

The content came out of my personal relationship, it's ups and downs, and ultimately what it was for us to press into continually choosing one another through hard times. When you love someone the bad along with the good cannot help but eventually be exposed about yourself and your partner. I am deeply grateful for Reid's devotion to growth and commitment in these times and I wanted to spend energy reflecting on that season for us. Relationships are cyclical and we need reminders that there can be hope in hard times."

This album is worth a listen. Pre-order Moda Spira now or check it out when it releases on May 13th.

mopak "labor"

This day has come but only after four long years of waiting.  You can probably guess why our (Mopak's) EP is entitled "Labor."  There are a few explanations that I could give, but the obvious one is that in the time we began recording this EP until now, our band has birthed a total of 6 children.  And if you guys didn't know, it's a bit difficult to write songs and record parts and publicize music when you're busy with little humans.  

I wrote this post back in 2012.  It's hard to believe that the album we are releasing now was still in the beginning stages in those photos.  I remember so vividly driving to the studio in Norman with Duke in the back and Karlie, my sister, along to help.  Between the three of us, we got our parts recorded, got baby Duke fed and sleeping, and made time for some Gray Owl coffee.

So many people got us to this point.  So many friends that have cheered us on and kept us excited about our music.  So many family members that have watched our kids.  So many wives (Kelsey and Megan) who have given up time with their husbands.  We're so grateful for all of it and we're thrilled to be finally sharing these songs with you all.

As of now, "Labor" is only up on Spotify, but in the coming days, it will be available on iTunes.  We'd love for you to check it out and spread the word!

Mopak Website // Mopak on Instagram // Mopak on Twitter // Mopak on Facebook

when to start piano lessons for children

Tis the season of deciding what activities, sports, and lessons will fill our summers and falls.  Often, I get asked what age a child should start taking piano lessons.  Age certainly has a lot to do with it, but there are some other things to factor in as well.  I thought it would be an appropriate time to list a few things that I believe help a student become successful right from the start with piano lessons.

AGE

Truly, age is not going to determine whether or not your child will become a master pianist.  I've seen some 6 year old kids flourish and some 6 year old kids that are totally uninterested and far too squirmy.  But I've seen the same with 9 year olds.  So, like I say, age is only part of it.  I started lessons when I was 7 and, as a general rule, I think that's a great age to start.  That would be my recommendation.

ABILITY TO READ

This is huge.  (To be clear, I'm not talking about "reading music."  I'm talking about "reading," as in "reading books.")  Sure, there are method books out there specifically designed for students who can't read but want to learn how to play the piano.  It's definitely possible.  But in my experience, it's better use of money and time to just wait the additional year or so it takes for your child to begin reading.  I've seen that my piano students are able to learn more and at a faster pace when they are already reading.  The ability to read is also a plus for the parents.  Piano books have instructions in them and when you have a child that can read, they are able to function on their own a bit more for practice time.

A DESIRE

No, your child will probably not wake up everyday excited to practice, but there needs to be some sort of drive behind why they're learning to play the piano.  Maybe they saw an older girl play the piano and sing, and they hope to be just like her.  Maybe they went to a concert, saw a guy play the piano, and got inspired.  Or maybe they just love spending time at the piano each day.  Whatever it is, you grab onto it.  There may be seasons where they lose this passion and beg for you to let them quit, but you press forward.  You trust that thing deep down in them that you saw at one point.  I pleaded for my mom to let me quit piano more times than I can count.  I ended up loving it and majoring in Music Education with a Piano Emphasis in college.  Now I enjoy playing in my church, writing songs, performing with my band, and teaching piano lessons.  So just because your child is crying tears of agony because they don't want to practice doesn't mean that desire isn't still there.  Sometimes you just need to help bring it out of them.

AFFIRMATION

So much of a child's success in piano lies in this very thing - parental affirmation.  A parent's desire to be involved and keep with it is just as important as the child's.  You need to be ready to stand firm by not letting them quit too easily or get swamped by other activities.  Parents must realize the lifelong purpose behind piano lessons so you can know in your own mind that it's worth it while also conveying that to your children.  They need your encouragement.

Along with various piano teaching methods, there are different teachers with different teaching styles.  For my personality and the way I prefer to teach, these are the things I think make piano lessons successful for a child.

As far as other instruments are concerned, these things are good to consider before starting any kind of music lessons.  However, different instruments do require different things from children.  In general, piano is a great starting point no matter what instrument your child hopes to focus on.  It provides such a wonderful base of music education.

I want to end with this:  I think ALL children can benefit from piano lessons.  I don't think you need to exhibit special skills and abilities in order to do well with it.  I've seen children push through apathetic parents or rise above age level expectations.  The piano can be for everyone.  Aside from actually learning to play the piano, the life skills I've learned from piano lessons are innumerable.  (Another post for another day!)  You and your child will not regret it!

BFBN: musical activities for a rainy day

With an active 3.5 year old and a 9 month old who is in that get-into-everything-and-put-everything-into-my-mouth phase, it's an understatement to say we're ready for spring.  I'm really looking forward to mornings at the park, trips to the zoo, picnics outside, running through the sprinkler, etc. 

But spring also brings along its rainy days.  For the days that we're stuck inside, I'd like to use our time more creatively.  (Not saying I always will or always do; just saying I'd like to more often.)   I looked around for a few rainy day musical activities that would be fun to do with young children.  Some of them I've done in the classroom, and some are new to me.  I hope you find them helpful and enjoyable on the days when the rain keeps you inside!

It's Raining, It's Pouring - We all know and love this one.  We can sing it to our littles while flipping through the pages of this book.

Rainy Day Nursery Rhymes - This website is full of songs, free printables, and activites centered around rainy day nursery rhymes.  This is a great resource!

The Tree Song - This is one of my most favorite songs to do with little kids.   It goes through each of the seasons and what happens to the trees as the weather changes.  I have certain motions I do as we sing the song, but any motions will work.  Children love it!

Read about where rain comes from and how the water cycle works.

Create rain sounds with instruments.  For example, use the triangle and jingle bells for light rain sounds.  Add the rhythm sticks and tone block for a bit louder sound.  Finally, play the tambourine and cymbals as you imagine the lightning and thunder.  Don't have any instruments?  Make up your own!  Banging on pots and pans is just as good!  This website offers some really great ideas for making your own instruments at home.

Learn to make rain with body percussion.  Turn the lights off and start with the lightest sounds of rain with your body (snaps, light claps).  Allow the sound to grow as you add pats, claps, and stomps.  Then, gradually lessen the sound and return to the light drip-drop that started it.  As you can imagine, this is most fun when you have a group of people to do it with!  Kids love hearing all of the sounds going at once.

(If you haven't followed The Babywise Friendly Blog Network on Pinterest yet, you should!)

the sing-off, season 5 (the only freaking episode)

 (source)

First, let's talk about some things.

The Judging Situation.  No Ben Folds.  He's one of the best parts of this show!  I'm just relieved that Jewel could be there.  She's smart and gives very thoughtful critiques.  Patrick had a few helpful things to say.  A few.  And Shawn is just Shawn.  Sometimes he says things that are so right on and sometimes ... he doesn't.  Overall, it was an okay combination.  I mean, anything is better than the long line of American Idol judges we've seen, that's for sure.  I think if The Sing-Off can uphold an intelligent and well-respected lineup of judges, the show will always be a success.

Only One Night.  I realize this show isn't everyone's favorite show, but just one night??  Surely we can all agree it showcases the most raw singing talent that there is.  I couldn't believe we only had one night of it this year.  I hope they change their minds for next season.

Okay, the groups.

Timothy's Gift - Really nice.  Loved how they featured everyone.  I think it took a while for them to find their groove, but once they got there, they were solid.  Like Jewel said, it was interesting that they didn't have a lot of bass and had zero percussion.  However, it was still a beautiful performance.  They had a really great unison and some great dynamics.  I don't usually love all-girl groups in real life, but on The Sing-Off, they tend to be my favorite.  They were no Delilah, but I really enjoyed them.

a.squared - Loved the looping and the effects.  It was fun to listen to, but I do agree with the judges in that it was a bit much at times.  Sometimes the technology overpowered the actual live singing, which was unfortunate because I think they could've made it past the first cut if it wouldn't have.

Traces - This group seemed a bit hollow in the middle.  I heard the bass, percussion, and lead vocals, but I felt it needed to be filled out more.  I wasn't as crazy about it as the judges.  I thought the wild vibrato of every singer could've been tamed a bit more.  For me, they were just good.

The Exchange - They were extremely tight.  I loved the chords in the middle section, like Jewel said.  They were very creative and I like that they took some time to showcase the whole group singing together.  The run at the end was right on.

SanFran6 -  The lead was a bit too nasal for me.  Her pitch was great, but I wasn't into her tone.  I thought the instrumental breakdown part was really fun.  For some reason, I was expecting more out of them once they started.  If they could've performed again, I'm certain they would've bumped it up a few notches.

Melodores - Well, that's the best that "Trumpets" will ever sound, no doubt.  The intro immediately caught my attention.  The lead vocals were great - I especially loved the blonde guy.  I love that they did so much trumpet-esque stuff.  In my opinion, they are the best all-male collegiate group that has ever been on the show.  They did an amazing job with such a ridiculously crappy song.  It's kind of unbelievable. 

The top 3 were The Exchange, Traces, and the Melodores.  I was pretty surprised that Traces made the cut.  They were actually my least favorite group overall.  I would've loved to hear more from Timothy's Gift.

The Exchange's and the Melodores' last performances were wonderful.  I definitely think the Melodores were deserving of the win.  In the past, all of the male collegiate groups have just been way to hype-y for me.  The Melodores were exciting and fun, but also very tight and very musically interesting.

The problem with a one night show is that everything is rushed and we don't get to know these groups.  We don't get to watch them grow and progress throughout the competition, so there's less excitement when watching.  We don't get to see versatility, multiple lead singers, and growth in musicality/arranging when everything is crammed into one night.  Also, the resounding theme of needing to be "entertained" was kind of strange to me this year.  That idea hasn't reigned in past seasons.  I think they had to focus more on entertainment this year because of it only being one night.

But as long as The Sing-Off is on TV, I'll watch it.  However, I hope they're smart and decide to bring back multiple episodes for next year's season.

What did you all think?

a tribute to dr. todd and the lessons she taught

 (photo credit OBU)

"What is Music?" was the first question posed by an intimidating, yet seemingly kind professor, Dr. Todd.  It was August of 2004 and my college career had begun.  This was my first day of class with her - Introduction to Music Study.  I knew nothing about Dr. Todd except that she seemed ridiculously intelligent and hilarious all at the same time.

I can only assume that our pencils were scratching down simple and uninformed definitions, such as "sound that consists of a melody" or "when voices or instruments combine in such a way to create harmony."

Little did we know that Music was in no way limited to that.  (Who could blame us?  We didn't know Steve Reich or John Cage yet.)

She taught me that I may not love all music, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate it.  She taught me that while something may not sound "pleasing" to the ear or make "sense" on paper, it could very well be the most beautiful thing to me.

I'd like to think that when I made (allowed) a class of my high school students sit through all 13 minutes of Reich's "Come Out" I was making Dr. Todd proud.

Taking her music history courses was such an enlightening experience for me.  Composers weren't just composers anymore.  She told their stories in such a way that they became real people.  I began to fall in love with music in a new way.  I was constantly being challenged.  While I came into college feeling pretty confident about my musical knowledge, I quickly learned that I had a long ways to go.  She inspired me to be a lifelong learner.

Lesson #1: I don't know everything and never will, but I should always keep learning.

Another thing she made clear from day 1 was her disapproval of Britney.  There's really not much else to say about this.  All I know is, if you came into OBU listening to Britney Spears, you definitely didn't leave OBU listening to her.

Lesson #2:  Don't listen to Britney Spears. 

I will never forget the day that Dr. Todd and Dr. Vernon began to chip away at Serialism.  Mind blown, folks.  I mean, I couldn't even give you the right words and theory and history behind it right now because two kids have sucked a lot of knowledge out of me.  However, what I remember from that day was feeling confused (in a good way) and excited.  I remember asking several questions in class because I so badly wanted to understand.  Dr. Todd created that kind of atmosphere - an atmosphere where learning could be both confusing and exciting at the same time.  That kind of teaching is most definitely a gift.

Lesson #3:  If I'm going to teach, teach well.

One afternoon during my senior year, I sat across a table from her in the GC drinking coffee and discussing what I'd write my 20th century music history paper on.  I felt honored drinking coffee with the coolest professor at OBU.  But I was no special case.  She was always having coffee with someone it seemed.  Always giving time to someone.  I can only imagine that teaching the courses she taught, being involved in the things she was involved in, and being a wife and a mom would've made for a pretty busy life.  But she never seemed busied or hurried or out of time.  She seemed at ease, enjoying life as it happened and helping whoever she could on her way through it.

(Dr. Todd's comments on one of my music history paper proposals)

And then there was the time I walked into 20th century after spring break of senior year.  She remembered what I had been doing - walking through Colt's 2nd heart surgery with him.  She asked me how I was and how he was.  And, in true Dr. Todd fashion, told me that if I needed her help with anything to let her know.  

But even after my college career ended, Dr. Todd still offered a helping hand.  My mom and I were teaching a new course at Yukon HS entitled Music Mentorship.  We had just finished up a music history unit and I asked Dr. Todd if she would come and speak to our class.  I didn't really care what she spoke about because I knew it would be awesome.  She brought unique instruments for them to see, filled their minds with fancy facts and, of course, made them laugh.  I loved getting to watch her teach again.  I sat back that day and enjoyed one last little bonus class with Dr. Todd.

Lesson #4:  Always make time for and care for people.

I've already mentioned this, but Dr. Todd was really funny.  She was sarcastic and she described lots of things as "Sexy."  She'd say, "Fantastic!" and, "Brilliant!" quite often.  A friend on Facebook reminded me of her series of questions towards the end of each class - "Questions?  Comments?  Tragedies?"  And, of course, the thing that made everyone feel really awesome - hearing, "Say more," come out of her mouth after you fumbled through some kind of college student commentary.  Dr. Todd was lighthearted and extremely passionate.  She was highly respected and easily accessible.  She was incredibly unique.  She wasn't trying to be anything different than who she truly was.  There was no pretending.  There was no I'm-the-professor-so-I-should-keep-my-scholarly-distance-and-keep-these-kids-in-their-place.  Dr. Todd was so very Dr. Todd.  I'm sure I'll never meet another human like her.

Lesson #5:  Be myself.   

I'm so sad that she's gone and that stopping by her office the next time I'm around isn't possible.  I'm devastated for her family.  Of course, the beautiful thing is that I can stop by her office when I get to heaven.  (Surely she's the Angelic Head of Musicology up there.)  What a hope we have in the Lord that we can live without fear of death!

Dr. Todd taught me that being a musician who is a Christian does not equal a free pass for mediocrity.  If anything, as believers in God and followers/worshipers of our Creator, we should be producing some of the most intelligent, meaningful, beautiful art out there.  I must always do my best, keeping in mind that I am not just making music for myself or other people here on this earth, but for my Lord.  That is the most important music-making of all.

Although the music I create may not ever directly point back to Dr. Todd in an obvious way, she, like all of my music professors, is in my music.  She is very much a part of everything I create, play, or sing.  What an impact she has made.

Well done, Dr. Todd.  Well done.

BFBN: preparing your child for another baby

Today, I'm over on Valerie's blog talking about dealing with and managing performance nerves.  I was a bit of a nervous performer as a child, but through my high school and college years, I gained some really wonderful knowledge on how to feel successful and confident in performance settings.  I hope you'll check it out!

Rachel from A Mother Far From Home wrote about something so perfect for my current situation:  preparing your child for another baby.  With all of you other ladies I know who are pregnant with #2, I hope this post will be helpful for you too!

"Preparing Your Child for Another Baby"

Isn’t it amazing how quickly we settle into a rhythm and routine when our firstborn arrives? Things calm down, the baby sleeps through the night, and the days are fairly predictable.

Then, we get pregnant again. How will I cope? How will my child cope? I had these same questions. I even worried how I’d be able to love a second child as much as I loved my first. In fact, I worried how I’d love a third child as much as I loved my first two. My heart was so full I didn’t understand how it could expand any more.

I think it’s so important to help prepare our children for a baby, and if you do Babywise I think you’re already on an easier path. Here are some tips to prepare your child (or children) for your newborn’s arrival.

1.    Establish a good routine.

One of the best parts about following Babywise is your child is used to routine. And part of their routine may include independent play, which is immensely helpful when you bring home a newborn. I would always put my toddler(s) in independent play when I needed to feed the baby so I’d have some uninterrupted time.

I’d schedule another feed during the toddler(s) naps. This allowed me to feed the baby in peace and stopped the other children from thinking “she’s always messing with the baby.”

2.  Role play.

Someone suggested we buy a doll and, with my firstborn, practice changing a diaper and holding the baby. We spoke about “the baby” and how we needed to take care of it. If she tried to grab the baby we’d say “oh no, we must be gentle.” Now, we didn’t carry it around with us for a week like those home-ec dolls (did those really exist?) but we did try to get the point across that a baby takes some attention.

3.  Depending on the age of your child, prepare them verbally.

I’m sure by now you’ve already discussed that a baby is growing in your belly, so just take it a few steps further. When putting together the crib, explain this is where the baby will sleep. Get out a few outfits for the newborn and explain how the baby will wear these when they come home with mommy. You can get as detailed as your child’s understanding allows, but I think it’s healthy and wise to prepare them for what’s to come.

4.  Develop a routine that will benefit all and institute it before the baby arrives.

If I needed to tweak our routine for a newborn (and you always do at least a little) I’d try to do so before I brought the baby home. I would feed the baby during independent play and toddler naps. This left me able to give one-on-one attention while the newborn was sleeping. This is a great way to gently introduce the baby into family life. Newborns sleep most of the day away, anyway, and my kids honestly didn’t bat an eye with new babies until at least 3 months when the baby was awake more often.

Think of your other children when finding a routine. Allow them some time and space to ‘grieve’ their perceived loss of status. A friend of mine and mother of 5 said her firstborn was affected with the addition of each baby. The younger ones didn’t bat an eye, but every time a new brother or sister came the oldest had the hardest time adjusting. If you’re into Birth Order, you’ll know why.

No family is ever fully prepared to bring home another bundle of joy or two, but everyone adapts. Because honestly, who doesn’t love a baby?

little brave blog anniversary giveaway

Once upon a time in college, I worked at Old Navy in Shawnee, America.  I guess you could say it was my first "real job."  All of my jobs before had been teaching piano, accompanying, substituting, etc.  Retail was a bit different and I really didn't like it.  Anyway, during my 4 months there (yes, a good, long f-o-u-r months), I met a girl named Shayla.  Fast forward to now - we both live in OKC, we both have pretty cute toddlers (if I may say so myself), and we both have blogs.

During the month of April, Shayla is celebrating 2 years of blogging by hosting some really great giveaways every Tuesday.  Today's giveaway features a lullaby album by yours truly, plus some other great children's items - a book, a pair of leggings, and some mini felt hair clips.  You moms of little girls have got to check it out!  Or if you have a baby girl shower you're attending soon, these would be perfect gifts!  I'd love for you to check out Shayla's blog and enter the giveaway.  (You can enter on her blog or right here.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

the night nights release "tucked in"

It is finished.

We began arranging sometime in September and started tracking in October.  Mixes were edited and tweaked in the last part of November through the early part of December.  Tracks went off to be mastered soon after and were submitted to the replication process.  Our lullaby albums arrived in the mail approximately 5 days later than planned.  I was absolutely beside myself with excitement.  The past 3 months of my life were tightly sealed inside those 4 boxes.  While I do know 3 months is no time to record and complete an album, it was a fast and furious process.

Let me tell you something about projects like these.  They drain you to the core.

I've been a part of the makings of a few records in my life, but none of which I was kind of "in charge."  Thankfully, my husband is technically the leader for our band and does all of the grunt work when it comes to album making.  I never knew the other side until now.  It makes me extremely grateful for what he does.

Although it was a grueling process of sending critiques back and forth, sudden album layout issues that were saved by a graphic designer friend, delays on our order, and frustrating iTunes typos (that are now fixed), it was all worth it.  I laughed a lot and cried a lot during the making of this album.  (Like the kind of cries where you can't breathe and snot is all over your shirt and your husband tells you to just go get in the shower.)  But I'm so glad we pushed through and got it done.  (It also happens to be on my 30x30 list, which I will now be crossing off.)

There's something really crazy and special about doing something creative like this with family members.  My mom, sister, and I have done music together for as long as I can remember, but this was different.  While it did require patience as we worked together and listened to each others' ideas, it was incredibly sweet.

These songs come from a place in our hearts that is home to one of the deepest kinds of love - a mother's love for her child and, in turn, and child's love for her mother.  I found myself crying a lot, imagining my mom's perspective as she's looking at us 20somethings.  Where did the time go?  Wasn't I just rocking them to sleep?  And now I'm making music with them as adults?

But I also cried a lot because of my own perspective as a mother.  Even though I've only been at this gig for 2 years, it is like no other experience on this earth.  I never knew I could love someone the way that I love Duke.  It's such a gift.

The 3 of our hearts are filled to the brim with love, as mothers and as daughters.  We hope our music sends that message to you.

Now, for business-y stuff.

If you haven't purchased the album, we'd love for you to!  It will eventually be available on iTunes, Noisetrade, Bandcamp, etc., but for now, you can get it from cdbaby.  We're currently featured on 2 pages (here and here) if you'd like to check them out.  Also, if you love the album and would recommend it, we'd love for you to help us out by writing a review on cdbaby (and iTunes when it's available).  It would mean so much.

Locally, "Tucked In" can be purchased at Cuppies and Joe and, by next week, Collected Thread.  I mean, you don't really need an excuse to go indulge in some of the tastiest desserts/drinks or buy some of the cutest, locally-made items, but I'm giving you one just in case.

I've gotten some really fun text messages the past few days from friends whose babies/toddlers have either been lulled into stillness by our album or have been requesting for it to be played.  Mission accomplished!  It's so wonderful to hear that.  We genuinely do hope it brings rest to you and your little ones - whether it means a quiet morning at home, a nap that finally gets taken, or a peaceful ride in the car.  We want these songs to bring a sense of calm and peace to you, your child, and your home. 

Thank you, again, for all of your support.  We hope you enjoy being "Tucked In."

the sing-off, season 4 (finale)

(photo credit NBC)

So this will be my least detailed recap of them all.  Mainly because it's the day after Christmas and I don't really want to post.  But I'm also ready to share my thoughts on this whole sing-off biz.

Going into the finale, I felt like it was a pretty big toss up as to who would be named The Sing-Off Champions.  (I mean, I knew who I wanted to win, but I had no idea who the judges would actually pick.)

For the sake of age, maturity, whatever else, I figured Vocal Rush would get 3rd.  Not because they aren't good enough to get 1st, but simply because they are the youngest. 

I, personally, would've loved to see Ten win it all.  They're such a sharp group.  And let's be honest, they're going places with or without a "1st place" prize to their name. 

As for Home Free?  They won.  They're a bunch of guys (maybe a couple cute ones in there) who sing really well and even better?  They sing good ole, family-friendly, take-ya-back-to-your-roots country music.  Some people just can't say no that.  Obviously, the judges couldn't.  Although it's kind of annoying to crown them the winners after they've had some pretty great successes as a group already, I can see how this competition helped them get out of the musical rut they were evidently in.  It's easy to get stuck in your ways and I think this show pushed them to experiment with a whole new world of creativity.  For that, I'm glad for them.

All in all, this season was not my favorite.  I'm not quite sure Season 3 will ever be beat.  Yes, Pentatonix are kind of out-of-this-world and no one can really compare.  However, there were other groups singing that season that were ridiculously impressive.  I think Afro Blue and Delilah would've made the top 3 in this current season for sure if they would've been around.  There was a lot of really great stuff going on in Season 4, but not a lot of extraordinary stuff going on.  I hope to see more of that in the next Season.  (NBC, please don't skip a year again, okay?)

Did you guys think Home Free should've won it all?

the sing-off, season 4 (judge's choice)

(photo credit NBC)

(SPOILER ALERT:  The eliminated group is mentioned at the end.)

Opening Number:  "Shake It Out"
This was my favorite group number by far!  So many different moments that were really amazing.

The Filharmonic:  "Baby I Need Your Loving"
This one definitely got better the more they got into it.  I agreed with the judges.  The harmonies were good, the rhythm lacked, choreography was great.  They're pretty consistently tight.

Ten:  "Proud Mary"
They have SO much going for them, it's nuts.  They have amazing soloists, fun choreography, an extremely tight blend, and creativity.  I loved what Jewel said about finding their identity, specifically in determining what kind of records they're wanting to cut.  I'd love to see more of that as well.

Home Free:  "Colder Weather"
I particularly enjoyed listening to the smooth BGVs on this one.  I loved their attention to when/where they breathed.  I really enjoyed this one - performance, arrangement, the whole thing.  This was my favorite thing they've done in the entire competition.  Very nice.

Vocal Rush:  "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark"
Loved it.  Gracious!  I think this one would've been so easy to let get away - tempo-wise, pitch-wise, breath control-wise.  But it didn't!  I LOVED this arrangement.  I think it's one of the top five arrangements from this competition for sure.  What an enjoyable performance!

The Filharmonic and Ten faced off in the sing-off, which was a good choice based on their performances tonight.  Ten totally won this.  Bye, The Filharmonic.

So excited for the finale tonight!  Vocal Rush and Ten are still my favorites, but I'm secretly hoping Vocal Rush takes it all.

Who do you want to win?

the sing-off, season 4 (movie night)

(photo credit NBC)

(SPOILER ALERT:  The eliminated groups are mentioned at the end.)

Opening Number:  "Time of My Life"
One thing I like about the opening numbers in this competition is that they get better the further we get into it.  As the "fluff" groups leave, these big group pieces sound a lot tighter.

Home Free:  "Pretty Woman"
Good arrangement, good sound, good variety.  They're doing a great job in this competition.  Call me a killjoy, but I just don't want them to win.

Vocal Rush:  "Against All Odds"
The maturity of this group is just amazing.  I LOVED this.  They are so in control vocally.  They are also so aware.  I love that I can hear the soloists individuality when they sing, but yet when they step back into the choir, their blend is superb.  "Teamwork" is a hard thing to teach singers sometimes - especially younger ones.  The tendency is to always sing out, always show off, always prove something.  But these vocalists are about the group.  I just love them.

AcoUstiKats:  "Old Time Rock and Roll"
Fun.  But they're just too much into the "fun" part than I want them to be.  I'd rather focus on the arrangement and the musicality of a performance.  For me, choreography, a storyline, characters - all of that is optional and not really necessary.  So if the music suffers for the sake of those things, then I'm not sold.

The Filharmonic:  "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
Bold move to start it all out with the solo, but it sounded great.  They went a couple places harmonically in their BGVs that I really liked.  However, this was a sloppy performance to me.  Started well but didn't end so well.

Voice Play:  "Don't You Forget About Me"
That was intense.  I liked the serious focus they put into this arrangement.  I will say, it seemed to kind of fall apart at the end.  Just a little.  I do agree with the judges in that it never really reached that climax we were all waiting for. 

Ten:  "Skyfall"
Because of the space in this song, I was immediately excited to see what they would do with it.  Loved the feel.  Loved the solos.  Loved how they let it get kind of empty towards the middle and then blasted it out at the end.  Really nice job.

The sing-off between AcoUstiKats and Voice Play was actually pretty even in the "wall of sound" department.  Voice Play did a great job holding their own.  I loved this arrangement and the ending was great!

Vocal Rush versus Ten?  What a powerhouse combo!  Impressive all around.

Very cool arrangement between The Filharmonics and Home Free.  I agree with Shawn.  I enjoyed hearing each group's individuality while also seeing them come together successfully.

Bye, Voice Play and AcoUstiKats.  Decent choice.

My Top 2:
1.  Vocal Rush
2.  Ten

the sing-off, season 4 (#1 hits)

(photo credit NBC)

(SPOILER ALERT:  The eliminated groups are mentioned.)

Opening Number:  "In Your Eyes"
Nice solo vocals and a really strong arrangement.

Ten:  "Chain of Fools"
One thing they are really great at is a solid beat and groove.  They know exactly what they're doing - no question at all.  Of course, the solo vocal was crazy awesome.  This was a great performance, but not one of their most creative.  Still want more!

AcoUstiKats:  "Amazed"
Nice intro and BGVs.  Nice to hear them do something different than their normal high-energy pieces.  I'm glad to know they can chill it out and do more of a "choral" thing.  It was really pretty.

Street Corner Renaissance:  "Forget You"
I mean, they're sweet.  They did a cute job with this.  I guess I just feel like there's a little double standard here with this group.  The judges are really pushing these other groups to get tighter, be more creative, etc.  But with these guys, there's almost this default feeling of, "Well, y'all are old and you've been around the longest so I guess you should stay on the show."  Old people can sing tightly and be creative too!  I just think they need to be held at a higher standard like the rest of the groups. 

The Filharmonic:  "One More Night"
First of all, let me say this - that little "ooo o o o o o o o" riff is tricky vocally and they killed it.  I still heard some rushing in this arrangement.  I enjoyed their performance, but it wasn't impressive.  I agree with Ben - I just wasn't excited about it.

Street Corner and Filharmonic faced off in the sing-off.  See ya, Street Corner Renaissance.

Opening Number:  "My Generation"/"We Will Rock You"/"It's Time"
Loved the solos and liked hearing some different people showcased.  Interesting medley though.  I don't think I would've ever thought to mash those songs up.

Home Free:  "Ring of Fire"
Bass guy has a good voice, but I don't personally like his voice.  This arrangement had some cool spots in it.  Specifically, I liked what they added into the chord on "higher."  It was a good performance.

Voice Play:  "Don't Speak"
Nice haunting BGVs.  I really liked the feel they chose for this one.  They did some really cool things with the arrangement.  It was creative, emotional, dynamic, interesting, etc.  I'm really impressed with the whole thing.  They just moved way up in my book!

Element:  "Keep Me Hangin' On"
They did a great job on taking Ben's advice about making space for the soloists.  I wasn't crazy about this arrangement though.  They made some improvements as far as not stepping on each other vocally, but the creativity wasn't there like it has been before.  They were strong and they were good, but I wanted more!  I really do like them, but I want to see them do some crazier, riskier, more dissonant stuff!

Vocal Rush:  "Holding Out For a Hero"
Gah, I just love the girl's voice who sang right at the opening!  Loved the gradual adding of parts onto the solo.  They just do NOT sing or arrange like high school-aged people.  They're good and not just "for their age."  They're good. 

I cannot believe the ultimate sing-off came down to Vocal Rush and Element.  I'm so surprised the judges did that.  Based on the entire competition, I wouldn't have put those two in the bottom.  It was a lose/lose situation and I knew I'd be sad either way.  Their arrangement of "Survivor" was really great and very entertaining.  Goodbye, Element.  When you consider just these two groups and what they've done throughout the show, Vocal Rush has been more consistent.  I'm sad to see Element go, but I'm really glad Vocal Rush has made it this far.

Last thing.  People.  Can we please get over Ben Folds' "big" words??  He's a REAL musician so he uses "big" words.  Be glad you're not watching American Idol where the only word they use is "pitchy."  Embrace the music theory.  Also, he's not the only one educating America!  Jewel is doing a fabulous job on pointing out some really intricate details in these performances.  I love hearing their comments.

As of now, my top 3 are:
1.  Vocal Rush
2.  Ten
3.  Voice Play

the sing-off, season 4 (party anthems)

(photo credit NBC)

(SPOILER ALERT:  The eliminated group is mentioned at the end.)

Opening Number:  Fun.

Vocal Rush:  "Gonna Make You Sweat"
I loved that girl solo vocal!  My gosh!  She was so on and very reminiscent of the original.  I was so impressed by the vocal that I didn't really even focus on the BGVs or the arrangement.  I loved what Ben said about the group being all girls except for 2 guys.  They really do have a full sound for what they're working with.  I am team Vocal Rush all the way.

Home Free:  "Life is a Highway"
They would pick the most borderline party anthem.  The thing they've got going for them is a good lead vocal.  He's really strong and really on pitch.  On the other hand, I'm kind of over the bass guy.  In general, the arrangement felt empty to me and just had a good a cappella feeling.  Not a party vibe.

Voice Play:  "Play That Funky Music"
I liked their arrangement and choice of lyrics for the BGVs.  They were very tight.  I also loved the bridge when they did some cool 3 part stuff in front of the BGVs.  I'm still not a huge fan of her solo voice, so I think that's my one hesitation with this group.  She's definitely good and soulful, but there are moments when I sense uncertainty in her voice.  We shall see!

Street Corner Renaissance:  "Do You Love Me"
I appreciate their desire and willingness to learn something new with the beat boxing.  Man, guys, I just can't get into them though.  They're staying very doo-wopy and not venturing out into anything else.  And as far as this song and this arrangement is concerned, it was very basic a cappella stuff.  They're doing a fine job, but it's not impressive.  I want to be impressed.

Element:  "Raise your Glass"
Pink!  My favorite artist!  Ahem.  Anyway, let's give it up for the bass.  Gah lee.  She provides such a great foundation and does it in a way where you really think you're listening to a male bass.  It was a really fun arrangement and I loved their last chord.  I'm definitely into them.

AcoUstiKats:  "Hey Ya!"
This is a small detail, but I could've used more on the "2-3-4."  Maybe at least clapping?  It's such a distinguishing part of the song that I felt they needed to emphasize it.  I liked some of their other sounds though.  There's still an issue with rushing, which just makes it feel sloppy.  I don't feel like they settle in quickly to their arrangements.  I liked that cool "polaroid picture" part.  I didn't love the ending.  It was fun, but not solid.

Calle Sol:  "Livin' La Vida Loca"
I didn't love the beginning starting out at that slow tempo.  I really liked their vocal parts.  They were adding in some extra notes to make some really hard/jazzy chords that aren't necessarily in the original recording.  It was an ambitious arrangement all around.  I know the judges weren't crazy about it, but in this competition, I'd rather have a creative arrangement with a few holes than a boring arrangement that's tight.  Maybe that's not "correct" of me, but I think that's what makes this show fun, exciting, and challenging.

Ten:  "Hot in Herre"
Awesome lead vocals.  I do love the fact that there are several strong solo singers in this group.  I mentioned how I was hesitant to give them my support in the last episode just because of that "all that" attitude that was going on in the intro video.  But, musically?  They're good.  They're really good.  I definitely agree with the judges in that they have more to give and we just haven't seen it.  With that much talent and ability, there is some crazy creativity that is hiding away somewhere.

The Filharmonic:  "This is How We Do It"
They had some issues with rushing the end of some measures, which made for a rocky start.  The stacked chords into and out of the bridge in the middle were really great.  And I loved their breakdown!  I'd love to see more of that - more creativity.

I didn't really love either of the arrangements from the AcoUstiKats or Calle Sol in the sing-off.  But I was really wanting to hear more from Calle Sol.  I think that was a poor decision to let them go.  I would've much rather have seen Street Corner Renaissance hit the road.  It's really too bad.  Bye, Calle Sol.

Like many of you, I compare every group to the originality, creativity, and perfection of Pentatonix.  It's safe to say that none of the groups this season have yet to come close to that.  But I'm trying to hear these groups with fresh ears.  It's hard though.

Right now, these are my top 4:
1.  Vocal Rush
2.  Element
3.  Ten
4.  The Filharmonic

Who are you guys loving right now?

BFBN: pushing through with music

Three things.

First of all, I wanted to share something exciting with you all.  Yesterday, Duke's nursery (with lovely pictures by Makenzie) was featured on parents.com!  I know you guys have already seen the many pictures of his nursery, but I'd love it if you'd check it out on their website!

Second, I'm over on Maureen's blog today talking about managing toddler behavior in the midst of holiday chaos.  I've found a couple things to be helpful - like sticking with our discipline and maintaining a decent sleep schedule.  Click here to read my post!

Lastly, enjoy Rachel's post here about something very dear to my heart - sticking with piano lessons.  She speaks the truth!

I took piano lessons from the age of 8 until the age of 18. Did I practice all the time? Heavens no. Was I super happy and excited to be taking lessons every year? Not really. Am I glad now that I stuck it out? Absolutely.

I can't tell you how many people I've spoken to as an adult who said they regretted quitting piano lessons. When asked why they quit they said that they just weren't interested, and their parents didn't make them. I wanted to quit, but wasn't allowed. Afterwards, I was so happy to have learned the basics and felt very thankful to my mother for not letting me quit.

Here are some reasons for helping your kids stick out the music lessons.

1. Kids live in the moment.

A child is not able to look into the future and understand how they might be grateful for this skill. They won't understand that it often requires self-sacrifice in the present to attain something for the future. I personally, though I know many others would disagree, think it is okay to require our children to stick it out. At least for a while. I would ask my mother every so often to quit, get told no, and get on with it. I was allowed to quit participating in recitals when I humiliated myself, but even that didn't make me hate the piano. After having travelled for a few years and not touched the piano once, I sat down to the piano and was still able to play. Rusty, sure. But you don't forget your chords!

2. They'll never have more time than now.

There's nothing like putting something off to your 20's or 30's thinking you will have more time. Give me a break. Children have more time now than ever to get into music and let it become an outlet for both entertainment and healing. I don't recommend having your children burn both ends of the candle in an effort to make them "well-rounded" but if music is a priority for your family then now is the time to start. Now, when they are young enough to soak it up like sponges.

3. It teaches discipline and pushing through.

I won't go Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom on you, but there is surely something to be said for self-discipline and motivation with respect to music lessons. My mother would set a timer for me when it was time to sit down. Whether or not I wanted to I would practice. I'm no Mozart and, even now, truly wish I had paid more attention and become more motivated. However, it did require effort on my part and each week I was held accountable for my progress. I think this is a great way to teach our children some life lessons along with this skill.

If your kids are hem hawing about quitting lessons, I encourage you to persevere. Perhaps take the summers off for a break, but know that music lessons are gifts that you are giving your children that will continue to keep giving right through their adulthood. Music, unlike soccer lessons (nothing against soccer) is an outlet for creativity, and being able to read music and understand some basic theory will mean they are able to pick up other instruments or even singing as they go through life.

I believe it is a lucky child indeed who is able to say as an adult, "I can play the so-and-so, and am so glad I didn't give up."

Rachel blogs at A Mother Far from Home. 

an ode to john mayer

I remember the first time I ever heard about John Mayer.  I was a sophomore in Show Choir and a guy had the CD with him - Room for Squares.  I loved it.  "Neon" and "My Stupid Mouth" were my jam.  I wore that CD o-u-t.

It wasn't hard for me to get behind Heavier Things either.  "Split Screen Sadness" coached me through a high school breakup, "Clarity" made me happy to be alive, and the bridge of "New Deep" sent me into a crazy land of euphoria.  I loved and love this album.

When my friends and I found out John Mayer was coming to the Cox Center in 2003 (I think), we couldn't get in my parents' Envoy fast enough.  I drove the 6 of us (Sara, Reese, Katie, Jolie, Alex) downtown and we made a million jokes about the "Cox" center.  We thought we were hilarious.  I'd share pictures from this night, but this was back when we had Razors as cellphones.  And if you remember correctly, the "camera" feature was kind of a joke.  Plus, even if we had taken real pictures that night, I have no idea where they would be.  You high school kids count your blessings.  You have your lives documented to the Nth degree. 

Continuum came out the beginning of my junior year in college, and we also happened to have ACL tickets that year where John Mayer would headline.  (This was back when you could get 3-day passes for ACL just a month or two before.)  Not only was ACL the happiest place I'd ever been on earth, but I had never enjoyed a concert the way I did his.  We danced barefoot in the grass in the dark like a bunch of little wannabe hippies.  It's something I'll never forget.

(Reese and I smoking "weed."  Bahaha.  Hilarious, again!)

(Maybe the first picture Colt and I have together.  This was in the beginning of our like.)

(The best people ever to go to ACL with.  Aren't we cute in our matchy tank-and-skirt outfits?)

I'm a bit ashamed to admit I don't own the last 3 albums of his.  Blame it on a crazy 3 years of teaching and then being mom, I guess.  But I'm still a true fan.

All of these stories and moments came flooding back when Colt and I saw him a week ago at the Chesapeake Arena.

(I just scrolled up and down between this picture and our other one together like 20 times.  Crazy how 7 years can fly by!)

He did a lot of newer stuff so I just sat, ate my gummy bears, and enjoyed the crazy-nutso-ridiculous musicianship of John and his band.  He didn't do any tunes from Heavier Things, but he did do 7 (seven!) from Continuum.  I was immediately taken back to that junior year apartment with my girls, listening to that album on repeat.

A few clips for your enjoyment:

I was talking to Colt about all of this and why John Mayer feels like such a big deal to me - such a big musical deal to me.  It's not just because I've been a fan of him since the beginning.  I think it's also because his first album came out at a time when I was really starting to invest in music.  I was starting to find out what I really liked and what I really wanted to spend my money and time on.  John Mayer was a good choice. 

Any other John Mayer lovers out there??