We had an upbeat week writing a song about love, singing, talking about food together, moving to music and looking at our world creatively using the curiosity of a "beginner's mind".
In our first class this week - Singalong & Songwriting - Robin D opened with songs of love. After playing Stevie Wonder’s song “I just called to say I love you” we shared who we would choose to call and say “I love you”? The responses were, “all my children”, “my husband in heaven”, “Sophia Loren”.
Together, we created this song:
Susee led us through some movement and song to L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole and we shared finger/hand love signs.
We read a couple of pages from a book “The Toronto Book of Love”, love affairs and scandals in the making of Upper Canada (Toronto) 1800’s, chapter, Adultery at Osgoode Hall.
Steve began his Piano Concert and Music History class with a story about studying with Oscar Peterson and then played an energetic version of Take The A Train.
We began discussing the day's theme of "world foods" and Steve shared the story of coconuts originating in India. This led to him playing Yellow Bird for us.
We shared many thoughts about food throughout the class.
What goes with champagne?
Clams
Smoked salmon
Strawberries
What are some of your favorite foods?
Pizza
Porridge with brown sugar
“Aunt Hazel’s” chicken wings
Fricassee (tomato-based)
Miami ribs
What are some ancient foods?
Bread
Cheese
Porridge
Chickpeas
Rice
Quinoa
Cured meat
Fish
How is music like food?
Both bring joy
Different textures - Steve demonstrated a “smooth” sound on the piano and we spoke about foods that were smooth like ice cream. Someone added “with walnuts!” and Steve gave us another musical translation of a smooth sound “with walnuts”
Both taste good
Both have subtle notes
Steve finished with a fun improvised song he called “ I like food.”
In Jenn's Nia: Movement & Music class, we started with movement to flood our brains with oxygen fueling our creativity!
The theme of the class was "beginner's mind" - we shared our definitions of the concept along with the benefits:
“Having no previous knowledge”
“Seeing things with an open mind”
“Curiosity, approaching the world as a child”
“If you slow down you’ll learn a lot more”
“Expanding your worldview”
“Test everything... before you drink it or eat it!”
“Seeing the details differently”
Jenn shared the work of photographer Heidi Leverty as an example of seeing discarded material (i.e., garbage) through a 'beginner's mind'. Heidi is an artist who takes materials - what would be considered waste to others - and turns them into art!
This led to a conversation about how we can rearrange our living spaces to be both functional, pleasing, and artistically exciting.
“If you’ve got good eyes and you look around you carefully, artistically everything will be wonderful”
“Flowers to fill in the corners”
Arranging bookshelves by the colour of the spine of the book, objects on the mantelpiece: “a place for pictures of special people”
We had another movement "snack", this time with “Beginner’s Minds” … lively movement with lots of creative arms and hands.
Jenn shared a slideshow of images that turned into an engaged conversation of what is art? and when we look at everyday objects differently, do they become art?
Broken down truck or magnificent sculpture? Wild dried/dead thistle or a family portrait? Painting hands covered in paint, making a mess, or making art on top of art?
“All great art started out as a mess”
A photograph of the human nervous system or “beautiful feathers that float on the air and as somebody walks by it turns and changes direction”
Is graffiti art? Is the body art? Is a messy studio a place that needs tidying or one full of imagination?
Will you join us next week for a more creative connection and opportunity to express?
You can book here.
