Pachelbel's Canon: the Gateway Piece

When getting to know someone and the discussion of music arises, whether they are a fellow musician or not, the conversation is always steered (by yours truly) to classical music.  A fellow musician and I will normally completely geek out and get into debates of which Beethoven Symphony is our favorite (in case you forgot, mine's Number 7).  Non-musician friends sometimes surprise me with how much they know and enjoy classical music.  However, more often I'm met with the answer, "Classical?  Like Canon in D?  Sure!  I like classical!" which is immediately followed by a faint groan of cellist heard the world-round.

What's so wrong with liking Pachelbel's Cannon, you say?  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  I can remember hearing it for the first time: my best friend's childhood quartet was playing it... I was probably 12 and happened to be around for a rehearsal.  I immediately fell in love with the cello's melancholic bass line.

I continued listening to classical music throughout my middle school/high school years and especially loved Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet.  I noticed a trend in that anytime I found a piece that I especially loved, it would lead me to discover even more great music.  For example, while on a college music conference trip, I purchased a Tchaikovsky CD that featured pieces I knew I already loved as well as ones I did not yet know.  One of the new pieces was a piece written for solo piano, June: Barcarolle from his collection called The Seasons.  I completely fell in love with the piece and ended up learning several from the collection for various recitals.

So back to Cannon.  Pachelbel's Cannon has a recognizable melody and clean harmonies which help make it an easy-listening piece.  After once again having the conversation with a friend that they didn't really care for classical music (but still liked Canon), I thought to myself, "Well... maybe it's because they haven't been exposed to the right pieces.  Maybe they need someone to help guide them to discover more great classical music."  So, I decided I would do a blog series on beautiful classical pieces that even those who don't love classical music would enjoy.  My hope is that through this series more people will develop a deeper love and appreciation of classical music.

The first piece in this series is a piece that was originally a song, meaning it had words that were sung.  Franz Schubert's beautiful song, Serenade has a melody is so beautifully written that over the years artists have transcribed it for piano and orchestra.   Below are recordings of both the song version and the piano version, transcribed by Franz Liszt.

Ständchen by Franz Schubert (translated from German)

Through the leaves the night-winds moving,

Mumur low and sweet,

To thy chambers window roving

Love hath led my feet.

Silent pray'rs of blissful feeling,

Link us though apart,

Link us though apart, 

On the breath of music stealing,

To thy dreaming heart,

To thy dreaming heart.

Moonlight on the earth is sleeping,

Winds are rustling low,

Where the darkling streams are creeping,

Dearest let us go.

All the stars keep watch in heaven

While I sing to thee,

While I sing to thee,

And the night for love was given,

Dearest come to me,

Dearest come to me. 

Sadly in the forest mourning,

Wails the whipporwill

And the heart for thee is yearning

Bid it love be still

Bid it love be still

Bid it love be still.

Bee's Wrap Reusable Food Wrap

Have you seen these yet?  I've had my eyes on them since seeing them on a Facebook add and decided to try them out once they became available on Grove Collaborative, a company that ships natural products directly to your home.

I purchased an assorted 3 pack of small, medium, and large wraps as well as a sandwich wrap.  These reusable wraps are made of beeswax, organic cotton, jojoba oil, and tree resin.  You can use them to actually wrap up food items or use them as a cover for a dish.  The heat from your hands causes the wax (and resin, I would assume) to create a seal.  Once soiled, you simply wash them in cool water with dish soap, hang to dry, and reuse.  

The first use of the medium-sized wrap was to cover a dish of chicken salad.  It is not recommended that you use these wraps for meat, but since the chicken was cooked and the wrap would not be touching the salad, I decided to live life on the wild side.  At first, it seemed like the wax did not want to seal.  The dish was a bit cool as it came from the fridge.  After a little coaxing, the wrap did create a seal that lasted until I removed it.  The chicken salad was still fresh, so that's a win!

Washing the wrap was a bit odd... I used my hands to run cool water over it and it left a bit of slightly sticky residue on my hands.  I laid it out to dry flat on the counter, smoothing it out as much as possible.  It did not smooth out completely to its original freshly packaged self.  This did not bother me much, but I imagine for some it might.

The second time I used the same wrap, I used to wrap a half cut orange.  I wanted to completely wrap an item so that the Bee's Wrap was completely touching the item.  In my mind, I thought the beeswax might make it taste a little honey flavored (which might taste yummy on an orange, but maybe not on say, a squash).  I left the orange in the fridge overnight (and then some) and the next day it was completely fresh and citrus tasting, sans honey.  This time I washed the wrap with cool water and dish soap and set it out to dry.  I was curious as to if the Bee's Wrap would now smell of oranges.  Surprisingly, it did not. I will say that it seems as though were was a bit of orange left over on the wrap from the orange skin.  I'm not sure if this will go away the more it is washed, but either way it did not bother me.

So, finally came the real test... a test, I admit, I was a bit afraid to try.  What if they weren't durable enough?  Would my medium sized wrap be ruined??  And then I realized, if I were reading a review on these wraps, I would definitely want to know... CAN THEY STAND UP TO ONIONS?!? (dun dun DUN!).  I mean, I would be perfectly content to only use the wraps on foods that do not have potent odors, but for the sake of a thorough review, I subjected my sweet, honey-smelling wrap to a half-cut purple onion.

The result was a slight purple stain on my medium sized wrap and an initial faint odor.  However, after washing the wrap and drying it, the odor did, in fact, go away!  These things are quite handy and I love how they can be reused.  The company recommended replacing them after about a year's of use.   I really like the idea of having a few on hand to supplement my disposable bag and wrap habit and having a few fewer pieces of plastic to throw away at the end of the day is an added bonus!

FTC: This is not a sponsored link.  All opinions are my own.  Links may be affiliate.  

September's Goals

We may be more than half-way through the month, but in no way does that stop me from wanting to post my September goals for the month!  After reading Emily Ley's book Grace, not Perfection last year, I've been immensely focused on simplifying my schedule and focusing more on my family.  By looking back on notes from last year, I can see the progress that has been made in these pursuits.  Not only does recording my monthly goals give me specific aims for the month, it is extremely motivating to me to be able to look back and see actual growth over a period of time.

1. Read and work through

Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives 

by Gretchen Rubin 

This is the third book of Gretchin's that I've started to read.  I really loved the first two (The Happiness Project and Happier at Home) and with my constant interest in pursuing the best version of myself, I am very intrigued by this topic.  

2. Complete The Daily Connoisseur's "10-Item Wardrobe Online Class"

If you've been around my blog at all, you know one of the writers and bloggers I love to follow is Jennifer L. Scott.  She recently released an online tutorial filled with videos and worksheets dealing with the topic of cultivating a 10-item wardrobe.  While I have used this practice for almost four years, I thought it would be fun to complete this class as we prepare to transition from the hot Georgia summer to the slightly-less-hot Georgia fall.

3. Write for 5 Minutes Everyday

In the past, I've made many commitments (and re-commitments) to write more.  Since I am attempting to once again develop a lasting habit, I want to put Ms. Rubin's suggestion into place by starting with small steps.  Writing for an hour every day can seem daunting, but I'm sure I can find 5 minutes every day in which to sit down and write.

4. Move 4 Times Each Week/ Complete 2 5K's

As much as I loved having my children home this summer, it proved difficult to always get runs in due to lack of a jogging stroller (and in all honesty, lack of wanting to run in Georgia's insane humidity).  Since both of the children are now back in school, I want to commit to running at least 2 times a week and would love to get to the gym for some yoga at least twice a week.  Additionally, I'm signed up for 2 5K's and want to continue to improve my time with those.  As I am writing this post, I just completed the first 5K the previous weekend.  While it was not my best time ever, it was good enough to earn me 1st place in my age group- something I was super stoked about.  

5. Spend Half as Much Time on My Phone

It is so easy.  You go to check one thing and fall down a rabbit hole of "just checking one more thing!"  Next thing you know it, 8 minutes have passed... which of course doesn't seem like a lot of time.  Until you do that a few times an hour.  Those minutes definitely add up.  They add up to way more than I thought was possible.  I discovered this after downloading a tracking app called "Moment."  It tracks your total time usage, when your usage occurred, and even how many times you unlocked your screen.  Additionally, once a week it calculates the apps you're actually spending time perusing.  It's eye-opening to see the minutes add up, and hopefully, with this app I'll be able to better curb my phone dependence. 

Linger Moments ~ No. 6

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

1. to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.
2. 
   

You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended. You are invited to take a moment to linger as you complete the first half of your week and look forward towards the second.

1. White Ginger Pear White Tea from Tea Fortē

I discovered this tea at our local Mugs cafe in downtown Alpharetta.  Generally not one to order tea, I found it when looking for a chilled drink that wasn't super sweet as all of the cold coffee drink options.  This tea was recommended to me over ice and I was quite pleasantly surprised.  No sweetener was needed- the sweetness from the pear was plenty without over powering the delicate white tea.  When I looked up the tea online to order some to enjoy at home, I admit the price tag (in addition to the shipping costs) was a bit more than my normal tea allowance (and by a bit more, I mean about three times more).  I've been putting off purchasing it for a while, and I am glad I did as I found it at a boutique while visiting my parents in Ball Ground.  I've since enjoyed it hot and it was just as delicious as the iced version.  Tea Fortē's description of the tea is as follows:

"Rarest Pai Mu Tan white tea is plucked in early spring from a special varietal tea bush called "chaicha."  This tea is blended with the sweet taste of juicy orchard fresh pear and tingle of spicy ginger for a delicate and delighting infusion."

2. Aquiesse Candles

I've enjoyed burning these candles for quite a few years, but recently encountered two new [to me] scents.  They're both so delicious and so very different.  The scents I've been burning recently are "Luxe Linen" and "Vanilla Orchid."  The following descriptions are from Aquiesse's website:

"Luxe Linen: The joy of sun-drenched linen.  Relaxing sandalwood and herbal tea infusions create an essence as warm as SoCal summer.  Sweet and intoxicating.  Warm Linen, Herbal Tea, and Smooth Sandalwood."

 "Vanilla Orchid: Set the mood.  Erotic flowers embrace notes of woody amber for a sensual twist on a timeless classic.  Smooth and flirtatious.  Sugary White Floral and Sensual Woody Amber."   

While I normally lean towards elements of both of these scents ("Clean" scents and "Floral" scents), the warmth of each is a bit outside of my normal candle-purchasing comfort-zone.  I enjoy their luxurious warmth and especially love the added detail of the match compartment in each of the lids!

3. Vintage Glass from Target

If you've swung by Target at all this spring, you may have seen their vintage inspired colored glass accessories in the bargain bins at their entrances.   So far I've seen pinks, greens, and clears.  I picked up pink and green mini cake stands a few weeks back and recently found matching pink and green pictures!  They were each $5, which is quite a steal for some quick Spring decor elements!

March 2017 Goals Update

March flew by, and between all of the storms we experienced, I think we can all agree it was a pretty loud month.  I wanted to share an update on my goals for the month, as I found what I thought would be a fun little experiment to be incredibly helpful and motivating.

The goal calendar that I shared proved very useful in tracking my progress with each goal during the month.  I was able to devote much time to reading, playing piano, and physical exercise.  I was also able to see that it remains a constant struggle to maintain those three activities as well as I did while also keeping up the consistency in blog writing and practicing my French.  I've noticed this trend happening the other way as well.  On days when I get in my French practice and find myself posting more regularly, the exercise and piano practice definitely suffer.

So, what is the answer?


As per the usual, I will attempt to conquer this goal by adjusting my daily schedule.  Y'all, we've got a lot of time in a day.  1,440 minutes in each of them, to be exact.  Surly I can have enough self-control to designate 240 of these to activities that are truly fulfilling and bring substance and meaning to my daily life.  Surly.  Below is the schedule I will attempt:

Writing: 6:00-7:00 in the mornings

Speaking: 8:00-8:30 in the mornings

Moving: 9:30-10:30 in the mornings

Playing (Piano) 12:30-1:00 in the afternoons

Reading: 9:30-10:30 in the evenings

March on the left, April on the right.  Toes courtesy of Eliot. 

As I mentioned above, the goal calendar was so effective!  I hope honing in and being more deliberate with my schedule will allow me to have even more circled days this month!

In Pursuit of Irish Celebration

When Chris and I started dating, I was surprised to hear that his favorite holiday was St. Patrick's Day.  I soon learned it was more so for the Americanized day of green beer and festivities than for the patron saint of Ireland (and, surprisingly, Nigeria).  Growing up, I had always celebrated the day by *sometimes* wearing green (when I remembered) and  enjoying tolerating "Corned-Beef and Cabbage" for dinner.  Over time, the flavors of this traditional Irish meal grew on us, and when Chris and I married, I decided to continue the tradition each year.

Through the years, we've added to our celebration of the [British] man who was kidnapped by Irish pirates and kept as a slave for six years before escaping and returning to England.  It is said that after returning to Britain, he had a dream in which the people of Ireland were begging him to return and bring the Gospel of Christ to them. Thank you to my dear friend Colleen for the above picture from her 2014 visit to Ireland :)

Through pure coincidence, we started our week of Irish celebrations with the Oscar-nominated movie, Brooklyn, which told the story of a Irish immigrant who comes to American in the 1950's.  As a complete sucker for historical dramas, I obviously loved it.  I felt Saoirse Ronan well deserved her nomination for best actress.  BTW- remember that crazy movie about the little girl who was raised to be an assassin?  Same actress.  Literally just figured that out as I was writing this.  The movie completely got us in the mood for celebrating both of our Irish heritage.  And it's a book.  I haven't bought it yet, but my "books to purchase" list seems to be growing faster than it did before I started my goal of completion.

Thursday morning began with the children enjoying green eggs while wearing their green fare.

An interesting bit about the original St. Patrick's day color... Spoiler alert: it wasn't green.  Jump to 25.15 to hear Bryan McGovern, associate professor of History at Kennesaw State University share the original color and also hear about the incorporation of corned-beef into this holiday.

That night, we listened to a Celtic Pandora station during dinner and each took a turn doing a jig afterwards.

Friday night, we enjoyed our Reuben sandwiches with a cold Guinness.  I use Boar's Head corned-beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut along with  Publix Rye bread with Caraway seed and Thousand Island dressing.  I pan-grill them with Kerrygold Irish butter and served them, sliced in half, with kettle-cooked chips.  Again, Celtic music set the mood as our background music.  No jigs were performed this night.

On Sunday, we concluded our Irish festivities with our corned-beef and cabbage dish.  I like to let our roast cook slowly at a low heat to help it become tenderized.  I serve it with boiled potatoes and a green salad.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?  Is there another saints day that you celebrate?  What are some of your family traditions for these holidays?

March Goals 2017

Around here, March is the beginning of all things Piano-related.  Between Festivals, Auditions, Recitals, Judging and Accompanying, March comes in like a Lion and, well... stays pretty loud.  Because of the musical nature of my March, you'll notice most of my 2017 March Goals are music related.  Through my many teaching years, I have found that when many events are lined up that require much energy and planning, regular weekly lessons can start to feel very taxing.  In an effort to keep energies high and remain an effective and inspiring teacher, it becomes even more important to make sure I take care to stay inspired.

1. Learn the Following Pieces:

Learning new pieces does so much for me as a musician and teacher.  I believe that creating and sharing music should be the core of every musician.  It keeps me inspired and keeps me more able to relate to my students as they learn new concepts and experience challenges in learning new music. My March list of pieces to learn consists of the following:

Le Jardin Féerique (The Enchanted Garden) 
from Ma mère l'oye (Mother Goose Suite) by Ravel

This is a duet written by Ravel and was a gift to his friend's children and based on some of his favorite French fairy tales.  I will be peforming this piece with my dear friend and duet partner, Renée, at a Musicale Concert on Saturday, April 1 (no joke).  

Ständchen (Serenade) by Schubert, transcribed for piano by Liszt

I first heard this piece on Pandora and immediately fell in love with it's heart-wrenching melodies.  I had a difficult time finding the music for it and discovered it was originally a song and only later transcribed (multiple times) for piano.  I first found Heller's transcription and quickly devoured it.  However, as I went back and listened to the recording of the piece, I realized Heller's rendition was lacking some of complexities of the version I was hearing.  I then found Liszt's rendition of the piece, which contained the more difficult passages.  I am excited to learn Liszt's more challenging (and very beautiful) interpretation of Schubert's song.

Rondo from Sonata Op. 13 by Beethoven

This one is a bit of a cheat, as I played it as part of my Senior Piano Recital.  I now have a student learning this piece and decided it would be fun to bring back to life.  I've been working on it over the past week and it still brings much joy!

2. Improve My Run Times for Both 5K Races

We have two 5K races coming up this month: the Shamrock 'n Roll at Atlantic Station and Fiona's school's first race, Run the World with ICSA.  I'm not a fast runner, but I'm excited to see if I can beat my time from October's Big Pumpkin Run.  Be sure to keep an eye on my Instagram Account for pictures of the race days: Sunday, March 12 and Sunday, March 26.

3. Immerse Myself in Music

Many of us have heard of the importance of caring for ourselves first in order to be able to adequately care for others.  I believe this principle also applies in my arena of a Piano-Filled Spring.  There are so many events coming this month where I will have the privilege of pouring into others that I need to make sure I keep my musical soul filled!  I was fortunate to attend Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's concert (featuring Benjamin Beilman playing Sibelius' violin concerto in d minor), and will get to attend my dear teacher's retirement piano recital at the end of the month.  Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze another concert in there somewhere :)

4. Everyday: Read, Write, Speak, Move. (and Play!)

While scrolling Instagram this pas week, I came across a friend's post where she had visually laid out her goals for the month of March.  I love a good visual, and she graciously agreed to allow me to share it (Thanks, Beth!)!  I decided to make one of my own for my New Year's goals, as a way to stay inspired to keep them up, and even added one on for March's practice goal.

5. Decorate for St. Patrick's Day

When things get busy, one of the first things to go out the window is seasonal decorating.  I love watching the change of seasons and know celebrating holidays marks the passage of time (especially for children), and Fiona especially loves seeing the different decorations throughout the year.  I've already explained how busy this month is (and it is so tempting to just keep the decorations put away), but I am going to make it a point to get out ALL the green to celebrate this special holiday.