Samuel: March 2009 Archives

Third, Fifth, Seventh

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Earlier today Sam was practicing Piano--playing an Andante in G. Just as a lark I asked him to play it a third, a fifth, and a seventh lower. To my profound astonishment, he did so without a hitch. And then he played the right hand a third lower and the left hand a fifth lower.

Given that I'm only now coming to terms with all the technical terminology of music theory, I'm blown away that ten year old not only understands it, but is able to interpret and play it.

I'm also extremely gratified to hear him playing The Phantom of the Opera as a cha-cha--very latin rhythm on the left hand ostinato. Really cool. What a constant source of blessing. I'm sure glad that his mother never opted for the easy way out of things.

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Dance Competition

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We spent most of Saturday (8:00 am -9:00 pm) at a Dance competition in which Samuel was in three dances. (For those to whom this means anything--two high golds and a silver star.)

In the course of the day, I learned several things. First, I had been dreading this, as who would not--12 or more hours with a half hour break for lunch. And I wound up having a fantastic time. It amazed me what these young people could do, and it gratified me to see so many giving so much of their time and energy to the arts. That was deeply satisfying. Second, I learned how many ways there are to be illiterate. To be honest, I saw a lot of dance (that was rated very highly) that I just didn't "get." The motions seemed hurky-jerky, arms and legs akimbo and in awkward positions, music choice not the greatest, and coherence simply not there. I realize that I am not in the realm of professional choreographers, but I've noticed the same in dances that are professionally choreographed. I watched ballets in which dancers "pas de chat" all over the stage and it just looks like some kind of weird affliction that one might better expect in the medieval ages. I just don't have the vocabulary and grammar of dance clear--I don't understand it and that disturbs me. And so, I conclude that I must spend a good deal of time studying and coming to terms with it.

Finally, I was amazed at the professionalism and caliber of some of the dances. One poor dancer had her music vanish about midway through her dance and she took it all in stride, continuing throughout the entire routine and completing the dance as though nothing had happened. There was one male dancer who took most of the awards for the competition and who looks like he may have a wonderful career before him as a dancer.

But to come back to the first point--it was fantastic to see so many young people celebrating the arts. Even if they did not understand that they were doing so, and even though the majority will not continue in the arts, for them to have this enriching experience so early in life can only be an advantage as they continue on. It is my ardent prayer that each dancer come to know his or her own ability and use it to celebrate the arts in a way that gives God glory.

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Samuel and the "Poor Sock"

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Samuel had a lot of change that he wanted to take into Church and give to the poor box. (But first he asked me if the money he placed there was going to go directly to feeding the poor or whether it would be siphoned off so that the poor only got "like 10% of it." I assured him (and I hope it is true) that the money given to the Church goes directly to the purposes indicated.) Anyway, he was putting this money into a large sock to carry it (in the process pretty much destroying the sock. He called me at work to tell me about this plan and said, "The sock weighs 5.2 pounds, so it is worth 10.4 dollars, right?"

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About this Archive

This page is a archive of entries in the Samuel category from March 2009.

Samuel: January 2009 is the previous archive.

Samuel: April 2009 is the next archive.

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