Today was Harvest Festival for the 7-9 year olds that I have the privilege of teaching music to. 80+ kids crammed into a very small village church and I was in charge of the music- Two hymns and one very fun upbeat song which I had arranged with multiple parts and... 25 rhythm instruments. (Why?!) The great thing about leading others (especially children) in song is that you REALLY have to let go of the outcome. I am not performing; I am preparing and, hopefully, inspiring others to experience the joy of music and share it in a performance. That said, I would of course have liked all of the various parts to come out exactly as rehearsed, exactly as I imagined them to sound in my head... although I have worked with young children long enough to know to expect the unexpected :)
Another lesson I have learned is that sometimes this unexpected, imperfect stuff is the best bit. And with children it is adorable anyway! The kids sounded gorgeous today, and that wasn't a perfect sound but an absolutely joyful sound. When they sang their favourite bits at the top of their lungs it made my heart sing as well. Then there were the 25 rhythm instruments... Starting and finishing together was a long shot but we pretty much managed it! Although one child in the front was so in the moment that she kept on playing her shaker very loudly while singing, when everyone else had stopped shaker-ing. Brilliant.
The parents who spoke with me afterwards were glowing and some said it brought tears to their eyes. I feel really lucky to have this as my 'day job' and to be a part in helping people share their joy and touch hearts through music. I can't think of anything more fun than coming up with songs that make others want to join in, and seeing how children instinctively 'get' the spirit and fun of music (or anything creative really) is such a great reminder that being creative is about the being bit, so much more than it is about the outcome. What makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs? Or what form of creativity calls to you to express your (imperfect/ unexpected) joy? LD
The parents who spoke with me afterwards were glowing and some said it brought tears to their eyes. I feel really lucky to have this as my 'day job' and to be a part in helping people share their joy and touch hearts through music. I can't think of anything more fun than coming up with songs that make others want to join in, and seeing how children instinctively 'get' the spirit and fun of music (or anything creative really) is such a great reminder that being creative is about the being bit, so much more than it is about the outcome. What makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs? Or what form of creativity calls to you to express your (imperfect/ unexpected) joy? LD
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