At age 91, John Williams won his 26th Grammy award. That's incredible and so inspiring. Once I heard a statistic that an orchestral conductor gets such positive aerobic exercise from leading the music that he is sure to live a long productive life. Well, that is certainly true for Maestro Williams!
Now that I am officially a senior, I have not felt much like living a long and productive life. I guess having a couple of health issues combined with the dark days of winter have set me in a depression. I just can't seem to get in the right mood to start or continue projects, particularly doing illustrations or writing music.
So, I decided to do a couple of things to help. For one, I joined a community choir. They sing such a wide range of music --- from Baroque and other early music to Classical Choral repertoire to jazz and pop chorals.
We are giving a concert for Valentine's Day featuring LOVE SONGS through the centuries and from around the world. They are even having a silent auction, and a catered meal during which a few scenes from "Romeo and Juliet" will be performed.
The music is fun, but I confess that I have had a difficult time learning it. The shingles infection in my right eye that I have been battling for the past 2 1/2 months is still causing havoc. If I could just see to read better, I might be in better shape emotionally and physically. (My eyes get so tired from drawing, or working at the computer, or straining to see the small print, that I have to work in small bits of time. Then I have to go rest.)
So, I am looking to one of my idols, John Williams, for inspiration. If he can continue into his 90s doing music, then why can't I? So, I am practicing the words by writing them out in large print so that I can see and memorize them without straining. I figure that memorizing is my best choice of attack until my eye heals.
Now that I am officially a senior, I have not felt much like living a long and productive life. I guess having a couple of health issues combined with the dark days of winter have set me in a depression. I just can't seem to get in the right mood to start or continue projects, particularly doing illustrations or writing music.
So, I decided to do a couple of things to help. For one, I joined a community choir. They sing such a wide range of music --- from Baroque and other early music to Classical Choral repertoire to jazz and pop chorals.
We are giving a concert for Valentine's Day featuring LOVE SONGS through the centuries and from around the world. They are even having a silent auction, and a catered meal during which a few scenes from "Romeo and Juliet" will be performed.
The music is fun, but I confess that I have had a difficult time learning it. The shingles infection in my right eye that I have been battling for the past 2 1/2 months is still causing havoc. If I could just see to read better, I might be in better shape emotionally and physically. (My eyes get so tired from drawing, or working at the computer, or straining to see the small print, that I have to work in small bits of time. Then I have to go rest.)
So, I am looking to one of my idols, John Williams, for inspiration. If he can continue into his 90s doing music, then why can't I? So, I am practicing the words by writing them out in large print so that I can see and memorize them without straining. I figure that memorizing is my best choice of attack until my eye heals.
Oh, and I have also been toying with the idea to write a new musical for my summer theater camp. Maybe that will get my creative juices flowing. By the way, I floated the idea to my 4-year-old granddaughter C.J. by telling her, "Grandma's thinking of writing a brand new Princess musical for this summer. Can you try on one of these tiara's for me?" "Oh, yes Grandma." Then she gave me a big hug and said, "You are the best Grandma I ever had!"
Okay, now I am definitely committed to the project!
Okay, now I am definitely committed to the project!
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