To be someone's student

This weekend I got to see 5 of my students from Odessa perform at the UT Longhorn Harp Camp in Austin. They had spent a week eating and sleeping harp, and I went up to surprise them and take in the city of Austin one last time before I move out of the Lone Start State.

They made me so proud! I had a tear in my eye for their last piece- I'm really going to miss them. Not just them, but the entire lot of them. I'm really not looking forward to this next week of saying final goodbyes.

It's always nice to be in this city..... mmmmmm.... Austin. I can't not be in a fantastic mood here.

I realized something this weekend. I guess I knew it before, but it's becoming more prevelent? It has to do with the oral tradition of harp playing... it really does matter who you study with. A harp teacher becomes a friend and a mentor. And there is a special bond between two students of the same teacher, regardless of the point in time in which they studied with them. I see it in my teacher here, Delaine Fedson. I can relate with her students in particular. I spent an afternoon at Barton Springs with Jackie Ritter... I have never really met her before, but we have an instant connection simply because we've studied with Delaine.

Same goes for Delaine and Jackie... they both came from the same teacher. They share something special together... a person imparting their energy, talent, wisedom and blessing onto their student. Her and Delaine are able to rehearse almost without talking, Jackie says. Pretty cool.

Another example: myself and Santiago Morales. Nothing can replace the shared experience we have of being under the same teacher at the same time.

And lastly.... my students. I see them on stage, working together as a team, acting as family, sharing the same experience of being my student.

Cool.

I was set up.

I was looking back at a blog entry from the day before the first day of school, 614 days ago.

Today is the first day after the last day of school.

It's funny- I have some of the same feelings I had from the day of that blog entry... excitement... gratitude... anticipation. So many possibilities in the air. Countless unknowns.

I've been walking in circles around my house this afternoon. Shifting gears. It's the shock of go-go-go-go-go-go-vacation. Well, "vacation." There's no more 7:30 harp class, but many projects are now on the front burner. Like the youtube backyard glitter project, for example! Stay tuned for that one. Still a few more weeks in Odessa.

Another thing on my mind today: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged." Interesting idea... of someone going before me. Setting things up. Making the path straight. Honestly, I'm kinda nervous. this is an incredible community and an incredible job I'm leaving here in Odessa. I'm happy here.

I think the past 614 days have been a "set up," though. It could not have not been. There may just be someone going before me in France. Not to mention someone waiting for me.

Excitement... Gratitude... Anticipation

Opal's Song

I just had a moment in class.

So there's this 7th grade student who's a true sweetheart. He also likes to jump off roofs, play with his rottweiler, wear his hair in a green mohawk, and occasionally make people cry just to amuse himself.

Today he was the one in tears, though- his grandmother passed away yesterday. He had to come to school because his dad was working and the rest of his family was already out of town. It was one of those days in life when you just want to be home.

It was also the day in class when we were working on our compositions. The students were supposed to have a rough draft ready and we were entering their piece onto Finale with the classroom computer.

His piece had been floundering.... he had a puny two measures written out after a whole week of work. He said he had writers block.

"What was your grandma's name?"

"Opal."

"Write your piece for her."

Opal's Song. That's the title. Dude- he cranked out an amazing piece in about 20 minutes and totally finished it. He's coming back after school to record it and then play the recording at the funeral.

It didn't have to be the harp, and it didn't have to be me, but I'm thankful that this student was able to express himself today. What a beautiful piece of music!

Good night, April

April's been a good month. Intense and stressful... good stress.

I'm sitting on the balcony of a hotel room in Corpus Christi- the other side of the Republic. 2:40 AM. I'm here with nine students and two parents for a concert and recording session. Good times! We just rolled in, and I'm amped up on coffee. I hope I sleep some time tonight!

I have been so grateful for this month, and I'm sad to see it go. So many blog entries to catch up on! ...Permian Basin Harp Masterclass, UTPB world-record-breaking concert, Austin visit... For now-- good night, April. And thank you for the memories you've brought!

The Chord

There's a chord that makes my day pretty much 5 days a week. It usually happens around 3:40. I'm at the junior high and it's the last class of the day.

The chord happens in measure 16 of a piece we're learning called "Flume Gorge" from Stephanie Curcio's Summer Day Suite.

I love this class. I love this piece. We are nerdy together, and this class in particular really searches for their own voice of expression in the pieces we learn. The 5 students take themselves seriously, but definitely not too seriously. Some days I think our class would make a nice sit com.

Anyway, the chord. It's one of those moments when every person is listening and contributing to the moment... sometimes this very thing doesn't even happen in professional chamber groups. These musicians make my day because they care about what they are doing in my class. I get un-grumpified. Ahh, the chord.

Sunrise Breeze

So it all started with me commandeering my neighbor's wind chimes at around 6 AM.

Brought them to 3rd period, which is a 7th grade class. Turned out the lights. We closed our eyes and listened to me brushing the chimes. Lights are on. We figured out the pitches of the chimes. Each composed 3 measures using only those pitches. Put them together to form one piece. Added a base line. Loaded the notes into the computer. And

Presto!

"Sunrise Breeze" for harp sextet (also playable as a solo). Enjoy!

Score:
Sunrise%20Breeze.pdf

Audio:
Sunrise%20Breeze.wav

Small Chunks

From the classroom yesterday: "Ms. Metheney, why are you so smiley?"

We are working with the beauty of "small chunks" these days, still plugging away at the Permian Basin Harp Masterclass project. If you've got a large task in front of you (like learning a solo harp piece that you are totally unfamiliar with), our objective is: "Ok, guys. This week, your mission is to tackle the first two measures. Hands together. Memorized." Two measures are feasible and less daunting.

Then there are the small chunks within the small chunks. For example, first it's right hand alone until that's totally mastered. Then left hand. Then together.

And there are even small chunks within the small chunks of the small chunks. "This is a weird fingering that you've never done before. Let's do the first two notes like 20 times, then we'll add a note and do that twenty times.

I love how my students don't flinch anymore when I say, "Ok sweet. Do that 20 times and then call me back over." It's because they have found a feasible chunk!!

I'm sure the chunk methodology is applicable to the meaning of life somehow. Hmm... I will need a second cup of coffee for that one.

There is one student out of the 54 that believe their piece is too difficult. And there's one that thinks theirs is too easy. I think, slowly, that they will realize the possibilities within their own hands, both musically and technically.

May your day be filled with chunks,
Megan