My Canoe Tipped Over, On Purpose

When I went to my first summer camp, it was at a northern Minnesota lake. There were hundreds of other new campers. But we all talked about the same thing that first night around the campfire. Canoe lessons.

You see, over one hundred timid city kids in the lake that day swamped their canoes as lesson number one. Yes, we all got wet. Yes, we were mostly a screaming, splashing confused bunch of 11-13 year olds. But it was so smart of the counselors to get that "mistake" out of the way. Because you know it's going to happen eventually. You are going to need to know how to be in control, flip it, right it, and somehow, get back in the canoe.

I haven't taken skiing lessons but I've heard the first thing you learn is how to fall. Because you will. This might be an interesting philosophy with piano.

The transfer student seemed so afraid. There were so much water, i.e., lots of notes, fingerings, dynamics, slurs, phrasing. Where do I even start, she wondered. Start by making some mistakes, and make them big.

In composition, we could teach the same thing. Try a bunch of ridiculous ideas. Mix it up and dump it out, all over. Do more. Do less. Combine styles, focus on one style completely.

The new student comes in and wants to be a good student. They are shy or intimidated by the bigness of the instrument. You can't hold a piano in your hands like a flute or a violin.

I'm not expecting students to know how to play piano before they've been taught how. Jump in. Splash and scream. Get wet. I promise you won't drown. I'm right here. And it's so much fun. Happy Summer all.

My Summer Fun List

It's July already. I teach a limited schedule in the summer to make room for mindlessness. My creative side needs sun and space. This is only a reminder, to myself. Maybe I will get more of these enjoyed in the next two months, and more likely, things I didn't even think of will happen too.

Summer Fun List
By Chris Wolf

A Drive-In Movie
Arboreteum
Bike
Boat Ride
Como Park
Compose
County Fair
Dance to My Favorite Song on the Radio, every time!
Dinosaurs at the Zoo
Eat Corn on the Cob
Farmer’s Market
Garage Sale
Go to a Parade
Grow Something
Have a Campfire
Hear a Loon
Hear Live Music
Hold a Baby
Hold a Sparkler
Hunt for Antiques
Listen
Learn a new Song/Piece of Music
Make Something (recipe, a birdhouse…)
Maya Exhibit at the Science Museum
Mini Golf
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Museum I’ve Never Seen
Paint
Party with Friends
Pedicure
Play a Family Game
Play piano
Read a Book
Ride in a Convertible
Run in a Sprinkler
See a Movie
See a Sunset
Sleep Overnight Somewhere
Spit Watermelon Seeds off the Deck
Stillwater - Segways
Strawberry Picking
Surprise Someone
Swing
Take a Meal to someone
Take a Road I’ve Never Taken
Visit Someone Who Doesn’t Expect me
Walk a Path with fresh eyes, with a Camera
Watch Clouds

A Practice Parable

Once upon a time there was a lanky, bean of a girl with an above average basketball shooting ability. Placed almost anywhere around a basket, and she could make the shot. She always played with Dad. He would coach, move her arms, check the angles with her. He had a little skill himself and, at first, was glad to show her some basic shots. Soon, she routinely beat the neighbor kids at HORSE, and could even make it from behind the garage, SWOOSH, into the hoop. She wouldn’t practice without Dad outside though. She would ask him at every turn for a little help. So Dad signed her up for summer basketball camp. The first day, a small problem became apparent. She couldn’t run and dribble. This, she found out the hard way, was a key element of the game. And she stunk. Enviable shooting ability, fouled for traveling. Every. Time. She also found out that practicing with her dad on the driveway was a lot kinder than practicing alone, or with the kids at camp. At home, Dad would set her up, and she would shine. Here, courts were long, there was a lot less positive feedback, and the coaches expected her to get better. Worst of all, she discovered that some of basketball was really hard. And boring. And sweaty. And, well, work. She had some natural talent, but just like a lot of people with a lot of talents, she had hoped it would be easy. At a certain point, she is in charge of her own feet.

Basic Piano, Please

I have been interviewing a few families as I increase my studio size. One of the interviews this week included the statement, "we're really looking for basic piano lessons, you know, no frills, teaching them to play." I regret that I didn't probe that question further.What did the Dad mean by that?
I think I didn't question him more because I sort of DID know what he meant. I have an active studio with many opportunities to be involved. I like offering contest, exams, recitals, festival and other events. I want the students to feel joy and success when they performed something well.
What I have been asking myself ever since is: what is "Basic" to piano study? What constitutes "no frills" piano? Do I want to teach students who are looking for this type of lesson? Do I want students who are hungry to pounce on every event placed before them? So many questions. These are topics I will be pondering the next few blogs. I really hope you will share your thoughts with me as the topics come up.
(Picture - Joe Friday, from Dragnet, whose favorite line was "Just the facts, Ma'am."

A New Day, On Leap Day

I think I'm ready to begin blogging again. I've been keeping pictures on Facebook under Wolf Piano, for those who would like to view them. It's a weird ol' year, isn't it?
There's an extra day.
It's not just the Year of the Dragon, but the year of the Water Dragon, which only happens every 60 (six-zero) years.
March 1st you will be able to see all 5 visible planets with a naked eye at dusk.
It's an election year.
It's been rumored the world will end.
My first born graduates from High School.
It's my 30th class reunion in July.
And I've had the studio 20 years, in September.
I'm pretty sure I missed a few details.
Somewhere in here is a song.

The Obituary

Dad. My dad. My only dad. I am smiling for his sake. I weep for mine.

A Poem

After an inspirational tour at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in May, I wrote a poem and sent it to my friend who had led the tour. It just made their docent newsletter! I think I'm going to start encouraging my students to make trips to wonderful places this year. I always get more out of these field trips than I ever anticipate.

Here is the poem:

The Inner Spirit
Chris Wolf
A prince and an eagle, soon Zeus’ cupbearer
12 years, artist’s labor
Portray an ideal-smooth skin, and preened feathers
Yet devoid of inner emotion, we search their faces in vain.

Her covered face, her arched back
A sense of flight, fleeing, agony, yearning
Will she fall to her bed in tears
Or be raptured by the unseen?

Oh blue stone, we want to swaddle you
Tucked in, fetal and vulnerable
Yet with your birth we embrace
All the future you represent.

Battle scarred and seated
We sense your power, defiance and valor
Still strong, you raise your shield
Bloodied, beaten, but not retreating.

Red glow of molten earth and sunset sky
Embodying the creatures of water and air
We are drawn to your chakra glow
Petroglyphs still inspire.

Our mothers above us, our mother below us
We kings are sandwiched between
Sitting in the visitor veranda
We face forward, and we ride.

Fierce, truthful abalone eyes
Center post of the house and
Lifeforce link to ancestors
Our home is safe under your gaze
and on your shoulders.

It is as natural as breathing to plant the land
His face content, he will feed his people
As many have before,
children will sow after him,
He has high hopes.

And here is an exerpt of what the mentor, Mary Grau, wrote: "...Last May I participated in Linda's... (class of ’09) final check-out tour. The theme of Linda’s Mostly Modern: 19th and 20th Century Art tour was Seeking the Inner Meaning in Human Sculpture. At each object Linda asked us to write down – on paper that she gave us, with pencils that she provided, on clipboards that she had made for the occasion – the single word that we felt best described the inner meaning of the sculpture that we were viewing. Then we all shared our choices with each other. The tour was wonderful; Linda’s creative use of interactive touring techniques, her thoughtful selection of objects and her own keen insights into them resulted in a delightful touring experience.

What those of us on the tour, including Linda, didn’t know was that one of the participants, Chris Wolf, was keeping track of all our responses. After
the tour Chris went home and turned our words into the poem you just read. Each stanza of the poem corresponds to one of the objects we discussed."

Here are the pieces that were on the tour.
1. Ganymede and the Eagle, Thorvaldsen
2. Torso of Adele, Rodin
3. The New One, John Flannagan
4. Warrior with Shield, Moore
5. Untitled,Whiteman
6. Ancestral Post, Agbonbiofe
7. Post Figure, unknown Maori
8. Farmer Sowing Grain, unknown, Japan.

Each of these pieces is still at MIA, I believe. I was able to obtain a photo of the #1 above (for the first stanza) from a "free photo of everything" website. I don't want to break on any copyrights of pieces, so please google them for a peek!
I think each of these stanzas could be a song, don't you? Thank you for appreciating my poem, Mary and Linda, it was such a moving tour.