Over two months is far too long not to post. The point of this damn blog was to share my journey with you. Let's just say that my journey over these last few months was pretty overwhelming. Either that of full of the most lame excuses you'll ever hear.
Since my last post, I've studied, and gotten my ass kicked about topics like African music, The Middle East, and India. Some of the most amazing music I've ever heard, some of the worst essays I've ever written. Trying to learn this and commit the facts to memory, as I SEEMED to remember how I did this before was a monstrous challenge that shook me to the core. I found myself rattled, lacking of any confidence, and wondering about my capacity to comprehend much any longer.
My son recently was diagnosed with ADHD, and I wonder if I don't have a similar affliction. During my studies, I found myself putting the book down, looking at something else, then coming back to it and struggling to put it together again. Kinda like now. I'm typing this to you, then find myself wanting to do something different for a bit.
That's likely another blog.
Tomorrow's post will be all about my final presentation and report. It happened today, but I just needed to touch base with all of you again. Next week is the last class of the semester. Looks like I made it. Let's meet again next week for the wrap up.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
I got to believe it's getting better...all the time.
Ripping off some lyrics of one of my favourite Beatles songs, Getting Better. That is my theme for the week. I'm finally starting to feel better. It's been a long month of being sick, and I don't wish this on anyone.
So, I scanned and emailed my handwritten quiz essay to Dr. Dave, as he likes to be called. 5 pages of handwritten ANYTHING I can remember about the Native American music we studied the week before. He was very cool about my getting this quiz to him this way, because on Wednesday I couldn't find his office at the school. I found myself transported in time to when I was a kid and somewhat shy and didn't ask ANYONE where the Humanities office was. After all, I've been in school, what..a month? Shouldn't I know where EVERYTHING is by now? I barely know what's in the school library. I'm going to though in a hurry, because the more I think about it, the more obvious it is that our final presentation and paper will take a good solid month of preparation, if not more.
So, this past week's quiz was about Native American music, specifically three different topics: The Sioux Grass Dance - which is what most people call a war dance. You've seen them, but you likely didn't know what it was called.
Then about two Navajo songs: Yeibichai songs and the Shizhane e songs. They're both from purification rituals, and it's likely a non Native American (or First Nation for you Canadians) would not have known about these.
Yeibichai
The Yeibichai songs are part of a sacred ceremony called The Nightway and the Shizhane e or Circle Dance songs are part of a purification ceremony called The Enemyway. The ceremony is performed for Navajo who have been away so long that they are invaded with non-Navajo spirits. Navajos who have been in hospital or returning from the Armed Services are a simple example of those the Enemyway is performed for You've probably heard this song below. There are parts of an Enemyway song in it. This is Sacred Spirit - Yeha Noha
This is all really fascinating stuff, and I find myself completely enthralled with my textbook...that is when my kids allow me the peace and quiet to read, take notes and absorb. That's why I mentioned how Starbucks has become my home away from home. I never took seriously the people who consider Starbucks their personal space with a barrista, but the people who work there actually embrace it. A week ago Sunday there was a period of time where I was the only person in there, and I wondered if I was just taking up space. I did buy a cup of tea there, but just one while I was reading for my first quiz. They emphatically told me I can stay as long as I wanted: I was a customer. Holy Sumatra, Batman. That was very nice.
So...I'm addicted to Starbuck's now.
Going back to my reading now. Monday's quiz will be about South America. The music I've been listening to is beautiful. I'll find some video examples of what I'm studying right now.
Okay...back to work. ALL OF YOU!!!
So, I scanned and emailed my handwritten quiz essay to Dr. Dave, as he likes to be called. 5 pages of handwritten ANYTHING I can remember about the Native American music we studied the week before. He was very cool about my getting this quiz to him this way, because on Wednesday I couldn't find his office at the school. I found myself transported in time to when I was a kid and somewhat shy and didn't ask ANYONE where the Humanities office was. After all, I've been in school, what..a month? Shouldn't I know where EVERYTHING is by now? I barely know what's in the school library. I'm going to though in a hurry, because the more I think about it, the more obvious it is that our final presentation and paper will take a good solid month of preparation, if not more.
So, this past week's quiz was about Native American music, specifically three different topics: The Sioux Grass Dance - which is what most people call a war dance. You've seen them, but you likely didn't know what it was called.
Then about two Navajo songs: Yeibichai songs and the Shizhane e songs. They're both from purification rituals, and it's likely a non Native American (or First Nation for you Canadians) would not have known about these.
Yeibichai
The Yeibichai songs are part of a sacred ceremony called The Nightway and the Shizhane e or Circle Dance songs are part of a purification ceremony called The Enemyway. The ceremony is performed for Navajo who have been away so long that they are invaded with non-Navajo spirits. Navajos who have been in hospital or returning from the Armed Services are a simple example of those the Enemyway is performed for You've probably heard this song below. There are parts of an Enemyway song in it. This is Sacred Spirit - Yeha Noha
This is all really fascinating stuff, and I find myself completely enthralled with my textbook...that is when my kids allow me the peace and quiet to read, take notes and absorb. That's why I mentioned how Starbucks has become my home away from home. I never took seriously the people who consider Starbucks their personal space with a barrista, but the people who work there actually embrace it. A week ago Sunday there was a period of time where I was the only person in there, and I wondered if I was just taking up space. I did buy a cup of tea there, but just one while I was reading for my first quiz. They emphatically told me I can stay as long as I wanted: I was a customer. Holy Sumatra, Batman. That was very nice.
So...I'm addicted to Starbuck's now.
Going back to my reading now. Monday's quiz will be about South America. The music I've been listening to is beautiful. I'll find some video examples of what I'm studying right now.
Okay...back to work. ALL OF YOU!!!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Don't worry.... that cough will go away in a few days
So, I didn't go to school yesterday. Before anyone accuses me of being a truant or not studying for a test (I did miss one), I'm still not feeling better. A few weeks ago I referenced a cold that turned into bronchitis. I started feeling better but then last week, I had a relapse and caught strep from my daughter. She's doing fine, thank you, but her old man has been contagious and just feeling like warm dog food. Hopefully now I'm not contagious, but I didn't want to risk it in class.
I asked for and received permission not to come to class. Dr. Hunter's simple answer to my email was that it makes no sense to infect the class. Long story short, I get a chance to re take my test. I'm really trying not to look at my notes and I have the 5 page essay about half way done. When I'm done with this post, I'll finish my test. I really want to learn something, and I'm proud that I've not looked at my book. This quiz will probably kill me grade-wise, but I am doing this as much for the experience as I am for the eventual degree.
So, another interesting thing that has played out over the last two weeks is that I now have an in class friend. He's a very interesting kid. Man, I shouldn't say that, I don't care how much younger he is. Let me rephrase that. He's a really interesting guy. He's a musician too. He emailed me some music he has been working on, and it's really very good. He has a nice advantage now compared to the time I was his age (You can picture me on the rocking chair as I'm saying that, can't you?), he has a studio on his computer that is light years more state of the art than even the most professional studio back when I was a professional. I wish him well. He's a great guy and his music is very good. It has an 80's fun vibe, but still sounds fresh. I hope he goes far.
At any rate he and I swapped emails today and he let me have notes from today's class. Once this Native American test is done, it's bang, straight into 9 songs and 50 pages of reading on the music and culture of South America.
This is going to be a very intense week.
I asked for and received permission not to come to class. Dr. Hunter's simple answer to my email was that it makes no sense to infect the class. Long story short, I get a chance to re take my test. I'm really trying not to look at my notes and I have the 5 page essay about half way done. When I'm done with this post, I'll finish my test. I really want to learn something, and I'm proud that I've not looked at my book. This quiz will probably kill me grade-wise, but I am doing this as much for the experience as I am for the eventual degree.
So, another interesting thing that has played out over the last two weeks is that I now have an in class friend. He's a very interesting kid. Man, I shouldn't say that, I don't care how much younger he is. Let me rephrase that. He's a really interesting guy. He's a musician too. He emailed me some music he has been working on, and it's really very good. He has a nice advantage now compared to the time I was his age (You can picture me on the rocking chair as I'm saying that, can't you?), he has a studio on his computer that is light years more state of the art than even the most professional studio back when I was a professional. I wish him well. He's a great guy and his music is very good. It has an 80's fun vibe, but still sounds fresh. I hope he goes far.
At any rate he and I swapped emails today and he let me have notes from today's class. Once this Native American test is done, it's bang, straight into 9 songs and 50 pages of reading on the music and culture of South America.
This is going to be a very intense week.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Let The Madness Begin
We're about to start. Dr. Hunter says we should be fine because we will be allowed to use all of of our notes. There are a lot of nervous people in this room. Including me. More later.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Two weeks is too much time off
I'm feeling terrible. It's been over two weeks since my last post. Long story, but I've been sick with what has become a terrible case of bronchitis. I'm taking care of myself, I promise.
At any rate, illness, a national holiday, and general work stress have me very far behind. Two weeks is simply far too much time between classes. I'm still reading and trying to comprehend the 50 or so pages we had to read for TOMORROW'S FIRST TEST. Yeah, old habits die hard. While I was coughing up a lung here and there, I should have put more effort into learning the material. What material you ask? Well, here was the topic of my original post.
Is that a didgeridoo in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Two weeks ago Dr. Hunter spent the entire class talking about the Aborigine music and culture. I learned a LOT. So much so, that any hope of retaining it will be futile this late in the game. Dr. Hunter even brought in a didgeridoo....or rather a didgeribone. It's a cross between a didgeridoo and a trombone. Here is a pic of him in class.
">
What I've learned is that the Aborigine's "music" is very private and is tied to the earth and kin. I could get my notes and tell you more, but I'm still trying to absorb this.
Thankfully Dr. Hunter is allowing us to use our notes for this test. The one thing I remember from my last college experience is to take notes with the idea that anyone reading them should have some idea of what you did in class. I try to do that at work, and I think I've accomplished this so far.
Tomorrow will be good, as I imagine that it will put the fear of God and discipline back into me, which I sorely need. Too much time away isn't a good thing.
I'll be back on the blog tomorrow with a report on how it went. Keep your fingers crossed.... I can't keep my eyes open much longer tonight.
At any rate, illness, a national holiday, and general work stress have me very far behind. Two weeks is simply far too much time between classes. I'm still reading and trying to comprehend the 50 or so pages we had to read for TOMORROW'S FIRST TEST. Yeah, old habits die hard. While I was coughing up a lung here and there, I should have put more effort into learning the material. What material you ask? Well, here was the topic of my original post.
Is that a didgeridoo in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Two weeks ago Dr. Hunter spent the entire class talking about the Aborigine music and culture. I learned a LOT. So much so, that any hope of retaining it will be futile this late in the game. Dr. Hunter even brought in a didgeridoo....or rather a didgeribone. It's a cross between a didgeridoo and a trombone. Here is a pic of him in class.
">What I've learned is that the Aborigine's "music" is very private and is tied to the earth and kin. I could get my notes and tell you more, but I'm still trying to absorb this.
Thankfully Dr. Hunter is allowing us to use our notes for this test. The one thing I remember from my last college experience is to take notes with the idea that anyone reading them should have some idea of what you did in class. I try to do that at work, and I think I've accomplished this so far.
Tomorrow will be good, as I imagine that it will put the fear of God and discipline back into me, which I sorely need. Too much time away isn't a good thing.
I'll be back on the blog tomorrow with a report on how it went. Keep your fingers crossed.... I can't keep my eyes open much longer tonight.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Old Habits Die Hard
Right now I'm a bit disappointed in myself. I shouldn't be hard on myself, but I've only read about 3 of the 32 pages of my first homework assignment. I had this habit during my first college career, and I can't allow that to happen again. I could chalk it up to work, being dad, work, and today's really bad cold, but these are cheap excuses. He'll, I'm only taking one class this semester. What will it be like in the fall when I have a full course load? Our first test is in a week too.
Okay. Time to knuckledown. Pouring a cup of tea for my throat, emailing my teacher how I have no voice, but my hacking up a lung is louder than.. And getting the work done.
Thankfully, the reading is interesting.
Okay. Time to knuckledown. Pouring a cup of tea for my throat, emailing my teacher how I have no voice, but my hacking up a lung is louder than.. And getting the work done.
Thankfully, the reading is interesting.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
My first day
First off, I'm really sorry that it's taken me four days to post about my first day of class. Without going off topic here, I'll mention that all hell broke loose at work, and it took priority for a bit. Things have calmed a bit, so here we go.
I made it to my classroom about 10 minutes before the start, so I got to drink in the enormity of what I was about to start. As the other students started filing in, it became clear to me that I was the oldest student there. It isn't the first time I've been the oldest somewhere. What I really enjoyed was watching the variety of students who were in the room. Nothing's changed. Sitting next to me was a kid with a dogeared notebook and papers from registration...all looking like they had been in his pocket for a week. In the row behind me (we were in more of a theatre than a traditional classroom) were two girls who giggled every 5 minutes. It wasn't in an obnoxious way, they reminded me of my 9 year old daughter: really cute, giggly... I was thinking that Kylie would love playing with them. One of them, Jenn (she insisted to the teacher that he remember the second N), actually physically reminded me of my daughter. There were the book worms, and two jocks, and the guys and girls who felt totally out of place in any kind of music class, then the musicians... well the guys who said 'they worked out beats and did hip hop' Nope, I'm not, while taking a world music class, give any opinion of hip hop, rap, or anything else.
Have to have an open mind, afterall.
Well, my teacher comes in, and I don't know why I was so surprised, but he was nothing like I expected. My teacher is a long haired, slightly balding Deadhead. He immediately explained that he likes to teach barefoot or at least without socks. I LOVED IT! No, I'm not a Deadhead, but I was expecting a stereotypical college professor like I had at Loyola University. You know what I mean? Man, I totally lost touch with college, because no one at Columbia looked like what I was envisioning this teacher to look like. My teacher is incredibly passionate about music...all kinds of music, and I totally love this.
In my crazy world, I sometimes forget how much I love music. How important music has been for my soul. Yes, I'm a guitar player, and a rocker, and my passion lies there; but music in general had been so integral to my spiritual self...and I have missed that a lot. I get hung up on gear, and how I want to try to sound like my favourite guitar players... Let's just say this class is going to be a breath of fresh air.
Sorry to digress.
At any rate, the teacher started class by defining music. The definition in this class was an arrangement of sounds with an artistic purpose. He then played a number of ...well, let's call them sounds, and the class had to decide if it was music or not. One of the things we learned is that while some things might be music to OUR ears, it might not be considered music where the sounds originated. For example, he played an Azan, a Muslim call to prayer. The melody was haunting and beautiful. It is not, however, music. Why not? Because the further definition of music is that any definition of music is subject to cultural opinion of where you are or where it's taking place. It's considered blasphemous to call an Azan music, so...it's not music.
Interesting huh?
Okay...wrapping up. I have homework. My son Max already grounded me for not getting it done when I came home Monday night. I have to read the first chapter and listen to examples presented. Taking notes, thinking, listening.
Yup...it's school all over again.
I made it to my classroom about 10 minutes before the start, so I got to drink in the enormity of what I was about to start. As the other students started filing in, it became clear to me that I was the oldest student there. It isn't the first time I've been the oldest somewhere. What I really enjoyed was watching the variety of students who were in the room. Nothing's changed. Sitting next to me was a kid with a dogeared notebook and papers from registration...all looking like they had been in his pocket for a week. In the row behind me (we were in more of a theatre than a traditional classroom) were two girls who giggled every 5 minutes. It wasn't in an obnoxious way, they reminded me of my 9 year old daughter: really cute, giggly... I was thinking that Kylie would love playing with them. One of them, Jenn (she insisted to the teacher that he remember the second N), actually physically reminded me of my daughter. There were the book worms, and two jocks, and the guys and girls who felt totally out of place in any kind of music class, then the musicians... well the guys who said 'they worked out beats and did hip hop' Nope, I'm not, while taking a world music class, give any opinion of hip hop, rap, or anything else.
Have to have an open mind, afterall.
Well, my teacher comes in, and I don't know why I was so surprised, but he was nothing like I expected. My teacher is a long haired, slightly balding Deadhead. He immediately explained that he likes to teach barefoot or at least without socks. I LOVED IT! No, I'm not a Deadhead, but I was expecting a stereotypical college professor like I had at Loyola University. You know what I mean? Man, I totally lost touch with college, because no one at Columbia looked like what I was envisioning this teacher to look like. My teacher is incredibly passionate about music...all kinds of music, and I totally love this.
In my crazy world, I sometimes forget how much I love music. How important music has been for my soul. Yes, I'm a guitar player, and a rocker, and my passion lies there; but music in general had been so integral to my spiritual self...and I have missed that a lot. I get hung up on gear, and how I want to try to sound like my favourite guitar players... Let's just say this class is going to be a breath of fresh air.
Sorry to digress.
At any rate, the teacher started class by defining music. The definition in this class was an arrangement of sounds with an artistic purpose. He then played a number of ...well, let's call them sounds, and the class had to decide if it was music or not. One of the things we learned is that while some things might be music to OUR ears, it might not be considered music where the sounds originated. For example, he played an Azan, a Muslim call to prayer. The melody was haunting and beautiful. It is not, however, music. Why not? Because the further definition of music is that any definition of music is subject to cultural opinion of where you are or where it's taking place. It's considered blasphemous to call an Azan music, so...it's not music.
Interesting huh?
Okay...wrapping up. I have homework. My son Max already grounded me for not getting it done when I came home Monday night. I have to read the first chapter and listen to examples presented. Taking notes, thinking, listening.
Yup...it's school all over again.
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