Thanks for checking in friends.

It's been a nutty month of teaching, gigging, rehearsing, working and generally keeping things on the go.

This year I've decided to sit on the Music Therapy Association for Alberta board as the membership officer.  It sounds official, I know.  

I had a great time with the TheatreWorks kids culminating in their spring recital at the Lantern Church in Inglewood (wicked venue). They boogied and sang and body-wormed their little hearts out on stage.  I was so proud!

And then a wedding!  On St. Paddy's day at the Lougheed House.  Complete with fiddlers, far too many chocolate coins (I'm not telling you how many I ate) and me and the Steinway, just hanging out.  It was a fun day.

Also March 10 at Mikeys!  Was SUCH a fun night.  Pics coming soon....thanks to those who made it out.  

Playing a few benefit concerts in the coming weeks, both with Leon Leontaridis and then April 14 at Cornerstone Music Cafe.  Loverlyness....

Hope all's well out there!  Check out the photo page for more of me and Sally at the zoo!

sv

 ...is almost over.

2 posts in a month.  I know.  You're asking yourself "who IS this person???"

This person has many jobs and is loving each and every one of them.  I spent the majority of the last 2 hours arranging rehearsals, emailing people about storytelling collaborations, using music with kids with autism resources, checking out new songs online, designing a membership form for the newly re-formed Music Therapy Association of Alberta, talking to mom about my father's overuse of cashews and checking in with a friend who is currently working in Pune but originally hails from Norway.

I'm doing a cleanse this week.  Much of it still feels like hooey.  I will keep you posted if anything changes.

Went to see the very fantastic and ambitions MBF last night.  Almost 200 people onstage at one point.  It was very inspiring to watch.  Too bad the Rhubarb root was making me into a CRAZY person....

Fave moments of the week:

1) Singing with seniors at my favourite coffee shop in town
2) Watching a fellow colleague jam with over 150 musicians, go mbf....
3) Discovering that one of my fave little patients at the hospital is making progress with his smile muscles.  Go kid go...

Looking forward to jamming with one of my fave gals, Miss Sally T, at the zoo this weekend plus coaching a bunch of music theatre kids at Theatreworks and then chilling at the Ship at the Saturday jam.  Maybe also....some scuba?  I'll let you know.  See you around I hope!

Also!!

March 10 - 10:00 at Mikey's Juke Joint ft. Leon Leontaridis
March 18 - Market Collective debut! Heyo!
March 31 - 1 Night Benefit Concert with Sam Masterton & Leon!

 ...most days my friends.  Be good to yourselves.

PS> Discount chocolate on tomorrow.  You heard it here first.

 So the music community in all cities I'm sure can begin to feel quite small after a while.  You try to see as many shows as you can and are constantly rating, comparing, networking, socializing and communicating with musicians from everywhere.  

After a long talk about the music therapy profession the other day a friend said to me "How's your personal life?"  and I was

completely.

Perplexed.

I wasn't sure what that meant.  So much of my life feels personal, feels social, feels joyful and effervescent.  Much of what I do doesn't feel like work.  And I consider myself very lucky to feel that way.

I took up a teaching position at Theatre Works Calgary, teaching 10-14 year olds vocal pieces over the next 7 weeks.  It's been a while since I've done anything like this and I'm totally pumped at the prospect of hanging out with kids and learning about their music and goals.  I find youth to be incredibly invigorating to be around.  Don't get me wrong, you couldn't pay me enough to be a teenager again but I just love the sense of possibility that surrounds them.  

Remember your teenage years?  Weren't they hell?  Aren't you so glad they're over?

And does anybody stand out in your mind as a mentor, as a leader, as a coach or hero?  Somebody older and cool that you didn't have a crush on, you just thought they were incredibly inspiring?

That's my goal.  And I'd like to do it being personable.  Being myself.  

That's my personal life.  Loving my work.  Trying not to call it work.  Not being "busy" but doing fun & exciting things.  

Anyway.  That's all a bit random.  I blame the picking out harmonies from the Beatles, the creation of songlists for children ages 3-4 and youth ages 10-14, texting with my polish buddy about her cat and the consumption of coffee & kahlua and then a glass of wine.

Staying in Fridays.  

It's underrated.

sv

 For me it feels over now on Christmas eve.  There's been at least one meal, Bailey's far too early in the morning (is there such a thing?) and lots of children in different places all at once.  It's the anticipation the week before that's my favourite thing now.

Some special moments were:

-riding a stagecoach home from church, certain that death was imminent
-seeing the entire milky way from aforementioned stagecoach
-having my niece cough directly into my mouth while we woke up from a delicious nap
-shopping with my mom for new clothes for her
-hitting a Boxing day birthday party in the tiniest house filled with so much love
-seeing a snowy owl twice in 2 days flying through the brown and crusty prairies
-talking to a lot of loved ones spread across the world
-knowing that I am lucky to know the people that I do and work the jobs that I work

Happy week before new year's kids!

sv

 In a nutshell:

-reindeer came to the ACH and wow'd the families, children and staff.  Also, Santa was there but didn't make as big of a splash.  My workplace is magic.
-started a new tune.  Pumped to do some writing in 2012!
-filmed a music video of the The Night He Arrived.  Find it here! 
-realized I've only spent 1 Christmas away from my immediate family...so special
-birthday parties, epiphanies about doing my calling, staff Christmas parties, MCing youth for Cornerstone Music Cafe recital.  Beautiful.  My favourite thing is watching you make music.  
-so in love with all my workspaces and my life
-discovered a Scotch that makes my mouth feel like a warm blanket is being pulled over it.  Ask me about it.....

Happy Christmas friends & fans.  Big love from small town Alberta...

sv

 Today it happened.

A day early.  My "No Christmas Songs Until December 1st" was broken.  Ok, officially it was last week (see below) but today it was made official.  I just can't resist making harmonies with one of my fave clients.

Got to hang with Chantal Kreviazuk.  She had a long day in the air and then on the air.  I think it was nice for her to play a beautiful piano in a beautiful space.  She seemed happy, anyway.

Music therapy strikes again.  Thanks Chantal.  And ACH.  

Bring on the reindeer.

sv

Oh right.  Playing a little at Mikey's tomorrow with the lovely Amy Thiessan.  And again on Friday with she and Brittany Robart.  Charity event Friday.  For a good cause!  (def: charity - review)  See you out there!

 Gosh.  

What a beautiful evening.

Special shout out to the Ferreiras, Graham Sharkey, Valerie & Paulina, Leela & the boys who made the videos and pictures.  

And of course all the people who came out.  Great to meet everyone and find out a little more about the circles that exist in this fine city of ours.

Working on some new tunes and hope to have a video of the The Christmas Song (you know what I'm talking about - The Night He Arrived) up in the coming weeks!

Also, this is happening THIS Friday...get your tickets now!  This is an event to benefit 2 families in need for the holidays.  Hope to see you there!

SV

Also> Calgary, stay out of the wind.  Especially you small people with umbrellas...  

 Yeah, it's nice to play shows.  It's nice to watch people's face when I play.  There was a lovely birthday party/music festival/house concert last weekend at Hidden Springs where the people were splended, the living room inspired, the music effervescent.  Made some new friends, got some new music and a few new fans.  Thanks to the Whites for hosting, to Ailen & Kelsey for their passion, to the musicians for inspiring me.

Also.  2 year olds have no personal space.  Practice this with a friend.

1) Stand with a guitar.
2) Have your friend walk up to you and put their face 6 inches from yours (literally.  6 inches).  
3) Hold.
4) Alternate looking between their eyes and their mouth.
5) Don't smile.

Just another reason to hang with kids.  Challenge your personal space.

 Fraught with too much Christmas already.

It's all about balance thought because I'm crushing so much on my life right now.

I have all these fantastic jobs where I get to hang out with kids all day and play music.  I see progress and smiles where there was none before.  I make new little friends all the time.  And I have all these fabulous friends that I get to see and spend time with.  Here's a few I've gotten to see this week:

Shannon Robinson

Sylvia Johnston

Jocelyn Alice

Joe Nolan


Seriously.  There are people in this town doing some incredibly inspiring and remarkable work.  And they're my FRIENDS.  How lucky am I?

sv