So What Will You Do With It?

Fall is officially here with the end of Daylight Savings Time. We roll the clock back, and gain an extra hour that will completely mess up our day. But it is one of those bookmark days where we can draw the line in the sand and say “today, I am going to……”

So what will you do with it? Here are a few things that you might want to consider:

Go to church.
Read a book.
Exercise.
Take a walk.
Call a friend.
Listen to some “real” music.
Write a letter.
Clean your closet.
Perform a random act of kindness.

Do something that makes you feel good! Enjoy!

Fall Is In The Air

As the earth comes to rest it is important for us all to stop, pause a moment, and to appreciate the many things that our life has given us. Although it is easy to always find those things where we feel that we have fallen short or wanted more, we have all been blessed by the gift of each other.

As the leaves change colors and fall to earth, it is time for us to reflect on all those who have touched our lives in some special way. Allow the ever changing landscape to remind us of the finite existence we all have on this earth and that the time to enjoy it and enjoy each other is now.

Sunday September 19 Chicago Musical Premieres

Sunday, September 19 marks a special day for Chicago musicians and musical audiences. First there is the Concert in Millennium Park with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Riccardo Muti. It should be fantastic. However the concert preceding that event may even be better.

VanderCook College of Music will present its annual Prism Concert at 3:00 PM in the Herman Hall Ballroom featuring the college’s Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Chorale, Percussion Ensembles and Jazz Band. These will be the premiere performances by the 2010-2011 VanderCook students and this promises to be a GREAT performance. The concert is free and open to the public. To learn more call 312-225-6288 or visit www.vandercook.edu.

We Never Know!

We really never know how we impact others, do we!  It is a pretty amazing thing.  This week I have received several unexpected communications from students, former students and friends that all drove this point home “one more time.”  As we go through our day to day lives, we must constantly try to do the “right” thing all the time.  Sometimes there is a larger motivation than the actual incident itself, but when you are on the receiving end of someone’s action, knowing that there may be a larger issue is certainly a tough one to always understand in the moment.

Control What You Can…FLUSH The Rest!

Each and every day we encounter so many situations that hit to our core values. The ones we agree with are fine, they affirm our beliefs. It’s the ones that we don’t agree with that really strike a nerve.

As we go about our lives it is important to realize that we should focus on those things that we can control, those areas where we can make a difference. Of course it is always fun to “vent” about something or someone, it really does no good. We can’t change that what we can’t change. What we can do is control our thoughts and control our minds and focus on those areas where we can have a significant impact.

It doesn’t take a lot to make a difference in someone’s day. A smile, a hello, a pat on the back for a job well done are all simple and effective ways to make an impact. The best part is they don’t cost you a penny….in fact they will pay you big dividends.

So the next time you come across something that strikes at your core, remember the line from Robert Fulgham’s – ALL I EVER NEEDED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN – “Flush!” A simple one word solution to lightening your load and making today a good one.

Try it. You’ll be amazed at the difference. Influence those things and people that you have direct interaction. For all the others, just FLUSH!

Don’t Forget To Start With An Empty Cup!

There is an old Zen story about the student that goes to the teacher and says he is ready to learn and then proceeds to tell the teacher how much he knows about the subject.  The teacher then takes out an empty cup and proceeds to fill it with tea.  As he pours the tea, the cup fills and as the cup nears its capacity the teacher continues to pour until the cup overflows.  Soon the tea is running off the table and on to the floor.  All of a sudden the student yells, “STOP!  What are you doing?”  With that the teacher says learning is much like pouring tea.  The cup can only hold so much and so can you.  

As students and life-long learners, it is important that we always start with an empty cup and as we fill it, take time to digest what we have just learned so that we can learn more. 

Now there are other kinds of students too:  Cups that are upside down – nothing goes in; Cups with a hole in the bottom – they remember nothing; and cups that are dirty – the information gets polluted and misunderstood.  

So next time you are ready to learn, make sure you start with an empty, clean cup!

The Power of Positive Practice

It’s the Easter season and for the past several weeks I have been actively playing my trumpet once again.  Oh how I have missed the time I have not spent with my special friend.   It was difficult to play at first, the mind was willing but the body was weak.  So I decided to get back on my regimen of daily practice.  Not a lot, just 30 or so minutes…with a timer!  I pulled out the Clarke Technical Studies book, my Vassily Brandt Etudes for Trumpet and an old cornet solo and decided to get to it. Beginning with a few long tones and a few lip slurs, I began to do one complete series of the Clarke Technical Studies along the accompanying etude daily, then review the previous etudes, daily, and then work on one of the Brandt etudes.  Then I spend some special time with the cornet solo and call it a session. What has been amazing is not that I have enjoyed playing my horn again, but the benefits from clearer thought afterwards.  The breathing exercises and mental stimulation have improved my thinking and my ability to problem solve.  It has been transforming.So if your horn is sitting somewhere and you haven’t touched it in a while, pick it up and give it a go.  Give it a couple of weeks and see what happens.  You will be amazed. 

Visit VanderCook

Since 1909, VanderCook College of Music has been preparing people to make a difference in peoples’ lives through music education.

I am proud to be the president of this fine college and I invite you to become more familiar with what we do. What makes VanderCook special is our people: our students, our faculty, our staff, our alumni, and our thoroughly practical course of study and array of continuing education and outreach programs we offer. If you want to make a difference, visit VanderCook College of Music!

Making a difference!

As teachers, we will have the opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life if we can offer them three things:

1. INFORMATION
2. INSPIRATION
3. AFFIRMATION

The next time you enter a classroom, think about the decide how you are going to make a difference in your students’ lives today!

Good Luck!

Charlie Menghini