PEN AND INK
Posted on: July 19, 2009
Cool Characters Follow Their Bliss!
Posted on: June 11, 2009
The Kids for Coltrane class learning about celebrating the uniqueness in human beings with a picture of jazz legend John Coltrane in the background…On June 19th they will perform an original play that is based on the qualities of good character …and sing an original song in honor of President Obama entitled The Dream.
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The Kids for Coltrane Club learning the West Coast Swing from dance teacher Michael Pagan. On June 19th they will dance and sing…One of the songs they sing are original lyrics to Coltrane’s Equinox. We call it Hamlet’s Child in honor of the legend. Every Friday our club met after school to dance and sing….and just have a great time!!
Who is Benny Goodman? This question was answered beautifully by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on June 6th. I was honored to be invited to this uplifting concert . The orchestra played Bugle Call Rag, King Porter Stomp, Let’s Dance, Moonglow, and my favorite Sing, Sing , Sing. Victor Goines enlightened the children and parents in the audience all about the world of Benny Goodman.
The orchestra was incredible. The audience got up and danced… and shouted out their feelings…something that I had suggested during the teacher’s professional development with Sherman Irby last month…How cool is that! It was also great to see Sherman on stage with the rest of the guys doing what they do best…making sweet music. JALC’s Samantha Samuels did a fabulous job on this project and she has a really cute baby girl who seemed to truly love the music. Along with the marvelous music, we were treated to Swing dancing from the American Ballroom Theater Youth Dance Company. When the show was over the audience jumped up and gave the artists a standing ovation! Who is Benny Goodman? The answer was clear …a virtuoso who brought joy to the world and made people dance, dance, dance.
Here I am with the talented audio engineers at JALC who made sure each and every sound was crystal clear. Thanks Cynthia Hawkins and David Robinson for taking time out to chat with me and my daughter Victoria. It was also exciting to be invited back stage to say hi to the artists. We had a great time and can’t wait for the next Jazz for Young People Concert.
Teaching About The King of Swing
Posted on: May 21, 2009
During the lovely month of May, I had the sincere pleasure of leading a “play-shop” on Benny Goodman along with Sherman Irby lead alto saxophonist with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. This event took place after school and was designed to prepare teachers for the upcoming concerts honoring Benny Goodman. These fabulous teachers will be bringing their students to Jazz at Lincoln Center during the month of June. We had a great time exploring the Swing era and its impact on America and the rest of the world.
Sherman Irby preparing for our seminar on Benny Goodman with a print of Romare Bearden’s Jammin at the Savoy, along with a Smithsonian Institute commemorative poster, and vibrant artwork from my Holliswood School Kids for Coltrane class in the background.~ Sherman collaborating with you was an honor and a lot of fun!
New York teachers playing King Porter’s Stomp under the direction of Sherman Irby. Photos by yours truly…What a great group of teachers having a memorable time improvising…the discussion was very illuminating and thought provoking. I also must thank Samantha Samuels and Joanna Massey from the education department at JALC…~Ladies you are part of such an incredible team and so very supportive.
Edutopia
Posted on: April 17, 2009
What’s your resolution for the new school year?
Sage Advice: Teaching to a Diversity of Abilities
How do you address the multiple intelligences in your classroom?
Inside the Teacher’s Classroom
Posted on: April 17, 2009
Hello Friends,
C.O.A.C.H. Inside the Teacher’s Classroom
Black Box Theatre
Performing Arts Center
Garden City Campus
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Join two alumni hosts from the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education,as they take us inside the journey they have traveled to become the educators they are today.
C.O.A.C.H. hosts are currently elementary and secondary level educators.
RSVP by April 17, 2009
Office of Alumni Relations
Phone: 516.877.3470
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Giant Steps and Kind of Blue, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City
Posted on: March 2, 2009
A beautiful evening honoring exquiste music and gifted musicians John Coltrane and Miles Davis…pic with board members from The Friends of the Coltrane Home…the lovely lady at the far right is Kathleen Coltrane, the wife of saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. It was thrilling to meet her. She is proud of The Kids for Coltrane and supports my work in education. Thank you Kathleen!
After the show, I was invited backstage to meet some of the incredible musicians who performed in honor of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Please see below. You can tell by everyone’s smiles that it was a joy to be part of this special and memorable event.
Backstage with Alto Saxophonist Sherman Irby, Singer Dave Thomas, Tenor and Soprano Saxophonist Walter Blanding, and Pianist Mulgrew Miller…and my daughter. I was also hoping to talk to the legend Jimmy Cobb who treated the audience to his powerful gift on the drums, but he had already left the building. I wanted to tell him all about The Kids for Coltrane.
The Jazz Foundation of America is Doing Angel Work for Musicians and Children
Posted on: March 2, 2009
Sonny Simmons talking to The Kids for Coltrane about the music in their lives.
Jazz legend Sonny Simmons performing for The Kids for Coltrane. “This is the best day of my life,” shouted one of students. I want to thank Wendy Oxenhorn and her team at The Jazz Foundation of America for bringing this gift of music to our students.
Joining Sonny Simmons was the Michael Marcus Quartet. The musicians came back the next day to perform for the school. The students certainly enjoyed this enriching experience.
JAZZ SYMPOSIUM NYC 2008
Posted on: March 2, 2009
A.B. Spellman (author, poet, critic) , Dr. David Baker (Jazz Master), and Dr. Billy Taylor (Jazz Master) speaking about the future of jazz. I was in the audience and found the discussion illuminating and emotional. As an audience member, I had the opportunity to speak at the end…and I spoke about the importance of raising the profile of jazz in America and honoring the brilliant musicians who gave us “America’s music.”
Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts inviting the guests to participate in a lively conversation on the future of jazz, jazz education, and jazz audiences.
Langston Hughes Auditorium Oct. 2008
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Boulevard
New York, NY
This symposium launched the 2009 NEA Jazz Masters celebration,
taking place in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Kids for Coltrane 