Music In My Mother's House
A Workshop in Creating Family and Community Music

One of my strongest memories from childhood was the way families and neighbors would gather after supper in the backyard, parlor or on the front porch. Together we would sing and play the songs of the day. It always felt so good to sing and laugh together. At the age of five, I saw my first TV set at a friends house. It fascinated me so. I ran all the way home to my Grandmother's house. Excitedly, I told her of my great discovery and begged her, "Grandma, Grandma let's get a TV" 
She said, "NO!!! I fear if you watch to much Television you will loose the ability to think for yourself, get a warped perspective of people and want things you don’t need and aren’t good for you. You might just turn into a vegetable. Better you spend your time singing and talking with real people. It's healthier for you" 
I retorted, "Grandma that's silly, kids don't turn into vegetables!" 

Well Grandma was right after all. Now fifty years later, I find our communities full of couch potatoes…a vegetable…Yes?
Our world is to fast and angry. Our people lonely and in real need of coming together. We are separated from each other by our home entertainment systems, TVs, VCRs and now the Internet. Often we don't know our neighbors and if we do, we don't interact on a regular basis.
My Grandmother's wisdom was perhaps the most profound gift of my life. To this day, I love to sing and share stories with people of all ages and backgrounds. We’ll explore the wonders of home made music. We’ll sing old songs and learn new ones. We might makeup a song or two. We’ll play a variety of instruments including Boom Whackers, flutes, drums, shakers, and stringed instruments.
Experience not required. Enthusiasm and a love of life is all one needs. Kids have plenty of both...