Category: Uncategorized

Resolutions

This is the time of year to dream big. I think we’ve grown collectively weary of the new year’s resolution cliché. I have often scoffed at the notion that the flipping of a calendar date can prompt a new lease on life’s dreams and aspirations, or even change behavior patterns in the short term. It is however, possible and even likely that at this time of perceived renewal and opportunity, we can reflect on our hopes and goals. Taking steps toward those goals through persistent, dedicated action is the hard part, and the challenge of any new year’s resolution. I invite you to join me in dreaming big and then following those dreams one small, resolute step at a time.

Namaste,

Justin

My dream life in five years includes:

• children

• teaching yoga and voice out of a home studio

• publishing a book, some articles, or other written words outside of this blog

• world travel

• to be debt free

I think the first two are totally possible in that time frame. The third should be, but will require much more of the dedication of which I so blithely wrote. The latter two are financial and not as important in the grand scheme of things, but hey, we’re dreaming here right? :-)

20120115-002927.jpgAnd speaking of Resolutions, Clerestory has a concert coming up by that very name! You have several opportunities to hear the program live, or as always on our website after the concerts. We’ll be taking it on tour to Madison, WI next month for the North Central ACDA convention. An exciting start to the year!

Thankful

Surely it’s not been since September 22 that I wrote anything here?!

In an attempt to bring new content to the site and collect my thoughts around Thanksgiving for posterity, here’s a short list of things for which I’m thankful.  Please feel free to share your reactions or your own thanks in the comments. Let’s create a cornucopia of gratitude!

1. My Family – We have several visitors this week who will warm our home and fill our table.  This weekend, the extended SF ‘family’ had a traditional (and now several-years-habitual) sit-down dinner, complete with the newest addition to our group. And yes, for my family in the mountains and Midwest, I miss and am grateful for you. Loved ones are the mirrors in which we mark the changes in ourselves and the passage of our lives and times.  They are our friends, our confidants, our playmates, our moral compasses, our teachers, our lovers, and our living history.

2. Food and Shelter – Joe and I constantly marvel that, while we’re not rich by any standard in this country, we are constantly well-fed, clothed, entertained, with a roof over our heads and comforts that abound. In fact, we got rid of cable this year because we were watching too much television, and I frequently lament the tightening fit of my clothing with shows how I have too much to eat. Let me never forget that this is not the case for the vast majority of the people in the world, and let me remember to share my abundance with them as best I can.

3. Students – You provide my livelihood, yes, but you also teach me, improve my own singing and yoga by inspiring me to practice or showing me new paths by your examples. I have many friends among you, and all of you hold a special place in my heart.  Keep practicing!

4. Music – This year, I have reconnected to singing in a profound way, both by renewed interest and progress in my own vocal practice, and by accepting more opportunities to sing for money, fun, or both.  I have also enjoyed listening to so much music this year, both live and recorded, and think it’s been an especially fertile year artistically for the entire diverse musical world.  I hope we continue to enjoy that abundance in the future.

5. Technology – Those who know me well (or even a very little!) will understand why this makes my short list.  Products by a company I won’t advertise for by mentioning here make my life so much easier, richer, and more interesting. Advances in web hosting and website creation have allowed me to create several websites for myself, my groups, and my friends this year. Music and yoga alike have been shared, discussed, promoted, and expanded through social media. And access to the riches of knowledge, art, entertainment, and discourse continues its increasingly rapid march toward democratization and universality. I hope this continues and that we personally and societally prioritize the sharing of technology among all people.

And now my longer list of things that need less explanation:

6. Green things

7. Coffee

8. hulu

9. Furry friends

11. San Francisco

12. Vibrams

14. Travel

15. The ability to read

16. Henry Purcell

17. Benjamin Britten

18. Composers

19. Clerestory

20. Trikonasana

21. Broccoli

22. Shazam

23. Sunglasses

24. Candles

- – this list is neither exhaustive, nor is it in order of importance, so i’ll finish with…

25. My sweet husband Joe.

Home Practice

Last week, I was in my studio at the Girls Chorus practicing singing like mad, despite my cough and sniffles.  It was great–tons of music seeped into my brain, and I hope it will spring from my cords when the time comes.

This week, not so much singing has been sung.  Instead, I’ve felt inspired (perhaps by the summery warmth we’ve had) to move and be active.  In addition to ending a long absence from running, I’ve realized I actually need to practice yoga rather than just teach it.  Heh.  To that end, I’ve been on my mat four days running and plan to keep it up indefinitely.  These are not 90 minute, studio-style sessions, but rather the amount and type of asana that fit into my schedule and my energy at the time.  Perfection.

Tools and tips for home practice:

1. Do it as soon in the day as you are able; if the inspiration strikes and the will is there, don’t squander it.  Delay too often becomes permanent.

2. Set manageable expectations.  If you don’t have time for an hour, don’t be attached to that unrealistic timeframe, but rather embrace a practice that fits the time you have.  Baby steps. :)

Jason Crandell class on YogaGlo3. Use technology.  There are myriad modern means (alliteration–whee!) of accessing great yoga guidance outside a studio–often cheaply or for free.  Today, I did a 60-minute vinyasa class focused on shoulder and hip opening taught by one of my favorite teachers, Jason Crandell.  He, and many other excellent teachers, has a whole series of different practice videos available on YogaGlo.  They have a 15 day free trial, and after that it’s $18/mo for unlimited access.  I can’t recommend this site enough, but there are many others, as well as podcasts, DVDs, audio playlists, etc.  Get to streaming/downloading and practice happily!

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Inspiration

Just got back from a couple days at the rustic and lovely Walker Creek Ranch outside Petaluma. I was returning for the third time to teach voice lessons at the Piedmont Children’s Choirs’ summer camp. Again, I was energized and inspired by these talented young people. They were uniformly well prepared, respectful, engaged and able to concentrate, and sincerely in love with music. It lifted my soul to be around so much promise and art, especially given the bad news on several fronts in our world. It was truly a restorational and inspirational escape.

The Piedmont kids join the San Francisco Choral Society for performances of Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the end of this month – details here:

http://sfchoral.org/index.html?-session=choir:A6CD882D13c7323677LHmr6992E2

Help a brother out

Y’all may or my know that I love Matt Alber (fellow Chanticleer alumnus) and his beautiful, heartfelt songs.  He’s ingeniously decided to help fund the self-production of his upcoming album by doing a presale.  You have a couple options for purchase and get to preview two of the tracks and a very charming video featuring his BF and sweet dad.

Hope you enjoy!

Pre-Order Matt’s New Album.

Here we go

Well, I’m taking the leap. Word on the street is that Apple has, quite regrettably, discontinued iWeb–-a program I used for no fewer than four of my websites. Aargh. After receiving many great recommendations and playing around for a while with the top contenders, I’ve decided to give WordPress a go for a while. I like that it’s so customizable and easy to update from anywhere, but still offers a little bit of help with theme and design. I will miss iWeb’s drag and drop simplicity though…sigh.

Goals for my new WordPress site:
• Use the blog-style format to the max; post often and consistently
• Keep it simple; use the limitations of the site as a tool for streamlining my web work
• Increase the attractiveness and accessibility of my site for my readers
• GET MORE READERS

Please use the comment feature liberally, ye few who have found your way here. I’d love to adapt the site/blog to your needs and wishes. Help me be better.
Other than that, please consider this your Bay Area home for mixing singing and yoga, and living your song!
Namaste,

Justin