The rallies and demonstrations on Thursday in behalf of public education came at the right time. This is the point in the year when teacher and student moods often reflect the gray weather -- thank goodness the sun came out today! We all feel as if we've been in the classroom for months and months and months (we have), but the end is not close. As an arts provider that is both in the class room teaching and also an observer of public education, I see and feel the pain.
Burn out. Students say they're bored, teachers say they're tired. It's common knowledge that teachers often leave a school after teaching for five years, and sometimes leave the field altogether after a few years. Why? Teaching is completely consuming: for some, it feels as if it takes every ounce of energy you have. And it's not just the actual hours spent teaching students or preparing lessons. It's calling the parents, grading, keeping up with the latest online charts, going to countless meetings, mentoring, student club advisor, senior project advisor, buying supplies out of pocket, etc.
So when bad things happen, like the recent round of thefts at a school, or students are fractious, we teachers are pushed over, beyond, under and around the edge. I spoke with one wonderful teacher who is leaving to explore the world of Not-Teaching. In fact, teaching is ruining her health. And when more money is spent on prisons than on education, when teachers are blamed for everything from poor test scores to student stealing, when chairs in classrooms have seats too torn and jagged to sit on, when parents threaten teachers for their child's bad grade, teaching looks indeed like a bad deal. Especially in winter.
But in the spring, when we can see the last day of school coming and students are starting to demonstrate that they've learned, teaching may once again look like the Noble Profession it really is and should be. In some countries people stand up when a teacher enters the room and the arts are considered essential to life! Can we just shift our own country's priorities and money back to the arts and to education? Perhaps then we'll see less winter burn out and fewer great teachers leaving the students they really love, to do something else.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Mutuality
Okay, so I've talked before about Opera Piccola's interactive folk tales for multigenerational audiences, and how amazing those experiences are for us actors. This past Friday we performed our African tale, "The Stolen Aroma," for two different Oakland groups: a school for troubled children and a family homeless shelter. This is a show created for our company, with text by Oakland's own Beverly Jarrett and jazz composer Wes Riley.
There's no way to tell who had more fun-- Gift Harris and I (the performers) or the fifteen children who played the roles of the Cooks and the Elders. You might expect that children needing a special school, or homeless children, might not be the best choice to improvise complex audience volunteer roles without any preparation other than, "help the puppy," or "do what Imo says."
Wrong!
Both groups of 4 to 8 year old volunteers were the best that I can remember -- and we've done over a hundred performances of this piece. The children zapped totally into being their charcters at once, and stayed there (some continued enacting multiple characters from the story afterwards while we were packing up; one 8 year old Cook suddenly talking to me in a perfect African accent that he had not had before the show). It's hard to describe the thrill of playing a scene with a child who stuns me with some new angle to the story with his/her improvisation.
"Don't go over there, I'm warning you," said one 6 year old Elder wisely to my character (Slough Dog). "Yes, I've been lost in the desert, and I was soooo scared," sympathized another Elder when asked. "No, you can't share the food," said one loyal 5 year old Cook, determined to be Employee of the Year to the rich, greedy Imo. "Even though Imo isn't coming back? I haven't had anything to eat in five days!" "Well, okay, but just one piece."
Adult actors study for years to achieve this magical melding of self and character in order to be faithful to a powerful story. Actor's Workshop, you should have been there at the group home and the shelter on Friday. I left floating on a cloud. "The children loved it," the Case Manager said as we left. They weren't the only ones.
There's no way to tell who had more fun-- Gift Harris and I (the performers) or the fifteen children who played the roles of the Cooks and the Elders. You might expect that children needing a special school, or homeless children, might not be the best choice to improvise complex audience volunteer roles without any preparation other than, "help the puppy," or "do what Imo says."
Wrong!
Both groups of 4 to 8 year old volunteers were the best that I can remember -- and we've done over a hundred performances of this piece. The children zapped totally into being their charcters at once, and stayed there (some continued enacting multiple characters from the story afterwards while we were packing up; one 8 year old Cook suddenly talking to me in a perfect African accent that he had not had before the show). It's hard to describe the thrill of playing a scene with a child who stuns me with some new angle to the story with his/her improvisation.
"Don't go over there, I'm warning you," said one 6 year old Elder wisely to my character (Slough Dog). "Yes, I've been lost in the desert, and I was soooo scared," sympathized another Elder when asked. "No, you can't share the food," said one loyal 5 year old Cook, determined to be Employee of the Year to the rich, greedy Imo. "Even though Imo isn't coming back? I haven't had anything to eat in five days!" "Well, okay, but just one piece."
Adult actors study for years to achieve this magical melding of self and character in order to be faithful to a powerful story. Actor's Workshop, you should have been there at the group home and the shelter on Friday. I left floating on a cloud. "The children loved it," the Case Manager said as we left. They weren't the only ones.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Black History Month
At Oakland Technical High School, where I teach Chorus and Drama through Opera Piccola, we had an amazing Black History assembly on Friday. This whole month in classes so many things have connected to this theme-- even when not initially planned to do so. Setting aside a whole month gives expanded space, opportunity and time.
I asked students of all ethnicities in my classes (African American, Chinese, Filipino, White, Latino) to say what Black History Month means to them. They all agreed. "It's about struggle and overcoming. ... thinking about our ancestors and the heroes who went before us...... to stop racism and hatred...... to try our best now because of what they did."
Music Teacher David Byrd: "What I love is that we accept as part of us anyone who has experienced oppression. I want people to know there are Black people all over the world--India, Middle East, Asia, Europe, Cuba, everywhere-- so I have students learn Brazilian jazz this month."
I asked students of all ethnicities in my classes (African American, Chinese, Filipino, White, Latino) to say what Black History Month means to them. They all agreed. "It's about struggle and overcoming. ... thinking about our ancestors and the heroes who went before us...... to stop racism and hatred...... to try our best now because of what they did."
Music Teacher David Byrd: "What I love is that we accept as part of us anyone who has experienced oppression. I want people to know there are Black people all over the world--India, Middle East, Asia, Europe, Cuba, everywhere-- so I have students learn Brazilian jazz this month."
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Valentine's Daze
I asked high school students (random sampling) how they liked Valentine' s Day. About half said, "it's cool, a chance to tell someone you love them." Another almost half said they hated it. "It hurts when you're alone." "Your girlfriend gets mad if you don't get her a bunch of stuff." There appears to be some pressure or else excitement about purchasing stuff. Good for the economy, good for love?
An older woman shared, "I just broke up with myboyfriend of many years. This happy happy talk is painful."
As I 've been reading about women's rights and feminism this week, a thought stands out. Valentine's establishes women as the princesses who must receive the flowers, candy, jewels from men -- or ... Like the wedding ceremony in which the father "gives away" the bride in marriage, the princess image is disappearing along with other historically patriarchal customs.
Or is it? Disney rakes in cash with ices shows attended by happy young girls in their princess costumes. At a recent Opera Piccola performance, when I asked for volunteers from the audience to help with our show, a little girl said excitedly, "Yes, I'll be the Princess."! Our Mayan folk tale only has costumes for frogs, trees, clouds and wind.
An older woman shared, "I just broke up with myboyfriend of many years. This happy happy talk is painful."
As I 've been reading about women's rights and feminism this week, a thought stands out. Valentine's establishes women as the princesses who must receive the flowers, candy, jewels from men -- or ... Like the wedding ceremony in which the father "gives away" the bride in marriage, the princess image is disappearing along with other historically patriarchal customs.
Or is it? Disney rakes in cash with ices shows attended by happy young girls in their princess costumes. At a recent Opera Piccola performance, when I asked for volunteers from the audience to help with our show, a little girl said excitedly, "Yes, I'll be the Princess."! Our Mayan folk tale only has costumes for frogs, trees, clouds and wind.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Glee
"I just loved it so much I have to give every one of you a hug." At Grand Lake Gardens Retirement home.
At AgeSong, for Alzheimer's patients: "Did you see? Stanley said for the whole concert and enjoyed it! He doesn't sit still more than five minutes usually and he's always unhappy."
And, "We don't get serenaded like this very often."
"Can I dance? Your singing gives me- pep!" And: "This was wonderful. I'd like to write a letter to support the program. Who should I write to?" At Piedmont Gardens Retirement home.
Opera Piccola's small chorus at Oakland Tech High -- three young men and ten young women from ninth through 12 grades-- comes sleepily to practice once a week at 7:30 AM. By the time our fifty minutes of vocal technique and learning music is over, we're all feeling pretty good about the day ahead of us. We have to relax, breathe deeply and listen to all the pitches that hang in the air around us. Studies have shown the value of music performance on brains and bodies and emotions, but whatever the science of it, it's true. An interesting thing is that a singer doesn't really get to enjoy hearing his/her own voices while s/he is singing, because it sounds different inside the head from what the "audience" hears. It's better to be in the present, and let go the product.
Singing for the senior citizens yesterday, some of whom were quite ill with dementia, gave us the good feeling of the act of singing but also the good feeling of giving. Especially since our society regards seniors as people who've "lived their lives and had their chance," so we don't really need to pay attention to them. Their listening gave back to us and what a joy it was.
At AgeSong, for Alzheimer's patients: "Did you see? Stanley said for the whole concert and enjoyed it! He doesn't sit still more than five minutes usually and he's always unhappy."
And, "We don't get serenaded like this very often."
"Can I dance? Your singing gives me- pep!" And: "This was wonderful. I'd like to write a letter to support the program. Who should I write to?" At Piedmont Gardens Retirement home.
Opera Piccola's small chorus at Oakland Tech High -- three young men and ten young women from ninth through 12 grades-- comes sleepily to practice once a week at 7:30 AM. By the time our fifty minutes of vocal technique and learning music is over, we're all feeling pretty good about the day ahead of us. We have to relax, breathe deeply and listen to all the pitches that hang in the air around us. Studies have shown the value of music performance on brains and bodies and emotions, but whatever the science of it, it's true. An interesting thing is that a singer doesn't really get to enjoy hearing his/her own voices while s/he is singing, because it sounds different inside the head from what the "audience" hears. It's better to be in the present, and let go the product.
Singing for the senior citizens yesterday, some of whom were quite ill with dementia, gave us the good feeling of the act of singing but also the good feeling of giving. Especially since our society regards seniors as people who've "lived their lives and had their chance," so we don't really need to pay attention to them. Their listening gave back to us and what a joy it was.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Is Feminism still alive?
February starts tomorrow. Happy Super Bowl Sunday and Happy Valentine's. On Feb. 14th , 4-6 pm, we're celebrating Leap Year and Valentine's Day at Opera Piccola by asking the question, is feminism alive-- or dead? Leap Year comes in years that are divisible by 4, so we aren't there yet. The myth says that women may ask men to marry them on Feb. 29th. Is this unusual because women weren't permitted be the ones asking? Is marriage an anti-feminist institution?
It's great that artists have an excuse to think about big and little questions like these. Of course there are a million other subjects it might be better to think about in February. But our Second Sundays event happens to fall on Valentine's. It's a chance to stop and think about women's rights and our role(s) as lovers, mothers, daughters, workers, etc etc. Gives me a chance to ask my female students what they think. After all, the high school skirt lengths are way above the knees, some shirts are transparent and as the weather warms up, short short short shorts seem to suggest .. Liberated or sex objects? Pehaps there is no need for feminism in the U.S. because we've achieved our goals. We've certainly come very far since the era in which the TV drama, Mad Men, takes place. I was surprised at the bit of history in that show, in which it was assumed that secretaries were supposed to have sex with their bosses and other men on the job. We are protected now by sexual harrassment laws, right?
We're starting off the discussion on the 14th by reading excerpts from Shahrnush Parsipur's play, set in Iran in the 1950's, "Women without Men." There are still places where beating wives is thought to be normal and necessary, and worse. We're also reading some of a feminist play by Lydia Sargent: "I dreamed I saw My Death in Vogue Magazine."
The current lawsuit on Prop 8 raises other issues around gender, marriage, rights, love, parenting. February 14th, before you go out with your sweetheart, let's talk. Bring a poem, or a song. Is there still room for people to meet and talk, live?
Find out more at www.opera-piccola.org
It's great that artists have an excuse to think about big and little questions like these. Of course there are a million other subjects it might be better to think about in February. But our Second Sundays event happens to fall on Valentine's. It's a chance to stop and think about women's rights and our role(s) as lovers, mothers, daughters, workers, etc etc. Gives me a chance to ask my female students what they think. After all, the high school skirt lengths are way above the knees, some shirts are transparent and as the weather warms up, short short short shorts seem to suggest .. Liberated or sex objects? Pehaps there is no need for feminism in the U.S. because we've achieved our goals. We've certainly come very far since the era in which the TV drama, Mad Men, takes place. I was surprised at the bit of history in that show, in which it was assumed that secretaries were supposed to have sex with their bosses and other men on the job. We are protected now by sexual harrassment laws, right?
We're starting off the discussion on the 14th by reading excerpts from Shahrnush Parsipur's play, set in Iran in the 1950's, "Women without Men." There are still places where beating wives is thought to be normal and necessary, and worse. We're also reading some of a feminist play by Lydia Sargent: "I dreamed I saw My Death in Vogue Magazine."
The current lawsuit on Prop 8 raises other issues around gender, marriage, rights, love, parenting. February 14th, before you go out with your sweetheart, let's talk. Bring a poem, or a song. Is there still room for people to meet and talk, live?
Find out more at www.opera-piccola.org
Sunday, January 24, 2010
January
Small balls of ice are falling from the sky. They cover the high school football field in a white layer. I sit in the car in the school parking lot, huddled against the cold, unable to see through the windows more than a few yards. Suddenly young men and women run yelling, calling, past me. No jackets, racing through the sleet. They scream joyfully, slipping and sliding across the field on the ice. Throwing ice balls. The heavy wetness pours on them. Escaped from the warm class rooms into the frigid wetness. What happiness. If only first semester final exams and SAT exams didn't interrupt January pleasure.
Government grant proposals. 8 copies of each page on hole punched paper, thank you, trees and forests. Double spaced. 3,498 characters, no more! Incomplete proposals will not be considered. Proposals submitted after 3, 4, 5 will not be considered. Provide SASE if you want your work samples returned. Online submissions only. Drop off submissions only. Postmark deadline only. No coffee stains, please.
Why isn't this student attending school? Oh, didn't you know? He transferred out to a program in cosmetology. She transferred out for emotional reasons; her brother was shot and killed. Oh, his father wants him to attend a continuation school so that he can graduate faster. Oh, she moved away from home and we don't know where she is. Oh. Oh. Oh. "But it's only a few weeks just to finish the semester. Can't she / he just finish up the semester and get it completed?" "I guess not...i couldn't reach him/her to get all the facts...."
Ms. Susannah, remember me from last year? When are you coming to our class? umm.. not sure (the funding?).... Ms Susannah, can you come and help me with my day care job at.. Ms Susannah, we need a youth development program here, but our funding is almost non existent... Susannah, let me know how much that performance pays. I have to figure out if I can take off my job that day to perform... . Susannah, I hear you know this student really well, she's failing Spanish and not showing up, can you talk to her? Grades are due, please read the following information guide on how to add up students' points. Susannah, can you do another free performance for us in February? March? April? May? June? Susannah, can you have coffee next week to talk about providing a workshop for us-- sorry our funding got cut. Susannah, can you produce my play, it's great!? Susannah, sorry I can't work with Opera Piccola, I have to take a full time job..
January. Non profit arts.
Government grant proposals. 8 copies of each page on hole punched paper, thank you, trees and forests. Double spaced. 3,498 characters, no more! Incomplete proposals will not be considered. Proposals submitted after 3, 4, 5 will not be considered. Provide SASE if you want your work samples returned. Online submissions only. Drop off submissions only. Postmark deadline only. No coffee stains, please.
Why isn't this student attending school? Oh, didn't you know? He transferred out to a program in cosmetology. She transferred out for emotional reasons; her brother was shot and killed. Oh, his father wants him to attend a continuation school so that he can graduate faster. Oh, she moved away from home and we don't know where she is. Oh. Oh. Oh. "But it's only a few weeks just to finish the semester. Can't she / he just finish up the semester and get it completed?" "I guess not...i couldn't reach him/her to get all the facts...."
Ms. Susannah, remember me from last year? When are you coming to our class? umm.. not sure (the funding?).... Ms Susannah, can you come and help me with my day care job at.. Ms Susannah, we need a youth development program here, but our funding is almost non existent... Susannah, let me know how much that performance pays. I have to figure out if I can take off my job that day to perform... . Susannah, I hear you know this student really well, she's failing Spanish and not showing up, can you talk to her? Grades are due, please read the following information guide on how to add up students' points. Susannah, can you do another free performance for us in February? March? April? May? June? Susannah, can you have coffee next week to talk about providing a workshop for us-- sorry our funding got cut. Susannah, can you produce my play, it's great!? Susannah, sorry I can't work with Opera Piccola, I have to take a full time job..
January. Non profit arts.
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