Lucky to Be Me (8/28)

The day flowed along like the previous three— a perfect effervescent bubbling blend of delights, a joy cocktail far more intoxicating than mere liquor. Near the end was a moving—physically and emotionally—improvisation based on mirroring and shadowing. For the first time, I used two pieces from my Boom Chick a Boom CD and was impressed by the artistry of the two tracks (Misterioso and Motherless Child), including my own surprising coherent piano improvisations. All of it made more pleasing by the beautiful movements responding to the musical impulses. 

 

At the end, all sat down and I told the story of The Month Brothers, an old folk tale I’ve done several times as a school play and thought could be interesting to try here in a place with distinct seasons and poets who praise them. At the end, I gave all a lighthearted “Class dismissed!” and noticed that no one was moving. One went to the piano, one got out a violin and someone shut the lights out. The group began singing a song while my host rolled in a big cake. They decided to celebrate my 50 years of teaching, in a loving gesture of appreciation. I was stunned and needless to say, deeply moved. 

 

After the song, I began cutting the cake to pass out— no small task!— and a background jazz piece came over the speakers with a saxophone playing a familiar melody. Then I figured it out— it was Leonard Bernstein’s song “Lucky to Be Me.” At that moment, there couldn’t have been a more perfect choice for a song.