Tasty Soup

 

                         A tasty soup attracts people to itself.

 

This is an Ewe (Ghana/ Togo) proverb that suggests that good things require no advertisement— the delicious taste speaks for itself. I understand the sentiment— at the end of the day, when something is wholly authentic, tasty, nutritious, people will naturally be attracted to it. It’s a good metaphor that accounts for the line outside of the croissant place on Arguello Blvd.— they’re on to something uniquely delicious and the word spreads that this is the place to buy croissants. 

 

But at the beginning of the matter, people have to know where or when the soup (or croissant) is being served if they are to taste it. If the food is not good, no amount of slick advertising will make the restaurant popular. But a little is absolutely needed to get people there in the first place. And sometimes you might even need a little extra enticement to convince people who don’t think they like soup to try it. 

 

So it is with art. The first job of the artist is to create something authentic without intention to be rich and famous. But every artist whose name we know, be it author, musician, painter or dare I suggest, artistic educator, had to deal with the marketplace to get the work out there. The act of conception and growing the baby inside of oneself happens away from the glare of the lights and the trumpets, but once the work is born, it needs a way to get out into the world. If one is lucky, a promoter, publisher, agent, art gallery owner, will take notice and partner to draw attention to the work. But even then, it is the artist that has to attract their attention.

 

I’ve had modest success attracting people to my workshops, courses, books, podcast, movie, performances, CD’s, but in all cases, I’m the one doing most of the trumpet playing and my lips are getting sore! It’s a fulltime job and exhausting. With two milestones this year— 50 years of offering Saturday workshops at the SF School and my 75^th birthday— I'm thinking of honoring the occasions with a special workshop, a concert with my Pentatonics group and possibly a party/poetry reading. Yet how much better this would feel if someone else— my wife or kids, my colleagues James and Sofia, a group of the people who have attended many of those workshops in the last 50 years— conceived of and organized this all for me. (Hint, hint!) It’s a little weird to self-promote my tasty soup and makes me wonder if it really is as tasty as I think.

 

But after sending out an announcement about my new book, the date-to-be-arranged workshop, updates on other books, the podcast, summer courses, etc., to the 300 plus people on my workshop mailing list, I received a few comments. Lovely little reminders about the soups we shared in the past and how the recipes I offered continued to be served on other tables. A few samples:

 

Thank you for keeping me on your list and alerting me to all the good things that are happening in ORFF. I have been retired now 11 years, but in addition to that, unfortunately at age 88, I no longer participate in mobile activities as my body has its limited capacity. Still walking, but slowly. I enjoy imagining I could take any of your classes. I am still active in music.  Still playing my violin and Nyckelharpa for Scandinavian music and I’m very active in the jazz South Bay jazz Society. I do drum circle with seniors and have used many of your ideas. Good luck in what you do and thank you for all your influences. 

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Dear Doug

What a delight to hear from you. Reading through the many offerings made me smile and remember so many sweet moments at the workshops and teaching in the Orff style. As you and I once discussed at a workshop awhile back, it is a wonderful grandparenting skill to have with my young grandchildren, now that I'm retired. We have a ritual of undertaking a music parade using the unpitched percussion instruments I keep tucked away in their guest room closet for when I visit. We do it when Mama is away. She is not a big fan of a lot of noise so it is especially delightful to rev up the volume and tempo when I'm in charge. A bit of safe and joyful mischief. 

 

Thanks for keeping me informed about all you continue to do! Needed work!

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Hi Doug,

 

it is a pleasure to read up on all these wonderful news! Congratulations are in order, for sure, inspiring!

 

Though I exclusively teach adults, I draw from your teachings daily - the fun, the experimentation, the freedom of the pentatonics without “fish and bananas”, the embodiment, the listening, the rich history of jazz… it has all left a big mark on me. 

 

Also a dear memory for me is playing for your Mother and her cohorts at the retirement home. Sadly, they don’t do this sort of thing here in Nashville. I tried to put something together for a non-profit here, but Jazz and the Great American Song Book isn’t a thing here. They do sing-alongs mostly, of country tunes. (I live in Nashville since the pandemic).

 

All this just to say: congratulations and thank you for the continued inspiration. 

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Hey Doug!

 

It’s good to see and hear about all the good work YOU continue to do!  I’ve been so excited to see our newest Palo Alto team member, Jose, going to the workshops and even signing up for SF level 1.  He’s a great musician, open mind and heart—hoping he gets hooked like I did and takes all three levels!

 

I’m retiring this June and moving to Colorado to be nearer to some of our grandchildren. I am packing up all my best books (Now is the Time and Intery Mintery, Jame’s Wibbleton to Wobbleton, Sofia’s Blue is the Sea etc) and volunteering to do some Orff stuff at my grandkids elementary school where their dad is the vice principal and my ticket in the door! :) 

 

I want to acknowledge and thank you again for your mentoring and sharing your wisdom, talent and love of music over the many years.  Taking all those workshops at The San Francisco School and the levels courses with you, James (and Rick) and Sofia (and Paul) remains a highlight! I made wonderful memories and friends I will have for life as a result. 

 

So there you have it. As I suspected, the soup was tasty and the meal memorable for some. So back to the kitchen to make the next one and let’s see who I can entice to the table.