What is your Favorite Song that gives you Energy?
I don’t believe in coincidence!
I learned this over 10 years ago after having a deep conversation with a friend and mentor that I really trust and admire.
I share this because as I was thinking about what the blog prompt would be today, I was listening to a recent, original piano piece that my son, Jason has written. No coincidence that this is our prompt today!
Jason is 26 and moved to Florida almost 3 years ago. He has a great position as an Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Manager with an International non-profit and is very successful in that work. However he is also a gifted musician and plays the tuba and piano. He also composes his own pieces.
I miss Jason, who was my regular “coffee buddy” when he was here in So Cal, but we stay as connected as possible via Face Time! One of the other ways we stay connected is through his music. He frequently shares compositions he’s working on with me and asks for my thoughts and feedback. I treasure that and that he feels that my opinion matters.
One of the recent pieces he’s shared with me, although introspective, always energizes my day. It’s entitled Time will Pass and I’m sharing it with all of you today.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/53409189″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
I believe that one of the reasons this piece, that’s still in draft form, gives me energy, is that I feel so deeply connected to Jason, as his Mom, when I listen to it. For the brief time that I stop what I’m doing, listen to the piece, hear his passion and fingers on the key board, I somehow feel that he’s not quite so far away.
Music has always been a very important part of my life and daily work. I’m a trained classical singer, and also love to sing hard rock ballads! As a teacher I used music daily with my students. As a principal, I shared it often with all my staff, students and community. Now in my work as an educational consultant and blogger, I find that without my classical works or favorite rock ballads playing in the background, I wouldn’t be able to get stuff done. Interesting, right? Are you also one who uses music to sustain you in your work as an educator? Does it fuel your passion?
Music will always fuel my energy and passion, but even more so when it comes directly from someone you love.
I’m excited to be joining the BlogHer January Blogging series, a series of blog prompts that bloggers agree to write about each day. The blogosphere is going to be active with the hashtag #NaBloPoMo and I have made the commitment to post daily for the month of January, so wish me luck! While participating, I hope to push myself to be creative and grow in my ability to be a better blogger. It would be great for you to participate with me by commenting on my post with your own take on the topic. (Weekends are free write days!)
Thank you for stopping by!
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LISA DABBS
Wife. Mom. Educator. Author. She started her career as an elementary school teacher in Southern California. In this role as teacher, she assisted with a grant project and became the Project Director of a Language and Literacy program. Read more
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you so much for sharing your son’s music!! It’s impossible not to sense a bit of who he is by listening to his composition. I too have a son on the other side of the country in Florida (I’m in NY), and am an educator. Since my website is http://www.heartsforteaching.com, when I saw you on Twitter, I had to come for a visit!! So glad to meet you!!!
with love,
Laurie
PS I listen to the soundtrack of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to get motivated and energized!!
Laurie, what a beautiful comment. I appreciate you stopping by to read and comment. So great to connect with you as well! I will be sure to stop by your site, today! Cheers!
Lisa, your son’s piano piece is beautiful and I love how you say it helps you feel that he’s not too far away. I always have music going through Pandora or Spotify and I even have a record player. I think my kids know more ’80s music than current pop hits!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I agree…music is my go to for all work and play, daily!
Hi Lisa, discovered your blog through twitter, and enjoyed this post on music and energy, and the rich intensity in the middle of Jason’s piece leading to a gentle ending. Our 13yo daughter composes as well, and I heard her working through some complex emotions from the day by composing at the piano last night before going to bed. It seems music allows us to connect directly with one another’s souls and feel beyond words alone…. I’ll pass your site on to my sister who’s a teacher in southern California where we grew up. Look forward to connecting further!
Dr. Ben! How kind of you to stop by to read and comment. Yes…so lovely to hear you enjoyed Jason’s piece that’s in progress. I think it’s a great thing that your daughter is playing and composing. I used to play as young girl as well and gave it up to dance and sing instead. Jason did and does the same thing your daughter does, even now as an adult. Her ability to do that with composing and emotional release is so healthy!
Please do share with your sister and I look forward to connecting with both of you. 🙂
This is beautiful. Music and sound in general is a healing, inspirational and more importantly in our 24/7 world a calming tool to take stress down a notch. loved this @judymartin8
Lisa, the piano piece is lovely. I enjoyed how it begins slowly, then speeds up, then slows down again. To me, this is a comment on life, since the piece is called Time Will Pass: when I was a child, time went slowly and now that I am middle-aged, it is going quickly. The end of the song may imply that one is slowing down physically in old age but there is no negativity or fear of one’s mortality suggested in the song. This is just my reading of the song, of course.
Music is incredibly important and brings me much happiness. I love many different genres and I can easily do work and other mind-stimulating activities (e.g., reading) with music in the background. One might even catch me dancing in the kitchen while I prepare a meal to music. It was a bad idea once when I sliced open my finger while cutting carrots. Don’t worry. I didn’t serve them.
Randy, how kind of you to stop by read and leave a comment. I agree that Jason’s piece, although still a “draft” evokes many emotions when listening.
I like your take on the passing of time…very heartfelt but joyous too! I emailed your comment to Jason as I know he will be so pleased to see how his composition is touching people’s hearts. That’s what it’s all about, right? Cheers!
My pleasure.
Lisa,
I really enjoyed listening to this piece composed by your son. I can understand why it gives you energy! Normally, I find music of any type very distracting when I work. But I enjoyed taking a few moments to listen to this composition as I love piano music like this. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you so much, Sandra for your comment love!