PWC's joint concert with GGMC

My women's choir has a reputation for singing difficult, challenging music from memory. Within the past 10 years, my choir has won 2 national awards for our crazy "adventurous" repertoire. The music that my choir sings is truly most appreciated by those who have seriously studied music, especially singers.

So when my choir, Peninsula Women's Chorus, performed a joint concert with the Golden Gate Men's Chorus, it was especially fun to hear them sing their own set. They had a gorgeous blending of voices, and I am constantly amazed when guys sing in falsetto and hit beautiful notes high in the soprano range. I loved everything, but Duo Seraphim (two angels) especially was lovely, since I knew the music.

We sang three joint choir pieces. The first was the somber Stravinsky mass, which apparently Stravinksy wrote because he thought the other masses written by composers like Mozart and others were self-indulgent in the musical writing and not true to the worship-purpose of a mass. This piece was difficult because often Stravinsky arranged his musical phrasing in a completely contrary manner to how one would actually say the Latin text. It's like patting one's head and rubbing stomach in contrary rhythms while walking. Counter intuitive.

I must admit at first I was skeptical about performing in a joint concert with only two months to learn the combined pieces. But because we actually used our music (usually we memorize everything) and made attempts to chat with the men of the other chorus, I felt that the concerts were a overall a collaborative success.

Postal Rates Rise, But a Stamp Can Be Forever

At a recent visit to the post office, I thought it odd when the lady at the counter asked me if I wanted 41 cent stamps to mail my letters, which only required 39 cents. Well, postal rates will increase on Monday, May 14, 2007. Good news is there is a Forever Stamp picturing a liberty bell. The post office says when you buy this 41 cent Forever Stamp, you can use it to mail all your first class one ounce letters forever, even when the postal rates rise, as they will inevitably do. Sounds like a deal. I'm definitely stocking up on Forever Stamps.

Concert Time

My choir's concerts are this weekend, Mother's Day weekend. The songs we are singing are quite diverse.

Meeting Molly Giles

Molly Giles was the April featured speaker for the South Bay Writers, for whom I will be speaking tonight! I'm in amazing company because Molly is not only a wonderful award-winning fiction writer, she is also Amy Tan's creative writing teacher and editor. Since meeting at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, Molly has worked on every single one of Amy Tan's books and published several stories and books of her own. Molly used to teach at San Francisco State, but now she is the head of the MFA department at the University of Arkansas.

After spending a 12 week writer's residency near the Aegean Sea, Molly returned to the Pacific Ocean to share her experiences. Her topic was critique groups, and much of what she said completely resonated with me, as both my groups are in major transition right now. She spoke about how her very first critique group was a "savage" group of hard-drinking, chain-smoking women writers who ruthlessly ripped apart each others' work. Of course, that was over 35 years ago, and writing has changed. Critiquing styles have changed. As I can tell from her tips, soft-spoken Molly's critique style has evolved to become extremely supportive over her 35 years as a writing teacher, during which she mentored Amy Tan and many other writers.

EJ's haiku highlights of Molly Giles' talk:

To be a writer,
put one word in front of
another.

When hearing critiques
keep your head down and your hand
writing. Be silent.

Worst response to hear--
"beautiful writing" meaning
"did not write story."

Best response to hear--
"This is the best work you have
written to date." Yay!

Most helpful response--
"I don't understand this ____"
Don't defend. Fix. Fill.

Why a critique group:
someone to look at my work,
deadlines to finish.

Why a MFA:
readers interested in the word,
deadlines to finish.

Root of "Amateur"
is not "professional," but
"amo" or "I love."

Rough Translations was Molly's first collection of short stories, and it won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, among many others. Her stories vary in style and topic, but each story is strong and compelling.

When I first started writing, I wanted to be like Amy Tan. When I started developing my own style, I wanted to be completely different from her. Now I don't mind being compared to Amy Tan (hopefully favorably) because I am confident my stories will eventually stand on their own. Now I also want to be like Molly Giles.

Before Molly spoke, the WritersTalk Challenge winners were announced, and my poem "nanowrimo-ing" won 2nd place! Non-rejection #5 for 2007. Woohoo!

30 Rejections Goal Update

I realize I have completely forgotten to blog about my journey to 30 rejections for this year. So henceforth, I will try to keep a tally on this blog.

When I decided to become serious about my writing, I had all these poems and stories written but nothing published. I knew I had to submit. To take the next step, I knew I had to deal with rejections because every writer receives rejections. Even accomplished, wildly successful published authors receive rejections.

Still, receiving rejection sucks. How to turn the bitter-sourness of rejection into a positive? Make it my goal. I already celebrate my acceptances, or non-rejections. Receiving a rejection should also be celebrated. Because it means I took a chance. Because it means I invited someone I didn't know to read my work. Because it means I am taking myself seriously as a writer. Because it means I invited opportunity into my writing life.

Currently for 2007 I have 2 rejections to celebrate. One actual letter from an MFA program and one non-letter, but the winners were posted on the web site, and my name was not listed. I'm glad I tried.

Currently I have six non-rejections. Details following soon.

2 rejections down, 28 more to go!

Non-rejection #6 - Olympiad Reflections

I recently read my poem "In a Garden" for an arts awards ceremony. Because the poetry folks were near the end, I spent a lot of time backstage. Through the process I met:

A writing professor who sees words through her fingers and keeps poems within her heart.

Her constant shadow, a friendly, mellow and always-on-the-alert seeing eye dog.

The English co-chair, who told me that my "sweep" was perhaps a first for the Olympiad.

Two very quiet little Asian female piano prize-winners who in their rich formal gowns reminded me of my own piano competition high school days. Ah the memories.

The nonfiction winner, who wore a gorgeous light blue headcovering that looked cool despite the fact she was covered head to toe.

A creative writing student and former prize-winner who is dyslexic.

The high school acting winner who was very focused and very serious, after letting off some steam by rapping with his friend.

Two very tall, talkative high school student poet winners, one who was extremely nervous and one who was happily contemplating backstage rigging. Both with great talent and bright futures. They told me they "got" my poem after I read it aloud. Good to know.

My New Matchmaker

I sing in a community women's choir, and for the first time since I've joined, we're actually singing with men. The Golden Gate Men's Chorus, which I heard used to be the Gay Men's Chorus. Before a recent joint rehearsal, I chatted with a really cool tenor about music and life. After rehearsal, here's a excerpt/paraphrase of our last conversation:

He: "See you later!"
Me: "See you, hear you, too!"
He: "Are you married?"
Me: "Um, no."
He: "Well, let me set you up."
Me: "Set me up?" [I was confused because I was pretty sure every guy in that chorus was gay]
He: "Oh, we have 2 guys who are straight. One's already married, but the other one is single."
Me: "Sure, introduce me."
He: "I don't see him right now." [scanning the 50 other men milling around] "But next time."
Me: "How did you get straight men into your choir?"
He: "We're an equal opportunity choir. We don't discriminate."

I'm extremely flattered, and I look forward to meeting the only straight and single singer of the Golden Gate Men's Chorus. Concert tickets available.

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, ill. by Matt Phelan

Because I participated in a fabulously thought-provoking MockNewbery earlier this year, I was particularly interested to see if any of the books we discussed would end up actually winning the Newbery or Honor. I didn't recognize a single title on the official list. Of course, this made me want to read the new books, so I went to my library catalog and searched for The Higher Power of Lucky. None of the local libraries had it in stock. All copies were "on order." The other option was to buy the book, but since I was on a budget I decided to wait.

When I was in NYC, I visited some friends I hadn't seen in years. One non-writer friend and I kept playing phone tag. When we finally got together for dinner, here is a paraphrasing of our conversation:

He: "Have you heard about this children's book? It's about a power or something."
Me: "What kind of power? Like Harry Potter power?"
He: "I think there's some controversy. Maybe it's about being lucky or something."
Me: "You mean The Higher Power of Lucky?"
He: "Yeah, that's it. It has the word scrotum, right?"
Me: "I think so. I haven't read it yet, but it's on my list. I'm impressed. How did you know about this book?"
He: "I just read about it in The New York Times."

Of course, this was a while back. But it made me decide to purchase the controversial book that beat out Lois Lowry's beautifully simple Gossamer and Laura Schlitz's poignant A Drowned Maiden's Hair. And of course the furor over the word scrotum has probably generated more book sales. By now I've not only read The Higher Power of Lucky, I recently heard Susan Patron speak and got my copy signed.

Susan was an interesting speaker, and she related easily with the children, perhaps from her years of experience as a children's librarian in L.A. I loved her visual aids. She brought a parsley grinder and passed around a big desert burr encased in a clear plastic box with a little bug in it. One of her biggest gems she shared for writers was a memory of a writer's conference, where Franny Billingsly spoke and said to put something in the hands of your characters.

EJ's haiku highlights of Susan Patron's speech:

Give your characters
something to hold and cherish--
give them something to lose.

While reading The Higher Power of Lucky, I admired the joyous child-like scientific mind-set of a 10-year old girl who is deeply interested in Charles Darwin and bugs. The characters come alive as Lucky interacts with her very French and feminine guardian Brigitte and with her friends, knot-tying Lincoln and Are You My Mother? book-carrying Melt. I noticed how the Mohave desert became a character and how its influence colored the entire book.

EJ's haiku highlights of Susan Patron's The Higher Power of Lucky:

Parsley grinder--
Object of controversy
used to save the day.

Thanks, Renee, for inspiring me to post!

Unexpected musical piano gift

A good friend recently challenged me and asked why I still sing in more than one group when my new career choice is to be a writer and a writing teacher. My response was quite long-winded, partially because I was surprised by the question, partially because if you get me going on a topic I really care about, I will talk for forever. But the core of my response was simply, I cannot imagine my life without music.

Singing is my primary musical outlet now, but when I was a kid, piano was my instrument of choice. Last night I found some classical piano CDs that I decided to import into iTunes for my ipod. The first set I chose was the complete Beethoven piano concertos performed by Murray Peralta. Listening to the first CD brought back memories of my teenage years when I played Beethoven's 1st piano concerto over and over again in multiple competitions.

Today I met up with a friend during lunch hour. We checked out his church to see how it would work as a performance venue, and it just so happened as we were about to leave, two guys began rehearsing a piano concerto. One at the piano, one at the organ which played the orchestra parts. I thought I'd just listen in for a few minutes and then sneak out. But I stayed the whole time because the pianist was surprisingly good. And though I didn't know the piece, I could tell the work was written by Beethoven.

When I was a kid I always wondered how my piano teachers could listen to a classical music piece and say who wrote it. But now I know. It's a style thing. I like the driving fire in Beethoven's work, the juxtapositions of fortes and sudden quiets. The swells between extremes. Listening to this complete stranger play, I was transported by the purity of the music, especially during the cadenza, that long piano-only passage near the end of the piece. The cadenza sparkled and really moved me because this was when the pianist shifted from simply rehearsing to adding his heart and soul into the piano keys. When you play with your heart and soul, listeners will respond, even if they are complete strangers.



Afterwards, the pianist shared his background and told us the name of the piece. What a wonderful, completely unexpected musical gift, listening to the first movement of Beethoven's 3rd piano concerto. Even though I don't have time to practice, I'm itching to play the piano again. But typing on my computer will have to suffice for now.

Conductor Joe Jennings

So my choir Peninsula Women's Chorus will be singing a joint concert with the Golden Gate Men's Chorus, which is conducted by Joe Jennings, who is also musical director of Chanticleer. I remember the only year I sang in my high school choir, Joe Jennings was a guest conductor, and I thought he was amazing because not only was he fiery, he could sing higher than some of the sopranos.

Now many years later, Joe is still fiery. During rehearsal he truly wastes no time. He barely talks to us before commanding us to sing. He makes us sing passages over and over again until he's happy. It's grilling, but good. When he is conducting, his hands are beautiful to watch, and he is constantly emoting the music with gestures so big as a singer one cannot help but follow. My choir conductor Martin is also an excellent, extremely musical conductor, and it's interesting to have Martin and then Joe conduct the combined choirs within one rehearsal. Personalities are so key. I'm looking forward to performing these concerts. Tickets available here.

This Jazz Man by Karen Erhardt, ill. by R. G. Roth

Published in Nov. 2006, This Jazz Man is Bay Area author Karen Ehrhardt's debut picture book illustrated by R. G. Roth. I met Karen at a conference after she was contracted and before the book was published. She was so friendly and warm, and she invited me to hang out with her and her friends for the rest of the conference, which was a wonderful thing because I knew no one attending.

When I was in NYC, I entered one of the many B&N stores and made a beeline for the children's section. Right in the middle was a prominent display featuring many African-American books, including Karen's This Jazz Man! And since I was technically a tourist, I had my camera and took this pic.

With whimsical, fun illustrations, the text of This Jazz Man follows a familiar pattern of the childhood song "This old man, he plays one...with a knick knack patty-whack give your dog a bone..." But instead each jazz man was a real jazz musician, including Louis Armstrong and Dizzie Gillispie and more. As the rhyme repeats, the jazz band is built, each musician featured on his own instrument.

I love the idea of combining a familiar childhood counting melody and 10 great classic jazz musicians into one big band. So much fun, and the rhythm and rhyme are easy on the ear while the pictures are lots of fun. At the end of the book there's a wonderfully illustrated brief biography on each musician. So not only does the book entertain, it also educates.

EJ's haiku highlight of Karen Ehrhardt's This Jazz Man:

These jazz men form a
band--they can scat, they can play
tunes of yesterday.

I recently attended one of Karen's author events, and she actually SINGS her entire book! So very cool. I so want to do that someday with my own books. Not only that, the kids were captivated by a secret recurring pictorial motif found on every double page spread. Of course, I got my book autographed, and though Karen will tell you she's not an illustrator, she had a fun, musical signing style.

EJ's haiku highlight of Karen Ehrhardt's talk:

Let's sit on the floor.
Can you find the secret sign?
Let's read and let's sing!