Week 8 Review

March 11: Douglas Adams. Today marks the birthday of Douglas Adams,one of my most beloved writers, who sadly left this world in 2001. Adams is most famous as the creator of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and his two books about the detective Dirk Gently are also priceless. Happy birthday to you, Douglas Adams, wherever in the galaxy you may be! Here is a YouTube video interview where Douglas Adams talks about his career, life, the universe, and everything:

Douglas Adams is one of my favorite writers EVER, so seeing this interview made my whole week! So long and thanks for all the fish, Mr. Adams. :)

Growth Mindset Challenge: Preparation vs. Performance

The growth mindset meme about a butterfly undergoing radical changes before it is appreciated reminded me of this image macro I've seen floating around Facebook lately. This idea that one only sees a tiny part of what goes into a finished product can help in two ways:
If you're an observer, don't forget to appreciate the work you don't see,

and if you're a performer, don't forget to keep the image of the finished product always in your mind!

Posted by Classic FM on Thursday, March 17, 2016

Learning Challenge: Empathy with Shining Eyes

My favorite YouTube video of all time is a Ted Talk given by Benjamin Zander entitled, "The Transformative Power of Classical Music." In it, he discusses the idea that all people can love classical music, most of them have just never had the opportunity to.

It's about 20 minutes long, and it changed my life. 

Source

If you have time, I highly recommend watching the video in its entirety, even (especially!) if you don't think you like classical music. Zander touches on so many facets of life, I think you'll find it worth the time investment.

The part relevant to my Learning Challenge, however, starts at around 16 minutes in. For context, he's just discussed a bit of the theory behind a Chopin Prelude -- why Chopin chose the notes and chords he did, and how it ultimately creates both a mood and a story. He then instructs the audience to listen to the Prelude with this new context, but also with one added caveat: that they picture someone very dear to them who has been lost.

The story he tells around the 16 minute mark is about a boy who participated in this same exercise shortly after the death of his brother, for whom he had never properly mourned, and how the power of the music allowed him to embrace those emotions for the first time.

This idea of truly feeling music as a listener, or embodying the feeling as a performer, and both experiencing and inspiring the sensation of "shining eyes" reminds me of why I love music, and how it relates to the concept of a shared human empathy. Even though we all have different stories, music unites us.

Here's a link to a transcript of the entire Ted Talk for those without audio capabilities. 

Also source of the following image.

Tech Tip: Embedding YouTube Playlists

I decided to add something a little more populist to my Comment Wall in the way of music, since I figure most people don't jam to 20th century flute music (although really I think everyone should try it once, y'know). 
The original reason I picked the Piazzolla over one of my favorite pop tunes was because I simply have too many favorites to pick just one. Music is my passion in every form, so I'm just as obsessed with popular music as I am with art ("classical") music. One of the most confusing things in the world for me is when somebody loves one but not the other --whether that's classically-trained musicians who don't know how to get down to a groovy beat or self-described "music lover"s who can't lose themselves in Ravel. 
Anyway, all of that is to say that this playlist is just a teeny, tiny sampling of some of my favorite feel good songs. 
YouTube used to be my main music streaming platform, but I switched to Spotify a few years ago and never looked back. Nowadays I don't use YouTube for much except for keeping up with the few content creators I'm subscribed to.

Blog Ideas

I noticed that Audra and I used very similar designs, but hers is quite a bit easier to read, especially in the comments section. She has inspired me to polish the smaller details in mine, so that it is exactly how I want it, and not just good enough.

Jessica's blog is is memorable for several reasons, but my favorite is the aesthetic layout, with a bright, colorful background and minimalist text presentation. I remembered viewing her blog from weeks ago, so I would like to make mine as memorable (in a positive light!) as hers.

Finally, I am so impressed by Christina's post layout! I love that we only get a preview of each post, but with the pictures showing on one side. That is so cool! It gives you an idea of what's inside, and gives the overall blog a very professional feel. I so want to utilize this in my blog!

Week 7: Review

I chose this video from Friday, March 4's post because I was so impressed by the musical talent it shows! The two singers have incredible voices, the clarinetist is great, and whoever arranged this mash-up has some seriously impressive theoretical skills -- it is NOT easy to get to very different musical systems (like, different versions of scales, right notes vs. wrong notes, etc) to sound so consonant together. Very cool!

Today's Video: Chaiyya Chaiyya Mash-Up. It's Bollywood-meets-Michael Jackson, featuring the amazing Shankar Tucker on clarinet.

And of course the shout-out to the opera below this segment made me happy. I hope some of you were able to come out and see it!

Week 7: Famous Last Words

This week was a crazy mic of exciting and exhausting! Just looking back on everything that happened is making me tired again, haha.

I had fun this week revising the Mahabharata from a different perspective. My favorite character, Amba, got a depressing but awesome starring role in Sister Nevedita's version, so I was pretty stoked to read more about her incarnation Sikhandin(i), and to get to write about her again. I tried a more traditional prose approach this time, since a lot of the comments on my previous Amba story said that the more poetic, stream-of-consciousness style was a bit confusing. 

El Sistema had their mid-winter concert on Wednesday -- concerts are always SO stressful from the teacher standpoint, because when you have 220 children divided into three orchestras, things tend to get a little hectic. Luckily, the logistics behind the scenes of this concert were amazingly smooth, so things ran just like they were supposed to. Most importantly, our students played AMAZINGLY! We were so proud, and even more excited for the future of our program! At our staff meeting the next day, I was notified that I will be getting a promotion after spring break, so things ended on a very happy note after all of the stress.

And finally, the rest of my whole life this week has been dominated by the OPERA. Woof. This has been such an exhausting activity. The opera is three hours long, which is a long time to be sitting in a dark pit (literally, that's where the orchestra goes). Add to that the fact that we've had dress rehearsals or performances every single day since last Sunday, and you can see why I'm happy that it's over. However, I have to admit that it was a great opportunity and I know I came out of it a better musician... just also a very tired musician.

If you came to see Eugene Onegin last week, you heard me! Hope I sounded okay!

The poster for OU's production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin

Tech Tip: Embedded Facebook Post

Thank you to Sigma Alpha Iota for letting us stop by and sing to you all last night. Happy early Valentine's Day!

Posted by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia- Mu Chapter on Thursday, February 11, 2016

I didn't know you could embed Facebook posts! I don't use Facebook a ton, but I'm sure this is good information to know! I'm the president of OU's chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a sorority for women musicians. This particular post is from when our male counterparts, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, made a sweet visit to our chapter.

Learning Challenge: Post Secret

Source

I think this particular postcard really connected with the theme of empathy. It's so common for us to assume that those sad stories of people in tragic circumstances could never happen to anyone we know, and definitely not to us. It's uncomfortable to think about the hardships our peers may have experienced, especially when they're someone we have a distaste for. However, this postcard perfectly demonstrates Frank Warren's words: "Every single person has at least one secret that would break your heart." I try to remember this when I deal with difficult students, but I think I can do a better job of applying it to every single person I meet and interact with.

Growth Mindset: Practice to Get Good Results

Source

As a musician, I connected to this Growth Mindset in two ways. 

One, consistent practice is the only way to get better. Duh! This one was obvious, and it's something that every practicer of any skill knows. However, it can still be a tedious, time-consuming activity; therefore, one must remember the reward!

The second is less obvious, and even more difficult: if practice is the act of repeating something until it's easy, then I have to make sure what I'm repeating is absolutely the perfect result I want. It's tempting during long practice sessions to speed things up, get a little careless, and let a few mistakes slip in without much worry. However, there's a mantra musicians repeat to ourselves that I think can be applied to much of life: Don't practice until you can play it right. Practice until you can never play it wrong.

Week 7 Reading Diary: Nedevita's Mahabharata (B)

The Maiden Who Became a Knight:
Story of Amba's incarnation Sikhandini
Drupada prays to Shiva for a son who can defeat Drona; Shiva says he will have a son who is born as a daughter
Sikhandin id betrothed to princess, whose father discovers her true gender and threatens war
Sikhandini overhears her parents discussing their seemingly doomed fate and runs away to hut of generous yaksha Sthuni
Sthuni wants to do whatever he can to help Sikhandini; offers to trade her bodies temporarily
    Sthuni's master comes by and sees him in woman form, makes trade permanent (until Sikhandin's death)
Bhima learns that Sikhandin is Amba reincarnated, story of Amba is told


Battle of Bhishma, Arjuna, and Sikhandin
Chishma recognizes Sikhandin as Sikhandini, refuses to fight back against him/her. Arjuna uses this to his advantage, basically using Sikhandin as a human shield. Finally Bhishma falls, mother Ganga sends swans, Bhishma will lay on bed of arrows until winter

Sikhandin battle Kripa; Source

Week 7 Storytelling: Sikhandini and Sthuna

Source

Sikhandini sat on the floor of the hut in total stillness as day turned into night. When the sun rose, her eyes did not move from the nothingness upon which she had fixed them. One day turned into two, then three, and by then time seemed irrelevant, but Sikhandini remained, never once moving from her place. 

All the while, the yacksha Sthuna watched with growing concern as this despondent guest grew more gaunt by the hour, until finally he feared that she might waste away into death there on his floor if he waited one moment longer.

"Oh, sad child, please! I can no longer bear to watch you suffer. Tell me what causes you such pain!"  he cried.
Sikhandini showed no indication of having heard the yaksha, so he tried once more. 
"Please, child. If it is wealth you desire, I can offer great treasures!"

The girl's complete stillness and dull eyes gave her the appearance of a stone carving, solemn and lifeless. Still, she was silent.

Sthuna was desperate. "If not riches, then anything you desire!" 
He paused, searching for the right words to awake the stagnant girl. Finally, he pleaded in a quiet, compassionate voice, "I will do the impossible, if only it would ease your pain! I beg you, just say what is wrong!"

Suddenly a light flickered in Sikhandini's eyes, which she raised to meet Sthuna's.
"You can do the impossible?" she asked, her voice weak but calm.
"I will find an answer to whatever you ask of me -- just ask it!"

Sikhandini lowered her eyes once more and stared at her hands. They had been small before, dainty and feminine, but her stillness and hunger had leeched their delicate curves. They were now no more than thin, pale skin wrapped loosely around brittle bone. Her eyes traced over every sharp angle of every joint, mouth set in a firm grimace.

She was silent for so long that the yaksha almost thought to beg once more, but eventually she spoke again, with the same calm weakness. 
"These hands. Pathetic girl's hands."
Sthuna was baffled, but desperate. "You desire new hands? Take mine! We will trade!"
Sikhandini ignored him, slowly wrapping her frail arms around her emaciated frame. "And this body," she muttered coldly. "Utterly insufficient."
The yaksha responded immediately, "I can make you strong! Your body need not limit you any longer!"

Finally Sikhandini brought her eyes back to Sthuna's. "You offer impossible things."
"For you, who has shown such courage in her suffering, nothing is impossible!" he responded confidently.
Sikhandini's gaze did not waver, though hot tears came to cover them in a hazy sheen. She tried hard to prevent any trembling in her voice as she gently asked, "Why do you show such kindness? You have no cause to care for me."

The yaksha smiled sadly. "Your pain has become my pain. To reclaim my life, I feel I must save yours. Tell me what I must do."

At this, the tears escaped and ran down Sikhandini's gaunt face, tracing the sharp angles of her bony visage. Your pain has become my pain. The words echoed in her head. 

Pain. 

A sudden change came over Sikhandini. Her spirit became like stone once more, but this time it was as resolve, not apathy. Weakness left her face, replaced by fiery determination. The tears left her eyes, and those remaining on her cheeks seemed to be so hot they burned her delicate skin, leaving angry red trails along their path.

Finally, Sikhandini rose from the floor. Her bones were weak and what muscle remained on her body strained; Sthuna worried that the girl might collapse, or snap in two like a sapling under foot, but she stood as solid as a banyan. 

Her eyes rose and locked firmly on the yaksha's. Beneath her sickly skin, Sthuna saw Sikahndini's jaw clench, then relax, each muscle on her small frame tensing as if with anticipation. 
She looked down at herself, and then back at him.
"I know what we must do."

Image of banyan by Colin Calvert; Source

Author's note: I was so excited to read more about Amba/Sikhandin(i)! (S)he has become my favorite character in the Mahabharata -- no matter which form she appears in, her fortitude is so admirable. 
I wrote this as a bit of a companion piece to my other story about Amba. I noticed some parallels in her two lives and thought it might be nice to recall some elements from my own previous writing.
This story tells of Sikhandini's encounter with the kind yaksha Sthuna in his home in the woods. It occurs just after Sikhandini has overheard her parents discussing how her gender may cause the destruction of their home -- because they had been promised a son, they offered her as a groom to a kingdom who was so offended it threatened to attack. Sikhandini feels responsible for all the strife, and runs away. I'm hoping to continue my focus on Sikhandin(i) in future storytelling assignments, so be sure to check in soon if you'd like to follow along with my version of this story (...including a resolution to this melodramatic cliffhanger)!
I changed the characterization of Sikhandini a bit to make her match my previous portrayal of Amba. In the original story, she is more tearful and grateful, and less creepily steadfast; eventually Sthuna offers to trade genders temporarily. I decided to imply that Sikhandini came to this conclusion because it felt more in line with my version of the character.
Credit to Laura for suggesting the banyan reference at the end! In my cursory search for an appropriate tree to complete the metaphor, I learned that the banyan is not only the national tree of India, but also seen in Hinduism as a symbol of eternal life -- fitting for a character who lives so many different lives.

Bibliography: Sister Nivedita's Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists, "The Resolve of Shikandini", 1917

Week 7 Reading Diary: Nivedita's Mahabharata

The princes meet Drona:
princes drop ball in well, ask Brahmin to help them recover it; he throws his ring in as well, then uses grass and an arrow to bring them back. Tells them to alert Bhishma of his arrival.
Drona had a son, Ashvatthaman, and realized he was too impoverished to provide, so sought to rekindle old friendships, starting with Drupada. Dru scorns him, so Drona seeks help of Bhishma to attain revenge. 
Drona trains princes in archery, takes a special liking to Arjuna. 
Introduction of Karna as mysterious figure of suspected low birth. Rival to Arjuna, friend of Duryodhana. Not revealed yet who his real parents are. 

Drona's test: 
Puts bird on tree. Asks each pupil, one by one, what they see. They all say, "the tree, you, the other students, and the bird." Dona is disappointed. Arjuna says, "only the bird's head." 

Story idea: Karna and Arjuna as young rivals.
Bhima/Duryodhana parallel (mace)

Ekelavya: low-caste archery savant who idolizes Drona so much he cuts off his thumb and loses talent. 

Pandavas exhiled due to Dury's jealousy

Win Draupadi as wife in archery contest
Yudhishthura gambles himself, his brothers, and Draupadi away, but Draupadi argues that Yud cannot give her away
Granted three boons, uses one and two on Pandava's freedom, relinquishes third.

Draupadi arguing for her freedom. Source