jennyarntzen.music

  It is very important to be inquisitive, kind, and gentle with ourselves when we are finding our way in music. We don't know what we don't know. I need to remind myself that I will not perform flawlessly, that I will find my way to and through the music. That my fingers will trip and stumble over the strings, whistle holes and piano keys. That I will not know what I don't know and there will always be something new to try. I also need to remind myself that the music will find me, that it will lead me, and I, to the best of my ability, will listen and learn. The last song I wrote was titled, "We are Not Alone". Which is a belief that guides me in everything I do. This song presented to me and is titled, "I'm on My Own". Which is also a belief that guides me. I looked at the two charts on the dining table yesterday and laughed at the baffling complexity of this experience of being human. That we are both, at the same time, inter-connected in an evolvi...

  I'm on my own a lot these days There's so much that I want to do I tell myself I have the time now I'm on my own a lot these days I wake up and put the coffee on Writing lists of things to do I tell myself I have the time now To pour another cup of coffee The rattle of these old window panes You no longer warm my hands The fury of a hurricane I cannot hold your hands I'm on my own a lot these days I do tend to stay away At least that's what I tell myself I'm on my own a lot these days

  Michel and Al came over yesterday afternoon to play folk music with me. It was so much fun.  We started with a suggestion from Al, "Stewball", as performed by Peter, Paul and Mary. It is a beautiful melody and strangely evocative lyrics, completely out of time and place with my life today, but still evoked deep emotion as we sang through the verses. There is great potential for many layers of harmony and the chords are simple enough to pickup first time playing through. I love the folk tradition of taking what has gone before and using it to articulate something that is happening now. Putting into song the experiences, words and feelings, that can be overwhelming when we face them alone, but make us stronger when sung and played together. I finally have a chord chart working for "Hush Now Little Baby". I was thinking of Baby Anders, working hard to figure out how to get started with his new life. He has been facing some physical challenges to sort out some of the ...