In my work I am very fortunate that I get to visit schools around the world. From the dirt floor school in Arusha, Tanzania to the International School of Geneva, which was the very first International School, I see something of the range of what schools offer, where they succeed, and where they struggle. Some …
When most people think of the Civil Rights Movement, they think of the South: Selma, Birmingham, Memphis, etc. But Wisconsin had civil rights issues of its own to deal with, despite having been a “free state” in the Civil War. Discrimination, segregation, and prejudice reared their ugly heads most prominently in Milwaukee, where the divisions …
I recently finished a five day residency at the STEM Academy in Fond du Lac. The school focuses on technology and science, but they wanted to have a musical experience as well, because there’s no regular music class. They asked me to come in and write and sing with kids. We learned some songs and …
I spent this morning touring the Zurich International School Early Years Campus. It’s in a beautiful setting, located in a 200 year old villa on the shores of the Lake Zurich. The school has seven classrooms of kids aged 3-5, and it’s impressive, not just for its setting, but for the educational attitudes and approaches that …
Heather and I went to a Claudia Schmidt concert. I hadn’t heard Claudia perform in many years, and just like every other time, I was captivated by her voice and her spirit. At one point, Claudia made a comment about content going “viral” or not going viral. She said she was searching for a word that …
We had an incredible safari in Tanzania, and part of our experience was due to our fantastic guide Aimi (Ahimidiwe Ismaely Nasari). He taught me bits of Swahili, including many animal names (which resulted in a different song, coming soon.) I was fortunate to get to sing this song for Aimi, his wife, Lightness …
I recently read two articles that have gotten me thinking yet again about the connections between brains and art, specifically, how the mechanics of thinking and feeling interact with and influence our experience making or appreciating art. It’s a huge subject, but here are two articles that provide food for thought. The first article is …