Summer 2009

That’s what we say in Chicago, anyway. Hope the weather is a bit more predictable where you are, or is that a thing of the past? We survived early summer storms and are now enduring a blistering heat…. but it’s not snowing, so…

In a week I’ll be in Nantucket to vist with my good friend Mollie and her family and make some music on the island! I am very much looking forward to running into old friends, making new friends in my toddler music classes, and meeting all the new babies from the past year. You can check out my Nantucket schedule by visiting the website for NCMC, the organization that is sponsoring my visit (http://www.nantucketschoolofmusic.org/files/SUMMER_PROGRAMS_2009.pdf).

I hope to promote “Songs In the Key of Chai” in a bigger way this fall and will begin working on “Come and Make a Circle 3.” If you haven’t heard, “Songs In the Key of Chai” is oldish, newish and mostly Jewish songsfor all families released at the very end of 2008. Daughter Hope painted the front cover; younger daughter Hannah took the photo of me on the back cover; husband Jay co-wrote the exquisite song I Should Like (The Gaze of God). The recording is dedicated to the memory of my parents and in honor of my stepmother, Margot. I like to think of it as the kind of CD with songs that remind you of and make you feel good about the things you hold dear — family, faith, tolerance, peace-making, and the joy of celebrating holidays with those you love. Let me know what you think — it is a very personal album.

I’ve got a handful of concerts in and around Chicago this summer and a bunch of birthday parties where I’ll do my best to get everyone, and I mean everyone, singing and dancing. (How else can we expect our children to sing and dance?) My family is off to the glorious beaches of North Caroline in August and Hope will be traveling to Copenhagen for her fall semester, lucky girl. In September I’ll be back at my regular weekday teaching gigs and full of gratitude for the work.

I will have some open times on Thursdays for “Cryin’ Out Loud Music Classes,” so if you’re a new mom and have 6 or 7 friends with babies looking to have a good time, give me a call to book an 8- or 10-week session IN YOUR LIVING ROOM! That’s right, you do the phone work and I’ll do the leg work getting to you with instruments, scarves, and assorted other fun things to keep everyone busy and entertained. (That’s a particularly sweet deal during the winter, don’t you think?)

More to come….