Back in the Saddle Again

Remember how I posted that I wanted to earn my Young Women award this year with my girls at church? Well, I am pleased to say that I am on my way!

I completed my first project last week. I gave an hour-long presentation in Lizzie's class about slave music and its influence on modern musical styles. I did SO much research and listened to millions of African chants, field hollers, spirituals, and blues songs that I was actually OVER-prepared last Wednesday when it was time to present.

I wasn't sure how the kids liked it and was a little nervous. I mean, I had them chanting, doing African dance steps with me, singing the blues, and pounding out syncopation on their desks. One little Muslim girl couldn't even come in because she isn't allowed to participate in western Christian music and I had so much of it. But that's a post for a different blog.

Yesterday, Lizzie delivered a stack of notes that the kids had written and it made my day! I loved every note, but there were a few that especially made me smile. Here are a few lines:

"It was like a very, very big adventure for me."
"I liked the jazz music because the people who sing it hold the words for a long time."
"I would have never sang when I was sad. The African-American slaves were treated really badly. I bet they wanted to stay with Aderaham Lincon forever."[sic]
"The spiriterls are very beutyful. I never knew that music could be so complex."[sic]
"I have one of the songs stuk in my head. But I can't remember it."
"I thought you had interesting taste in music."
"I never knew that most of our music came from the Native Americans." Okay, WHAT??
"I hope you have a good time with your iPod." Thank you. I do.
"I wish I could dance like that. You are a cool mom." Someone thinks I can dance and am cool!
"I would probably never hear slave music if you worn't here. They probely never got payed money either. If I were a slave I would never work for someone."
"I hope I could go back in time so that I could hear you once more."
"When I grow older I want to do that just like you! Slave music is just the best!"
"One thing I thought was very cool was how they talked to other tripes [tribes] without telephone's of telegrams like in the old west but African-Americans [or Africans] would just drum a serten rithem and then other trips would know." I love his passion for... um, the wild west.
And my favorite:
"Me and my class mats loved you and Lizzy too. With an African thank you, Katrina"

Isn't that just the best? With notes like that, I would love to come back. In fact, I think I may need to come again just to clear up a few of the misconceptions mentioned above.