Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

Learn to play the jug!

As w’re in the midst of a jug-band revival, you may have wondered how some folks get such great sounds out of a jug or a bottle. It’s not by blowing across the top (as one website claims), but by aiming right into the middle of the hole.

But rather than my telling you, check out the video newly posted on youtube, the first of a series of jug lessons: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=5GcZdOJJIXk

Then, to apply your jug (or other) skills, think of signing up for Jonas Friddle’s jug band class, Wednesday nights at 8 pm.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | May 29, 2010 | Comments (0)

Laughter is the best medicine – Laughter Workshops

Yes, National Laughter Day was Sunday, May 2nd. But in the world of traditional music, dance, and culture, a couple weeks is like the twinkling of an eye. Accordingly, the School’s Laughter Workshop in honor of National Laughter Day was held a couple weeks alter.

Coordinating the activity was Judith Sample, a wonderful percussionist and superb leader of laughter workshops. Judith had given a free workshop at the School a couple months ago. The occasion was a First Friday, and the workshop drew perhaps 30 people. Afterwards, paper was passed around for comments; more than 20 stayed to write enthusiastic comments and urging that she’d return to do a workshop — and so we did!
All you need to know is that these workshops are NOT based on telling jokes — nor on telling you to “go ahead and laugh.” Yet you come out of the workshop having laughed hard, feeling wonderful, relaxed, and with a smile on your face. And you’ll realize how much you needed to laugh.

What fun! Watch for her next one, here or elsewhere!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | May 2, 2010 | Comments (0)