The Music of Silence

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:35:30 +0000

This may seem strange for a musician to say, but sometimes I don’t want to hear any of my favorite pieces of music. I don’t want to sing, or compose or go to a concert, or have a conversation, or DO anything. I just want to BE! Do I sound anti-social and reclusive? Yes, sometimes I could label myself that way, and I am okay with it. I believe that there are times that everyone needs to invite the music of personal space and elusive silence. I know it may be difficult to set aside time for this. There are always to-do lists that revolve around personal and professional multi-dimensions of our lives. That part is wonderful! We are all alive and vibrant human beings with much to offer, see and do! However, silence and time out are crucial for recharging, revitalization, centering, for feeling the moment…taking in all the nurturing we can absorb from the gifts of breath and Nature, just “being” …without labels and to-do’s and chatter. In silence, look up at the night and day sky and feel its expansive beauty and know that you too have unlimited possibilities! Step on the earth and really know that the roots of the earth, its energy, can provide you strength and courage to move forward in the world with confidence and empowerment. Allow the sounds around you…life’s symphony…to nurture your soul. This is a need we all have, but we often push it aside. It is as important as drinking water. Silence IS golden, and with all the technology and dividing of ourselves into multiple pieces, we seem to move away and ignore the gift of time, space and silence. It takes discipline and willpower to invite stillness and slowing down into our busy lives. Even 3 minutes every so often during the day will help calm, and do wonders for your spirit!

Cheryl Melody www.cherylmelody.com

LOVE AND MUSIC-The Connection

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:05:57 +0000

As we put a Valentine’s Day magnifying glass on the vibratory word of “Love,” I share with you a song that I often sing or say: “Love is the only power, love is the only way, love love love love, watch our circle grow.” As this chant is repeated, sung gently within and then offered to others, feel your heart open more and more with compassion, understanding, forgiveness, tolerance and LOVE. Each song that comes through me for all generations includes the encouragement of self-love and love for each other. We are all the same when we peel away the differences on the surface; we all breathe in the same way, and each of us has the ability to offer love in the same language of the heart. Love is more than a Valentine’s Day word: It is an every moment choice of thought, action, feeling and word. As the “One Planet” song conveys: ”We’re all one people, all one nation, all one planet, together we can live. We’re all the colors of one rainbow, all the feelings of one heart, all the music of one voice, let’s reach for a brand new start.” In the 1700’s, Chief Seattle said that however we treat ourselves and each other affects ALL of humankind. Music is a bridge towards creating the spirit of love. Happy Valentine’s Day today AND every day!

Love, Cheryl Melody www.cherylmelody.com

Peace through Music-My Non-Political Definition of “Peace”

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:59:15 +0000

Peace is a deeply emotional word, and I’m often asked what I personally mean by Peace Concerts. My non-political definition is that peace begins with you and me. I believe that every word, thought, action and feeling creates a vibrational effect on our entire planet. I had this awareness even as a little girl. I marveled at how similar people were, and I wondered how humanity could become more curious, respectful and filled with listening hearts about each other’s differences. This longing for unity, harmony and spacious tolerance has led to the many dimensions of my life’s work. As an intergenerational “Peace through Music” performing artist, the creative arts can teach compassionate dialogue and understanding, forgiveness, inclusion, respect, manners, caring and love. Each of us is faced with moment to moment choices, and I believe in the essence of Chief Seattle’s poem: …”whatever we do, say, think and feel affects all living things.” Peace is about living our lives with our highest vision and version of ourselves, and being conscious of how our reactions, thoughts and words contain a power that will positively resonate throughout our planet. We may or may not be able to visually see the rippling planetary effects of our personal choices, but if we listen with our intuitive sensing and knowing, we will quietly and confidently continue to walk the “peace begins with me” path, realizing on a deep level that the cliché is true…”each of us does make a difference” and “peace begins with you and me.”

Tone Deaf, and Singing Anyways! Adventures in Sound and Healing

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:16:00 +0000

Did anyone ever tell you that you should just mouth the words, or “don’t quit your day job?” Has it paralyzed you from singing for yourself, or for your child? Well, take the rebel out, and hum and sing anyways-in tune or out of tune, it doesn’t matter. It is your birthright to sing, and scientific studies show that you are massaging your cells from inside-out by releasing vocal tones. How else can you get a massage from INSIDE-OUT? Did you know that a good hum, or sounding the vowel of AHHHH, massages your hypothalamus, and it is the ONLY way to massage that important part of your brain! Humming, toning, singing, elongating vowels of ahhhh, ohhhhh, ommmmm, eeeee, iiiiii, lip buzzing, going la la la, or TA-DAAA, or sounding like a siren and going up and down with your voice…are all ancient forms of SOUND HEALING. You are in fact healing your body, mind and spirit by singing, humming and toning.

If you have a child to sing along with, I share with you from my heart as a mother, musician, teacher and sound healer…your child LOVES YOU FOR YOU and needs to hear your voice. We are the role models for everything, including transcending any negative patterns or inhibitions, and setting ourselves free. Your mood and energy will be raised to a higher level through the vibrations of sound, and even your heartrate will increase, without any aerobic exercise! It’s true!

Just like any aspect of negative habits, we want to role model constructive healthy patterns for ourselves and for our children, so sing as if your life depends on it, because it does!

Raising a Child’s Emotional IQ through Music

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:58:43 +0000

Recently, I was delighted to receive the 2010 KIDLUTIONS PREFERRED PRODUCT AWARD for my 6 children’s music CDs. The reviewers were looking for products that develop emotional intelligence, as well as being entertaining. As a composer and educator, I believe that the WORDS in each song need to be purposeful and consciously written. Words go into the delicate soul of the child, and make a difference. Words have an energy, positive or negative, and although typical children’s songs are important to know, it is also good to expand children’s repertoire. When you look for music for children, look for products that not only entertain, but also build character, self-esteem, awareness, manners, cooperation, love, unity, friendship, tolerance, anti-bullying, sharing, inclusion, effective communication, conflict-resolution, multi-cultural celebration… all within a “One Planet, One World” philosophy. After over 25 years as a performing artist and educator, it is still amazing to me how much music can make a difference:

3 REAL STORIES: I sang at a 5 year old birthday party recently, and the mom and dad of the birthday boy were nice enough to purchase my CDs as party favors. Two great outcomes of this party: Due to the magic of music, the wonderful birthday boy transcended his shyness and became totally absorbed with singing, storytelling, movement and leading the birthday parade.

One of his friends who attended the party and received my CD as a party favor listened to the CD night and day! He awoke the next morning being able to sing every single song…songs he never had known before…even the songs that were in different languages! His parents also mentioned that his behavior shifted for the better ever since music touched his body, mind and spirit…AND his emotional intelligence.

One more story: At a recent nursery school event, the babies entered screaming on top of their lungs…”oh dear,” I thought, “How am I going to do this?” Suddenly it occurred to me to sing one of the lullabies I had just composed that morning. Miraculously, the sobbing stopped. There was only peace in the room, filled with soothed and non-crying children who had the light of music surrounding them.

Provide children the gift of meaningful music that builds emotional intelligence, and you will have given a profound gift that can last forever in its positive ripple effect for the child, and for our world. Cheryl Melody www.cherylmelody.com

Einstein, Imagination, and Encouraging the Dreamer

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:14:56 +0000

Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” The human spirit NEEDS to dream, to imagine, to explore, problem solve, extend, expand, create! It is thirsty for it!

Instead of thinking that there is only one “right way” to think, to believe, to play an instrument, to live a life…encourage everyone you meet to stretch their idea of what is “right.”

If money or failure were not issues, what would you want to be, to do, to explore?
If mistakes were allowed and accepted as learning tools for SUCCESS, could you feel more at ease to err in front of someone, while allowing for another person’s mistakes as well? I have a saying, “I am a perfectly imperfect person.” It’s very relaxing to feel this way when I do my concerts or in my private life.
My favorite expansive question: “How many ways can you solve that problem, play a sound on that instrument, say or sing that word or phrase? ”

The open ended question of ”HOW MANY WAYS” opens up the inner being towards full creative blossoming. Challenge your own thinking with this open-ended question, and provide that gift to a child. It will be the most loving act of kindness you could offer.

I encourage you to do what my teachers and parents did for me:

Invite children to dance with their imaginations, soaring towards unlimited expanses of the unknown possibilities…so that they can be a well rounded Einstein of their own unique brand.

Joyful Dreaming, Visioning and Imagining along with Einstein!–Cheryl Melody

Original songs for children, Music for adults, Playwright, Author, Original Performances

What is Music?

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:19:22 +0000

Melody IS my real middle name, and since I was 3 years old, I’ve experienced a multitude of music education approaches. I’ve come to realize that music is more than knowing music theory, singing in tune or playing an instrument. Music is life itself! Life is a symphony of music! We are all born musicians. No lessons are needed! Western culture is the only culture that is concerned about the division between “musicians and non-musicians,” and making music with the judgement of “right, wrong and perfect.” I have broken away from that strict definition, and I would like to share my MUSIC IS FOR EVERYONE philosophy by asking you to….Take yourself on a SOUND WALK, and delight in its musical magical experience: Feel Life’s Pulse, Suspend Worry, Clear away To-Do Lists, Be IN the Moment, Reduce Stress, Relax, Raise consciousness, it’s not taxing on Brain or body, It opens Creativity and the Musician that you were born to be! Listen in a new expansive way to the wind, rain, leaves, birds, footsteps, laughter, and invite children to open their ears to the sound and sights of our beautiful world with you. What a GIFT! And if you bring a child on your consciousness-raising sound walk of stillness, create an opening in your life to share your experiences with your child verbally, with creative movement, dramatic play, literature, poetry, storytelling, art, imitating the sounds with your voices, lips, tongues, body percussion, AND… BECOME ONE WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU! “A child, an adult…who learns to listen, learns”…AND becomes a true musician!” THIS is MUSIC!

Cheryl Melody music educator, performing artist, playwright, author, recording artist

Hot Air Balloon Ride Anyone? Metaphors for Living Life to the Fullest

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:06:57 +0000

Risk! Dare! Trust! Let go! Surrender! Believe! Reach outward and upward! Because you are afraid, DO IT! Take chances! Let go of labels and definitions! Visualize! Actualize! Experience the abundance of life! LIVE life! Feel each moment! Experience elation! Breathe in love and happiness! Feel inner and outer lightness! Soar! Laugh! Wonder in awe at the beauty around you! Feel your oneness with Nature! Amaze yourself! Go beyond boundaries of familiarity! Step out of your comfort zone! Step out of the box towards inner and outer freedom! Wish everyone a good day of living life to the fullest! Feel joy! You are here to be IN life! Feel your courage! Your strength! Open to unlimited possibilities! Acknowledge yourself! Hug lots of people! Smile! Make new friends! Give thanks that you touched ground, ready for more unknowns! Greet and meet changes! Enjoy variety! Open yourself to all good! Inspire others! Inspire yourself to take new roads that reflect passion, delight and lots of YAHOO’S! Cheryl Melody, expressive arts for children and adults

Teaching the Whole Child

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:07:02 +0000

Do you remember that awful song…something about “School Days, dear old Golden Rule days…Reading and Writing and ‘Rithmatic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick”…Ouch! well let’s assume the hickory stick part is not done anymore, anywhere…but the reading, writing and ‘rithmetic are more emphasized than ever…WHAT HAPPENED TO MUSIC?! Crucial! CREATIVITY! Vital! Reading, writing and ‘rithmetic can even be taught WITH music, rhythmic rap, song, movement, imagination, children’s music with meaningful words…AND to address the SPIRIT of the child is THE most breathing, organic and basic need a young growing being can have…to address their EMOTIONAL well being, their self-esteem, the balancing of BOTH SIDES OF THE BRAIN…right and left hemispheres…addressing the WHOLE CHILD is fundamental to full growth! Let’s integrate the ARTS—all of the arts—music, theatre, dance, art… along with reading, writing and arithmetic, and we will help to develop beautifully loved and sensitive whole children whose EMOTIONAL IQ is every bit as balanced as INTELLECTUAL IQ. Well, I’ll get off my platform now…I feel passionate about this subject…let’s not half teach the children…let’s find ways to plant seeds of joy and life long desires to learn.

Cheryl Melody children’s music CDs, concerts, keynotes and workshops

Sticks and Stones and Words and Music…The Connections

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:24:39 +0000

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”…I remember hearing kids say that taunt when I was a young child, and it is a phrase that doesn’t ring true for me personally or professionally. Words have a tremendous vibration within the delicate soul of each and every person, no matter what age. Words can make you feel on top of the world, or devastated, hurt and forever wounded. As a composer of meaningful children’s music as well as inspiring adult music, I am deeply conscious of the impact of words. In the Cheryl Melody song “I’m an Amazing Person Today,” I seek to nurture self-esteem by writing words that remind us ”to be our own best friend,” in “Caterpillar-Butterfly,” the words encourage us to grow and change and be all we can be, and in songs like “One Planet,” “Peace is a Verb,” “Friends Forever,” “The Smile of Friendship,” “The No Bully Rap“…I hope to instill character-building values such as inclusion, nonviolence, anti-bullying, anti-bias, multicultural celebration, effective communication, respect for each other, respect for ourself and respect for the earth…all through the power of words within every song. I invite each person who buys music or borrows music from the library to carefully select music that raises consciousness, encourages the highest part of a child or adult to shine through, and emphasizes values of sharing, caring, cooperation, love and humanity. Preview and listen to the words with your heart, your wisdom and intuition, and ask yourself if the song is good for your inner child as well as the children around you. Sticks and stones can hurt and so can words, or they build a beautiful foundation of love, hope, possibility and feeling good both inside and out.

Cheryl Melody Award-winning children’s music