Glee At Heart

So I am privileged to be a part of a very unique choir called Glee At Heart. It is made up of 15 Grade 6 students from my school and 10 seniors from the retirement home that is right next door to our school. 


We meet every Monday and sing together. We sing music from the present and the past and sometimes a mash up of both. It is such an amazing thing. To join the young and old together and make beautiful music...truly wonderful!


A few weeks ago we were approached by Wilfrid Laurier University to sing as an opening act for their Music Care Conference. This is a conference that is all about Music for healing and Music for changing the world. So we practiced like crazy and today was the big performance. I wanted to share the email that I sent to my staff to let them know how the morning went...

Hi All!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!

I just wanted to share a bit about the experience Kyle and I had with the Glee choir today. (I atteached 2 pictures too!) It was AMAZING!

We were to meet at 7:45 for sound check. Kyle and I thought we would get there a little earlier so that we knew what was going on. Of course we were only slightly surprised that some of the 6's were there already!! They are such a wonderful and eager group of kids!

Once we all were there, we went on stage for the sound check. The 6's were so cute...helping the seniors by holding their hands, arranging chairs and coats. It just had my heart smiling so big as I watched them. Rita...one of the more entertaning seniors...came out yodelling and hugging and kissing everyone! We practiced the songs and then back to the green room for snacks. The seniors all had their morning coffee and meds.

Then it was show time! We went back on to stage...this time to a full theatre of people! The conference was all about Music as a form of healing and Music as a way to make the world a better place. The audience was full of musicians, music therapists, teachers, and many more. The first person who spoke welcomed everyone and spoke of the power of music and how present and universal music is. It was just such an amazing atmosphere. Next they introduced us and Brian (the musical therapist from the Westmount) talked a little bit about us and how the choir came to be. 

And then we sang.

And it was so moving.

I was teary as I led the choir and watched all the faces. I was touched by the way it seemed as if they had been singing together for ever. The way our 6's sang loud and strong and clear. The way the residents tapped their feet and came to life and sang from their hearts. The way everyone smiled and let the music flow out of them The way all the voices joined as one and made truly beautiful music. 

At the end of our last song the choir splits and half sings "Don't stop believing." while the other half sang "What the world needs now". While we were singing this, Rita (who had been feeling the music from the moment she arrived!!) grabbed the hands of Talia and Claire on either side of her and started swaying and raising their hands in the air. And as the song ended, and the choir sang out the last line "Don't stop believing, what the world needs now is love"  and everyone was smiling and singing their hearts out...the audience started clapping and cheering and they rose to their feet with tears in their eyes. The look on the faces of every member of the choir was priceless. 

What an amazing morning. What an amazing group of kids. What an amazing group of seniors. What an amazing musical moment.

We are so lucky for this connection with the Westmount. This morning was just one of the many moments shared with them where I didn't think my heart could smile any bigger!! We are so proud of our students - who sounded amazing...but more than that...who acted with such kindness and compassion and respect. My heart is bursting!

Thanks for listening...and if you see any of the Glee at heart kids...let them know they did a wonderful job!

Yours In Kindness,

Karen

P.S.  A funny side note...when it was time to leave the stage, I went to help Rita. She took my hand, a few of our girls were helping too, and this was our dialogue...

Rita  "Where are you taking me now?" 

Me "We are all done. It is time to go."

Rita "Is it over?"

Me  "Yes." 

Rita "We were pretty great weren't we!" 

Me "You were better then great!"

Rita "Well, now I can finally take a shit!"

So Much Good

There is so much good in this world...we just need to find it.


Here is one story of one amazing Dad that is truly inspiring...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1Z1Xo3Hhc

The Power of One

Well it has been a while! Being back at school full time has been an adjustment but I am starting to get in to the swing of things! So I am back on the mission to put out the word of kindness and love! So I thought I would let everyone know that...


Sunday, October 2 marks both the United Nations' International Day of Non-Violence and the birthday of one of its biggest proponents: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. I thought I would share a quick video that shows just of a few historic moments and the amazing "power of one". Hope you have a wonderful weekend!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QzjqOl2N9c


Never forget the power you have to affect change. What can you do today to make a difference?

Children Full Of Life

This is a continuation of my last post which included clip 1 of 5 of this documentary called "Children Full Of Life" Here are the links to all 5 parts.

If I could meet one person...it would be this teacher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=armP8TfS9Is&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc7S8HAfDzk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd7YWx7idfE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEW65OKRiAk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FGdXEBcdh4&feature=related

Yours In Kindness, Karen

Empathy

Well...back to school! After a summer of enjoying every minute of my family and being inspired on so many levels I am back in school and ready to teach from the heart!!


As time goes on, I feel more and more passionately about finding a place in the school day for character education. I feel that it needs to be embedded in the day but also taught more directly. I want the kids of today to learn about kindness, compassion, empathy and how to give back.


As I went through my day I kept looking around at all the faces of all the kids in the school and all I could see was all the potential. Potential for good, for kindness, for changing the world. And all I can think is...what can I do...how can I help...how can I bring out the very best in each precious life that comes my way?


So I am going to continue on my mission of kindness. I am going to bring character education in to the music I teach and the books I read and the games I play. I am going to lobby for change and see if we can find the time in the day to actually TEACH kindness. I am going to blog about kindness and share stories full of love and heart. I am going to challenge those who read this blog to give back in big and small ways.


My challenge to you today is to notice kindness around you and make a point of acknowledging it. If you see someone doing something kind, take a minute to stop and share with them how it makes you feel. There are kind things happening all the time...we just have to take the time to see them!


Here is a wonderful link about one class that truly takes the time to teach empathy and has a class goal that consists of "Be Happy." One day maybe we will all have schools that are lucky enough to have a class like this...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=armP8TfS9Is&feature=related


So, my wish to you all is to simply "Be Happy!"

Music For Freedom

A Poem From My Heart...with a link at the bottom to A Movie From My Heart...
Thanks to all for the most incredible night.


We came armed with our voices
And armed with our guitars
Our music rang out in the dark
I swear it reached the stars


The energy was electric
You could feel it on your skin
Love and hope filled the room like water
We jumped and dove right in


The sweet strum of every chord
The perfect notes sung just right
The slow crescendo of the moment
The heart song melody of the night


The music filled the theatre
Uniting our souls as one
Hearts beating in time to the sound
Of hope, laughter, love and fun


Magically each person came
To give back and do their part
A simple thing it may seem
But done with the greatest of heart


The music resonates in my soul
Long after the people have gone
The generosity of so many
Inspired by the beauty of song


http://gallery.me.com/karensnider/100000

Small things with great love...

"Not all of us can do great things. But, we can all do small things with great love."
Mother Teresa


What a true statement. I like to think that we can all do small things every day with the greatest of love and manifest goodness all around.
This week has been full of giving back in small ways...and my heart it overflowing with the good that is in this world!


One thing I did this week is help out Send 'Em Off Smiling. This is an organization that collects school supplies and fills back packs for families who need the help. It is a simple way to help many children start the year off with a smile and feeling confident and prepared. Delivering back packs...it seemed like such a small thing. The back pack deliveries were done with my Mom and my girls who are 2 and 3. It seems like such a small thing. Pick up some back packs and take them to kids who need them. I brought along my girls because I thought what a great way to get them involved even when they are little! So we filled the car as full as we could and off we went. It seems like such a small thing. Dayaa kept reminding me that there were backpacks at her feet, "Don't forget these back packs for the kids Mom." Only to be echoed by Laiklyn, "Me too back pack, kids!" We got to the first house to be greeted by 2 boys smiling and jumping saying, "Mom, they're here! The backpacks are here!" It seemed like such a small thing. We gave them the bags and wished them well and got back in the car as the boys smiled and dove right in to see what was inside. It seemed like such a small thing...done with great heart (I am especially proud of my girls who lasted almost 2 hours!!)...and what a huge reward!! The best part is we got to do it 13 more times that day and 15 the next!!!


Small things with great love. I often feel as if I don't do enough, but I have to remind myself...small things with great love.
So my challenge for you...what small thing can you do today or tomorrow or next week...what small thing can you do with great love? If you feel like sharing I would love to have people post things that they did...no matter how small it may seem!


If you need some inspiration...here is a small thing a coach did with great heart that made a world of difference...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tui8EOdv_VU
Yours In Kindness
Karen