While Emily is going crazy missing desserts and Nick almost destroyed our bathroom door while abstaining from Diet Coke, we’ve been keeping ourselves busy trying to stay sane. Beyond all of our ministry at the Church and schools, we realize how important it is to develop relationships with those in our community outside of the workplace. On Sunday evening after Educate Together, a few Masses, and RCIA; we invited a few people over for dinner. The Clonard Church community has been so welcoming and hospitable to us, and having a few people over for dinner every once in a while is the absolute least we can do!
After dinner we moved to the sitting room and brought out our instruments! Last month, Nick and I made New Year’s Resolutions to work on new instruments. I have been learning mandolin and Nick has been making huge strides with the tin whistle! We all demonstrated what we’ve been working on and got some helpful pointers! We even played a few tunes together, whether we were all in the same key or not, I will not say. And when Emily’s parents found out we were having a mini-session they skyped in with instruments in hand! (Glockenspiel, banjo, and Mr. Puscas sang his rendition of “If I Was a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof) With tin whistle, Emily’s guitar skills, mandolin, and Molly on the dulcimer…I think we have quite a little group!
Playing music with our Irish friends has been really fun, because of how differently we learn music. I’ve always depended on sheet music and have never made memorization a priority. The Irish are incredible at learning music aurally and have an arsenal of tunes in their head. So as long as we have a few copies for the Americans and the Irish have heard the tune before, we can make some great music together! In folk group we usually just have the lyrics, so I’ve been making an effort to practice my aural skills and it’s been a good challenge. We can learn a lot from each other!
This morning I went to Kennedy Park to rehearse with the 4th classes for Confirmation Choir. They only have the lyrics and I’m amazed week-to-week with how well they remember the notes! We only meet for an hour once a week and they’re learning so much music! It’s also been really fun working with soloists in the Passion Play. There are so many talented people here and I’m constantly impressed with how easily they pick up their music!
SO lots of music for now and also a shout-out to Molly who we’ve been missing! She’s in the states getting ready to interview next year’s group! You’ll all be in our prayers!
Nicole
