Had a lovely day on Monday with one of my crazy students. I don't think she will mind me calling her crazy. Merenia Gillies is a very talented Sydney based singer/songwriter who runs music classes for refugees and women affected by domestic violence out at Penrith.
I went along to conduct a voice workshop with a group of women on Monday.
Merenia had been working with this group to create an original composition, not an easy undertaking! But with her down to earth approach, Merenia had managed to unite this group of unlikely friends. She told me she had encouraged the women to all contribute lyrics and melody ideas and the result of a number of weeks work was surprising.
I really had no idea what to expect when I arrived at the community centre out in Penrith after driving for what seemed like ages down that monotonous highway. On meeting everyone however I quickly saw what my job was going to be. It was to get the women to really 'SING'.They had written this potentially amazing song with uplifting lyrics and now all they had to do was sing it without inhibition, with the energy and strength that the song spoke of.
Some of these women had had unthinkable life stories of hardship and abuse, yet were standing there ready to listen to a skinny white gal like me.
To my surprise it really didn't take long at all to get these women dancing and singing with true conviction.Frowns and crossed arms were replaced with open smiling faces. We had one principal soloist who led the group in a call and answer type chorus. She was a powerhouse of voice and emotion and the group began to respond with equal intensity which gave me goose bumps!
It made me think about how we can be such 'winge-ie pants' about things that really don't matter. It made me think about how the smallest things can sometimes get us down and how we easily allow these feelings to re-enforce negative self belief and a cynical view of the world.
Yet here I met this group of women who having suffered a great deal more than I can comprehend were not sitting around wallowing in self pity. They were standing up, fearlessly claiming their ground and singing out about their love for life.
I left Penrith, of all places, feeling almost hyperactive with optimism!
It was one of the most rewarding things I have done in ages!
L
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I so well relate to this experience, Lisa, not that I'm going to Penrith, but I did teach English to women refugees in Seattle some time ago. Their stories made me feel humble. I'm complaining now because the builders on my house are not working fast enough so this story, Lisa puts things back in perspective. My life is priveleged, I'm so lucky!!
ReplyDeleteHey woman, what a fantastic blog entry! of course i would imagine nothing less. I am, however, imagine loads MORE this coming 2010 for you miss lis and master jam-oir! women singout out, being heard, men listening and then responding (maybe?) or responding by just acting... hmmmm the future is bright babies! Nx
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