MusicMovementMotivation#2

This is all of us back together again (early childhood folks & children's librarians) after the brunch break.....I LUV having a 150 minute keynote slot!!!! Here we have lots of air guitarists showing their air riffs for my AC/DC-esque Dinosaur romp, which is a rap-style, no tune to follow, keep the beat extravaganza. I picked up the dinosaur hat the evening before at the Dollar Tree on the way to dinner. (Must stop at every Dollar Tree available -- amazing possibilities abound! Never know what you'll uncover.)

This is the group time "Higgeldy Biggeldy" multi-cultural dance number (if you stretch that concept just a bit.) Every fun phrase was one I heard while on my 'first' European tour years back with my dear friend Renee. We made presentations at our Air Force base in England on that trip, but went on to spend two weeks romping about France and Scotland while we were at it!

This is from the rousing conclusion of my contribution to the day. These are the children's librarians, or many of them -- those who were seated toward the front of the auditorium & could join me quickly. We are performing, "Going to the Library" in sign language..... with gusto.

That's one great big: "Oh, YEAH!!!!!!!!!!" for the final verse of, "librarians find the answer speedy as can be. I like going to the library............ oh, yeah!"

Higgeldy UTAH Style

We wind up our time together with a great big circle...... the space was PERFECT!!! It's time to follow direction. Sequence. Patterns. Cross the midline -- WITH YOUR FEET!!! Laughter. Rhyme. Multi-cultural zip. It's a flashback for me to my life-altering trip to England, which expanded to Scotland and on into Paris. Higgeldy, biggeldy shiggle da boot, indeed. All phrases from our Edinburgh Castle tour guide as we explored the cobbled grounds. What an adventure. From Scotland to Utah. Trips that have changed my life.

That last picture is the brain trust that made it happen. I've been thinking a lot lately about the people who invite me into their centers, into their schools, into their libraries, into their conferences, into their events, into their homes, into their hearts. They literally change my life, these people. The invitations I receive change my life, add to my stories, inspire my future projects, inform my understanding, keep me looking forward. Meet the life changers.

Great Higgeldy of 2010

The one of my nearly 100 original songs that truly benefits from a participatory experience is my "Higgeldy Dance." The song emerged on our trans-Atlantic speaking tour to England (thank you Renee and Susan,) which evolved to include a bus trip to Scotland...... which is where I heard our tour guide utter such happy phrases as 'higgeldy biggeldy' and 'shiggle da boot' in the mist of Edinburgh Castle. Mix it all together and you've got a "Higgeldy Dance." The main ingredient is to cross the mid-line with your feet for the engaging chorus. The verses themselves are fairly self explanatory. It makes for a rousing conclusion to a thrilling morning workshop. Every now and then the room lends itself to a group experience. Columbus State provided the perfect space to have everyone involved.

The Great Higgeldy of '09

Here we have captured pictures of my great Scottish circle dance, "Higgeldy Biggeldy." Since everyone was seated at round tables, we had each table's participants circle-round their own spot, which worked out perfectly. Such fun. Patterns, sequencing, crossing the mid-line with our feet, all of that good active-learning material within the context of a group gross motor dancing game. Later on in the afternoon we got to 'freeze frozen' in our animated aliteration action. That's Carla, owner of my orginal cassette, doing her best Bulwinkle the Moose freeze. Rumor has it that I may get an invitation up to that portion of the state -- later this year. Now that would be fun!!

Cinci: "All Together Now"

Look at these joyous early childhood teachers from Clermont County!! What an exuberant burst of energy. We sang. We danced. We laughed. We learned. The first picture shows the sign language motion 'together' as in 'Everybody, all together now.' Even after the 4,586th time I've lead this song of mine -- I'm still smiling. It's contagious. Just ask this crew. Also captured are some good 'bops' for that jazzy song/dance of mine..... and last but not least, the dancing feet during my Scottish brig, 'Higgeldy Biggeldy.' [Notice how capably these feet are crossing the midline!!] I forgot to have anyone take a picture of me. Dog gone it. Insert sad face.... today I was premiering my new polka dot tights from my Napa Valley trip and believe me, they are memorable. Note to self: next time. Something to look forward to.