Since my last update Mark and I drove over 4,500 miles visiting family and friends, I sang In The Round with Jefferson Ross, Stan Ray, and Robert Benton for Savannah Songwriters Series, there’s a new video for Hole in the Bottom on the Sea because it has been published and is getting great reviews, I’m gearing up to start my first set of lessons here on Hilton Head for Guitars In The Classroom, and I got a new (new to me anyway) convertible so I can be “...driving fast with the drop top down...” (thanks Mom!).
Here are a couple collages my friend Sara Felix put together for me that pretty much sum up 2011. Thanks Sara!
November, 2011
Thanksgiving has come and gone and it’s still warm and beautiful here on the island. This fall we took another trip to Colorado via St. Louis where I gave a concert at Friendship Village for the senior Mrs. Maute and her neighbors. They did a fine job kazooing along on choruses! It was perfect; they didn’t have to know the words or even the tune! In Colorado we got to the high country to see the Aspen change, spent time with our son and his wife, and I sang for a friend’s wedding. After two weeks on the road we got back a few days before we met Kyle in Rockhill, SC. Kyle came to compete in the United States Disc Golf Championships (yes, there IS such a thing!). Mark was Kyle’s caddy and I was the proud Mom.
Musically I completed a fire safety “Get Out and Stay Out!” with the Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue and a local school. (It can be found on YouTube and the video link on this site.) Christine Lavin’s song and book, Hole in the Bottom on the Sea is now at the printer and will be available in time for the holidays. I got to be a guest teacher at Glencliff High School in Nashville for Danny Combs’ Grammy award winning guitar classes, spent time with Billy Ed Wheeler (you can hear two of his songs on Kathy Mattea’s Coal), introduced teachers and administrators at the Association of Middle Level Educators’ national conference in Louisville to Project 1861 and other songs that engage students in learning, and have joined the faculty of Guitars in the Classroom (GITC). I plan to start a free class for any teachers or others who help students learn here on Hilton Head Island second semester.
“ABOUT GITC:
Guitars in the Classroom inspires, trains and equips general classroom teachers and specialists to integrate music and music making across the academic curriculum through “song-based instruction” so students of all ages have the opportunity to learn through making music together in class, everyday. Our work prepares and supports educators to lead the way competently and confidently, employing music as a powerful tool for reaching all learners, teaching all subjects, and building character and community in their classrooms.”
Plans for the rest of the year include another trip to St. Louis and Colorado and singing In The Round with Savannah Songwriters Series at Doc’s Bar on Tybee Island.
Enjoy the rest of 2011, relax and celebrate with friends and family, I plan to.
Below: Colorado, Kyle and Mark, Danny and Joan, Joan and Billy Ed Wheeler, and Doc’s Bar
August, 2011
The summer is flying by! The 1861 Project has captured both my singer and educator soul. It is amazing music, when you go to the link and listen you’ll know what I mean. I’m doing everything I can to see to it that teachers know about the power it can bring to the classroom and learning. Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea (HITBOTS) the Christine Lavin, Betsy Franco Feeney song/book has reached full funding on Kickstart so we’re all excited that it will be published and released early next year. In keeping with the spirit of giving back modeled by Mom, I’ve been able to donate a number of guitars to various chapters of Guitars for Vets in her memory. They have chapters all over the country so if you’ve got a guitar that’s just gathering dust, consider donating it to this amazing organization.
In addition to the singing and writing I’ve been doing, the highlight so far this summer was my first time at The Swannanoa Gathering Contemporary Folk and Guitar Week. Think 13 folk instructors, 19 guitar instructors, about 300 students all walking around with gig bags on their backs unless the bags were on the ground and they were playing guitar in class, outside, in concert, alone, in groups, music almost round the clock and little sleep. Suffice it to say this is now on my perpetual calendar, if you’re looking for me during the last week of July you’ll have to go to Warren-Wilson College for The Gathering! (Check out the video link for a performance recorded at Swannanoa.)
in class with Kathy Mattea photo by R.L. Geyer
on stage with Sage Snider
learning never ends, notes in Janis Ian’s Master Class
a common sight
David Roth, Janis Ian, Jon Vezner, and Greg Trafidlo
Patty Larkin on the stage of Vicki Genfan’s VickiVanGo
don’t even ask!
May, 2011
Once again spring and summer bring Tuesdays singing on Islander’s Beach from 5:30-7:30. If you’re coming to Hilton Head please join us, bring your instrument to play and sing or just bring your ears and voice to listen and sing along. Wednesdays continue to be Open Mike nights at Java Joe’s. I’ll be driving on a two-week trip that includes a concert in St. Louis and time with family and friends in Colorado. Back on island by the 20th, there will be a launch of my new CD, These Things Live On In Me, May 27 at Java Joe’s. Actually an EP, the new CD includes the four songs recorded in Nashville this fall and a bonus track where I’m singing with Kath Gileno. Kath will be joining me on the 27th. These Things Live On In Me honors my Mom, who passed away this February.
April, 2011
The recording in New York with Christine was a blast. Dubbed the “We Are the World for Wildlife”, there were about 20 of us recording in various groupings through out the night and a good time was had by all! Chris has named the group “The New York Guys & Dollphins All-Starfish Choir”, the song is in final mixing now and the children’s picture book by the same title, Hole in the Bottom of the Sea, is progressing nicely. Betsy Franco Feeney is the illustrator, you can see a previous book Betsy and Chris did Amoeba Hop. You can hear Chris singing the song here Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
March, 2011
I’m going to New York to record Hole in the Bottom of the Sea with Christine Lavin and others. Look for pictures and an update later in March.
January, 2011
A long needed new web page is now under construction. The basics are here now. Please check back often as new features are being added. If you’re on the island, come on by Java Joe’s on Wednesdays for an open mike that starts around 8 pm. Fridays you can always hear good acoustic music at The Rock, go to facebook for more information.
November, 2010
The end of October I went to TN and recorded four songs, These Things Live On In Me, Vancouver 7AM (last recording was in the 80s, it deserved a new version) Celebrate Success, and Get Out and Stay Out! (HHI FD education song). You can hear them on my myspace page. I was back in Nashville in mid November, this time teaching guitar classes at Glencliff High School. I’ve also started working with Christine Lavin on the ed resources and activities for her new children's book based on her new song No More Holes in the Bottom of the Sea. You can hear an early version of the song here. (Yes, some of the lyrics have been changed to be scientifically correct.)
September, 2010
It's been a very productive and fun summer. I worked on a couple of projects with Janis Ian for The Pearl Foundation, had an article published in Pink! Magazine, wrote a fire safety song for the HHI Fire Department, and helped Mom celebrate her 98th birthday by writing a new song, These Things Live On in Me (Mom's Song).
May, 2010
Coming to the island? Don't miss Tuesdays at Islander's Beach. Singing starts around 5:30 and goes until dusk. This will continue through October weather permitting.
In celebration of Earth Day 2010, free downloads are posted of environmental songs.
Joan's sixth CD, Look Around was released March 31, 2010. Further information can be found on the music link.
Joan’s fifth CD, I Find Peace, was released at Church at TidePointe fall 2009. Most of the songs were songs written specifically for church services. A limited edition CD, copies were given to all regular attendees.
Joan has been singing for the church service at Tide Pointe in Hilton Head for the past two years. She usually sings two Sundays a month and frequently writes songs specifically for the sermon.
Joan's educational songs are available for purchase by MP3 download from www.songsforteaching.com.