What I did on my summer vacation

20 08 2013

Lotus at Buddha Buddha ©2013 Rebekah LukeSo very fortunate am I to have experienced the genius of two brilliant teachers in performing arts this month.

I learned from among the best, if not the best, in their craft: Rod Eichenberger, for choral conducting, and Mark W. Travis, for play-writing and acting.

How about that for “what I did on my summer vacation?!” 🙂

The creative voice in me said to seek out their coaching to develop my skills in music and writing.

I had taken their workshops once before, so I knew ahead of time I liked their methods and that they would not let me fail.

The music workshop was in Cannon Beach, Oregon, and the writing workshop was in Hauula, Oahu.

I decided to invest the time and the tuition. I left the studio and family behind for a few weeks for the adventure. Please know I am not looking for a job or a new career. Rather, I find it exciting to learn new things. In the end, it is satisfying to know that I can do it, thanks to excellent and caring mentors.

Going back into the classroom at my age was healing as well. In Reiki terms, “healing” means “the feeling of being whole.”

I recommend to anyone interested in singing and choral work at any level, or writing of any kind, that they learn technique from Rod and Mark. With many, many years of professional and teaching experience, both men have a following of disciples that enrolls annually.

The workshops were full when I inquired, but at the last minute spaces opened up, and I was invited to attend. I was lucky and so very grateful.

The Choral Conductors Professional Development Workshop with Rod Eichenberger is described in my earlier post.

In Mark’s new class “Write Your Life/On Your Feet,” he teaches students how to convert a biographical short story to a script, how to develop characters, and how to stage a show. He applies his experience as a film director and his knowledge of camera angles to staging actors for a live audience. He directs the characters, not the actors.

Both mentors will show you successfully how to get rid of any bad habits in performing and show you new tricks. At the end of five days you will be transformed! That’s what they promise, and they’re right. Each and every time.

Thanks to George Fox University and Alice Anne Parker for sponsoring these fantastic and amazing opportunities.

Next stop: L’Italia! Please check back in September when I’ll be posting from Toscana, Roma, and Napoli! ~ RL

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke

Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : About me, Music, Reiki Healing, Travel

Story, laughter, song

11 05 2013

Today’s post honors The Story. And a newly found twist. The Song.

My adult life work has been all about story—finding and writing it for the daily news, crafting ideas for a magazine, supporting college faculty with features, writing ad copy.

From the pen I gravitated toward photojournalism and photographic images to tell stories. Environmental portraiture, or people in their surroundings, became my forté for a time.

My Hawaiian landscapes in oil have no people in them. They represent scenes of which viewers may create their own stories. I paint pictures of places where you might have been and want to remember, and of places where you might rather be.

Three unrelated gifts support The Story, and I pass them on hoping they will inspire you as much as they have inspired me.

Tomorrow is Mark W. Travis‘s 70th birthday, and he is observing his big year with a trip around the world to continue his fine work as a film director and teacher of film directors and playwrights. Happy birthday, Mark! Hope to see you in the Islands.

Twice I took Mark’s Solo Autobiography workshop. I think he calls it Write Your Life now. Aside from drilling the class in clever techniques, Mark has the uncanny skill of listening to my lines and pinpointing the exact vulnerable spot in my heart that needs exploring. The real story. He stabs it right away, then twists deeper to that place where I don’t want to go. Unhhh. But that becomes the start of writing authentically. And it’s very healing.

I stopped going to his classes—too much crying—and he acknowledged, that’s okay, as long as you keep writing. I follow him on Facebook and read his blog, which is where I came across the second gift:

A story about an African tribe. It’s here: http://thegodmolecule.tumblr.com/post/48146343226/here-is-a-tribe-in-africa-where-the-birth-date-of

Since I’ve tuned in to my own music, writing down the melodies in my mind, this intrigues me. It suggests Song before Story. I hope you will click on the link to read the article. When Mark Travis swings by here in August, he will teach “Write Your Life/On Your Feet” for the first time, coaching the performance and delivery of autobiographical material. I’m on the waiting list.

Thirdly, I must point you to Playing Your Hand Right – Showing America How to Live, the funniest and sexiest writing I’ve ever read. Fact or fiction, seriously real or lovingly poking fun, it doesn’t matter, it’s hilarious! Oh, the stories! Definitely XX-rated. Damn educational if you’ve been sheltered and just read newspapers. Haha! Taylor Oceans is the author who “liked” and “followed” my blog (and everyone else’s) to attract readership to his. He says he needs to amass a following to prove to a publisher his work is successful, so he can make some honest money and buy his dream sailboat. At least that’s his story, and I say he’s there. Apologies if you find his writing offensive. It makes me laugh.

My take-away is that we always have Story. The best ones make you Laugh. But how about we listen more closely and tune in to our Song.

Copyright 2013 Rebekah Luke

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : About me, Fine Art, Memoir, Music