Mama Diaries

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Music and Words Award





I would like to thank my super awesome blog buddies, Shady Del Knight and Chrys Fey, for nominating me for the Music and Words Award. I guess they know how much I love music and words!


The Music and Words Award was created by music fan Andrea aka Miss Andi for the purpose of acknowledging and bringing together music loving bloggers from  all over the world and sharing info
about artists and music of all genres. No one is obligated to accept the MWA, but those who do are asked to  follow these five steps:



1.) Link back to the person who nominated you.
2.) Answer the questions with words AND music.
3.) Pass the award on to 5 other people. Make sure you notify them.
4.) Tag your post with #MWA for Music & Words
     Award so we can all find you down the line.
5.) Quote these 5 steps and display the award icon
     in your post and also on your sidebar if you wish.


Now on with the questions:


Question number 1:  What does music mean to you?


 Music is a huge part of my life. I play and teach violin, viola, and piano. This is something I do almost every day, and I really couldn't imagine not doing it. Music is a way of expressing things that can't always be expressed in words. It's also a language that can be understood, no matter what country you are from, or what other language you may speak. Music has some great benefits, too. It helps one think analytically, creatively, and can help with social skills. That's why I'm a huge supporter of music education.


Question number 2:  What is your first music-related memory?


Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved music. I always gravitated toward musical toys. It probably drove my parents crazy. I remember banging on a toy xylophone when I was two years old. I secretly think that when I couldn't find it, my mom had hidden it so that she wouldn't have to listen to the incessant cacophony! Here's a picture of me when I was three years old. I had gotten a toy guitar for Christmas. It was the best thing ever. As you can see, I was far more interested in the guitar than anything else!




Question number 3:  What was the first album you purchased?

It was a CD by Selena, called Dreaming of You. You can find it here.  The first time I heard Selena  (Selena Quintanilla) sing, I thought she had the most beautiful voice. It was also at a time when I was interested in learning Spanish. I thought listening to her music was the perfect way to start learning Spanish. I think I have every CD she ever made - and I memorized all the lyrics, too!

Here's a video of her, if you'd like to listen. This is, I Could Fall In Love, one of her hit cross-over songs.


Question number 4:  What was the latest music you purchased?

Calm Within, Music for Relaxation of Body and Mind, by my friend, Grammy Winning Artist, Laura Sullivan. You can find it here. Laura is a very talented pianist, and her music is very calming. If you're familiar with Secret Garden, it's kind of like that.

 
Here's a sample of music by her. This is called, Lady of the Lake. 




Question number 5:  Which song did you listen to last?

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. The orchestra I play with is performing it for our next concert. I always like to listen to the music I'm going to play, so I can get an good idea of how everything fits together.  This is Leonard Bernstein performing it:
 

 


Now I'm supposed to nominate five other bloggers for this award. I would have nominated Shady, because he's such an obvious choice. In fact several other people thought so, too. He's been nominated several times. If you don't follow him, stop by. He shares a lot of music information and videos of music from the past. Plus he's a great guy!  I'd also nominate Alex Cavanaugh, but he's probably another one who has been nominated a billion times. In case you don't know him, he's the guitar-playing ninja captain. Janie Junebug does Battle of the Bands on her blog from time to time, so I'm going to nominate her. Plus she's a really nice person, too. And a good editor! Finally, I'll nominate Dawna. She shares the coolest African music and reggae music on her blog. It's not stuff I'd normally hear, so it's fun to go over and have a listen. I know that's only four, and two probably don't even count. So, if you are a huge music fan, and/or a participator in the Battle of the Bands thing that goes around in the blogosphere, consider yourself nominated!

So, what does music mean to you, and what is your favorite type of music?   

47 comments:

  1. Thank you! Two nominations in one week.
    Can't beat getting a guitar as a gift. Trust me.

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    1. For musicians, there's nothing like getting an instrument as a gift!

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  2. Hi, dear Sherry!

    What a marvelous acceptance speech, dear friend! I agree that music is the universal language. I never met a person who does't consider music to be an integral part of life. If such a person exists, I feel very sorry for him or her. Music stimulates and develops the brain of the person who creates it and the person who listens to it. Music enriches our lives.

    You really do seem focused on your guitar in that picture snapped when you were age three. I remember those toy xylophones and how my toddler age niece and nephew banged on them for hours. I had bongo drums, then a drum pad, and finally a full drum kit (to the dismay of our neighbors :)

    I well remember the Tejano music star Selena and the biopic that gave J.Lo her breakthrough film role opposite Edward James (Stand and Deliver/Miami Vice) Olmos.

    Nothing is as soothing and calming as a piano solo and I thoroughly enjoyed Laura Sullivan's piece. "Rhapsody in Blue" is magnificent and made my day!

    Thank you very much for accepting this award, for doing such an excellent job presenting a post about it, and for your kind words about me and my blog, my treasured friend!

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    1. Thank you once again, for nominating me for the award. I think life would be a bit on the boring side without music. Could you imagine movies without music?

      Laura has a new CD coming out soon. Should be good!

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  3. Great photo of you and the guitar. I enjoy Gershwin

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  4. Congrats on the award! Music used to mean a whole lot more to me when I was younger. Then I got a bit bitter about it all when I changed majors from vocal performance to classics. I still enjoy lots of different types of music.

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    1. Sorry you didn't have a good experience in college. But glad you still enjoy music.

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  5. Congratulations on the award. Music is a wonderful part of our lives. I enjoy Laura Sullivan's music, it's so calming and beautiful.

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    1. Laura has a new CD coming out soon. I'm looking forward to listening to it.

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  6. It's always fun to be nominated by your peers for an award! Congrats! Enjoyed learning a little about you and music. Adore the photo! What a pretty little family!

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    1. I actually remember having that photo taken. They wanted me to pay attention to the camera, but I was definitely more interested in the guitar! I played with that thing all day.

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  7. Didn't know you was originally blond :) I was blond too and then my hair grew darker at about 7 and then I lost it at college LOL

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    1. Yes, I had very light hair when I was young. It got darker after moving back to Ohio from Florida. (I was 10.) Now it's just as dark as my dad's was.

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  8. I did know how much you love music. That's why you were an easy pick for the award. You're welcome! :)

    I just love Selena. "I Could Fall in Love" is one of my all-time favorites of hers. I also like "Captive Heart". Have you ever heard that one? It has an interesting feel to it.

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    1. Yes, I know Captive Heart. You're right, it does have a different feel. One of my favorites is Como La Flor.

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  9. Congratulations On the Award .I don't much about music but I do like Listening to the songs which are soothing and help me de-Stress :)

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    1. Music can help you de-stress. It can affect you emotionally.

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  10. Congrats on the music award. You deserve it. :-)

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  11. Congrats on the award. I bet your mom did hide it haha I would, just for a bit.

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    1. As a mom, I can certainly understand her wanting to hide it.

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  12. Congrats on the award.

    What does music mean to me? That's a hard one. So many people seem so connected to music, but I prefer silence most of the time. That's not to say I don't appreciate music. I do. I played the oboe in school, and I did music theory, music history, and performance in college. I didn't quite complete a music minor, but I was like one class away. So, I have a bit of a background...

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    1. Interesting that you completed a music minor. Music is something I feel, and I get a lot of enjoyment from playing. I feel like I've accomplished something after learning a new piece.

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  13. This was interesting to read about you Sherry... I wasn't a music fan when it came to instruments but I think that was because I wasn't encouraged... however; I loved, loved, loved music... I own a wide variety and well over 1000 songs... I too loved Selena xox

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    1. Selena was a terrific artist. Too bad her life was cut short.

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  14. Congrats on the award. Music is an art form that sweeps me away. I have my favorites, but I'd like to listen to more genres.

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  15. Great read..congratulations Sherry! and thank you so much for nominating me!

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  16. Congrats on the award. I really like that picture of you smitten by the guitar. It's beautiful that at such an early age you have found the love for music.

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  17. Congrats on the award, Sherry! It's great getting to know you better :D

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  18. What a great way to celebrate this season! Congrats on the reward. I love most music and I choose to listen to different types depending on what I'm doing and how I feel.

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    1. I really enjoy music - and I have to say, I enjoy playing even more than sitting and listening to it.

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  19. Hope you had a wonderful Easter! I love that picture of you with the guitar. :)

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    1. Hope you had a great Easter, too. I loved that little guitar!

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  20. I had a toy guitar when I was four. Instead of strings and frets it had buttons down the neck which would sound a scale of notes and there were some big buttons on the body that played demo music.

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    1. My kids had a guitar like that. They also had one with frets and strings. Interestingly, they liked the one with buttons. Instant gratification. :)

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  21. Congratulations on the award! How awesome and exciting!

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  22. Thanks, Vanessa! Hope you enjoyed your Easter.

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  23. Hi Sherry, congrats on this award. Your post is very inspiring. I'm listening to Selena right now and it's beautiful! I love that you have a musical background and play in an orchestra. I admire your musical talent!

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