Club Vision: "Do I Sound All Right to You?"

Every so often I receive a call from Club Vision, a group of people who are blind and meet three times a week for lunch and entertainment at the Elks Lodge.

I hoped that I would receive a call and be able to schedule a time with them to practice one of my premiere stories.

My wish was granted.

I asked, "You know how normally I tell stories for an hour and then I'm done? I wondered if I could tell one big story and receive feedback instead."

"Sure."

The "big story" was the Colombian tale The Gardener's Wife. I hoped Holly Robison's schedule would be free so the harmony and songs could be shared in the way it would at the premiere.

She was.

Then I thought about my gestures and movements. I still wanted to tell it with these elements though most of my audience would not be able to see them.

I needed the story to be physically remembered as well as to the images and plot within it.

When the focus was on the Gardener's Wife, then I sat down. When it was in the palace with the King and Queen, then I stood up.

Yet, for today, the test was on the sound.

Could the story be strong enough without the visuals?

Though, my own hearing was crazy.

You may remember the post when my left ear seemed clogged. I had to rely on sound from my right ear.

Well, when we got to a part in The Gardener's Wife where the Girl "ooooo"s while on the Quest, I could not hear Holly.

I thought she missed it so I asked afterward, "Why didn't you "ooooo" at that one part?"

"I did!" she laughingly stressed.

Hmmm. And with the premiere in a few days, I did not see any moment to schedule a doctor's appointment.

Despite my lack of hearing, my audience heard well.

Most of their compliments was on the songs. They loved the harmony.

One person mentioned that the story seemed repetitive.

That comment made me smile because stories usually have things repeat at least three times. It is part of story structure.

The person did not elaborate whether "repetition" was a good thing or a bad thing.

I took it as a good sign when a lady asked more about the premiere. Though she heard one of the three stories, she seemed interested to attend the whole event.

I gladly shared the information.

Wow. The premiere is only five days away.

My internal countdown clock must have its "ticks" and "tocks" connected to my heart.

Maybe the people at Club Vision heard that, too!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Telephone Practice: Not Same as Live. . .But Doable

Sometimes someone goes out of town and the ideal in-person practices must change to another way: the telephone.

Since storytelling is based on more than voice, certain parts of the practice could not be critiqued such as body language, gestures, or facial expressions.

Besides these components, I could not interact with my story buddy/audience, Holly Robison, during the telling itself. Though Holly did harmonize a couple song with me so she was more a performing artist than audience for this story.

I recorded the whole telephone conversation with my mp3 recorder. In fact, I recorded every version of "The Gardener's Wife" so to be more aware of the evolution of the story.

Unfortunately, the cell phone is not the best way to practice, especially when singing with a partner is involved.

It seemed like I was the only one singing when the places called for it. Holly said she sung so I believe she did.

However, cell phones tend to delay your response--even if it is by a mili-second--but it can make a difference when singing in harmony!

The story was about 42 minutes long and I knew that with time the story would really be about 30-35 minutes in length.

It is better to have "too much" in the beginning so then there is room to get to its essence when it is show time.

After telling the piece, we discussed where would be the best places for Holly's help in harmonizing.

I added some moments for her to "oooo" the lullaby tune when the Girl went on the Quest to find her Two Brothers.

I am anxious to see Holly in-person and practice this story again.

Nothing can compare to the "live" performance!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Song Recording: The Stress of It All

Holly Robison, my story buddy for "The Gardener's Wife", could be counted on to determine the right harmony for the two songs within the piece.

She loves singing. . .perhaps more than me!

When she was a seven-year-old, she sang a song about her Dad for a talent show. Time has passed and she has continued this talent by singing with choirs that have toured from the Western States to Germany. Today she is part of The Choral Arts Society of Utah and the We Also Sing, a woman's choir in the Salt Lake valley.

Sometimes it is nerve-striking to sing around her when I reflect on her background.

Then I remember, "Hey, Holly is my friend!" and I am calm again.

Then there are the times when stress gets the better of me.

Holly held her recorder towards me so she could have the songs within "The Gardener's Wife". Since she would be out of town on January 16th, we would have to have practice over the telephone. We would need to have the harmony for the songs done by then.

The tune was still new for the grieving/pleading song as it came together only yesterday. Suddenly I wondered if I would be able to remember. The thought was enough to create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Again and again I asked for Holly to start the recorder to catch the tunes.

Always something went wrong.

It went so bad that I had to play the recording I made from my mp3 recorder so Holly could make a copy on her recorder.

I promised Holly I would be more confident with the tune by the time it was the premiere.

That was when Holly's normally-smiling-face stared at me seriously and said, "You know you can relax around me."

I thought about what she said.

The recording was made and I knew that in good times or in bad that Holly would be there for me.

Thank you, Holly, for being a wonderful friend!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

"The Gardener's Wife": Heart-Rhythms Put to Song

I paced the kitchen and sometimes the wooden planks would creak as I wondered what could be the tune of another song within "The Gardener's Wife" story.

The lullaby within the story with the words and lyrics came so fast to my mind that I half expected the same to happen with the grieving/pleading song.

As there is not a piano in my home, I could not tinker with the keys. Instead, I had to resort to humming, pausing, and determining if that tune was one I wanted to pursue.

My mp3 recorder was in my hand, always at the ready, in case a tune came.

I had the words for the song, which had three verses to be sung at different times in the story. Upon the whiteboard that hung by the refrigerator, I created words that Holly Robison could sing. This way she could harmonize on some lines and also sing different words at the same time I sung others.

Whenever Holly would sing within the story, I imagined that she represented the thoughts of the Gardener's Wife. Whenever I sang, then these were the words the Gardener's Wife sung out loud. I would sing solo the first three lines. Holly would sing a different tune for the first two lines of the chorus and then harmonize with me on the last line.

Below are the verses with Holly's extra parts in parentheses.

Verse 1:
A silent cradle.
A silent room.
A silent home much like a tomb.

Chorus:
Oh when oh when (please tell me when)
Will my wish be (deep in my heart)
In my arms to see.

Verse 2:
A lonely heartache.
A lonely hand.
A lonely baby from another land.

Chorus repeated

Verse 3:
An empty table.
An empty chair.
An empty family that should be there.
Chorus repeated

Finally, after recording a couple tunes for the lyrics, one stuck in my head.

I noticed that this tune was similar to the tune of the lullaby. That made me smile.

In life we have joy and we have sorrow. You cannot have life without one or the other. In this way, the lullaby and the grieving/pleading song complement each other. The lullaby becomes more sweet and the grieving/pleading song becomes more sad. Together, we have a complete person who sings these songs. For this story, it meant the Gardener's Wife.

Even the rhythm of the song had a kind of heartbeat to it with a "thum, tha, tha" and "thum, tha, tha" sound throughout.

I was excited to share this discovery with Holly, especially as I could not sing both parts during the chorus to make sure that the tunes created would work.

Though deep in my heart, I knew.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Geoff Rayback: Upright Bass Player for the Teller

Joshua Payne thought that Geoff Rayback (see picture) may be interested in the "Forsaken Brother" story and add to the accompaniment.

He was right.

I received the call from Joshua today. Geoff was officially our upright bass player.

I have yet to meet him in person. I do know Joshua and I trust him enough to extend that trust to Geoff.



What I know so far--
Geoffrey Rayback is a bassist and producer based in Salt Lake City. He has played with musicians such as Ernie Watts, Cronelius Bumpus, and Ward Swingle. He has engineered and produced more than twenty albums in styles ranging from straight ahead jazz to heavy metal and runs the independent record label Hibiscus Zombie Records.

This would add something more to the whole "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" program.

When I realized that Geoff could join guitarist Joshua Payne and singer/storyteller Holly Robison in this venture, I thought about one of my dreams as a teller.

One year I went with my husband to the Annual Christmas Concert put on by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Besides the world famous choir, there was the Orchestra on Temple Square, the Bells on Temple Square, dancers, and a storyteller.

The storyteller was always a big name--a celebrity name. Someone who did not label themselves as a storyteller on a daily basis.

I knew I would not reach celebrity status, but I played with the idea and asked my family, "Couldn't there be tandem telling with a celebrity?"

The emotions mixed with story and music and song and dance would lift me to the heavens. . .if not for a moment.

When looking at the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" program, Joshua and Geoff will provide "soundscapes" rather than tunes. This makes me wonder how close I may be to what I envisioned a few years before.

At this time, I welcome Geoff as well as Joshua and Holly to share their dreams for what could be the very near future.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

"The Gardener's Wife" & Heart-Song Scribblings

I always imagined two songs in "The Gardener's Wife": a grieving song and a lullaby.

While with my story buddy, Holly Robison, we explored the possibilities for the grieving song. The grieving song would be prompted when she is alone. She is strong when her husband is nearby.

In August 2008, I had the following ideas or what I labeled as "Scribblings from my Heart"--

An empty table.
An empty chair.
An empty family that should be there.

This was our starting point for our brainstorming and one of our handy tools was the thesaurus.

I realized that I would like to delve into the senses such as sight, sound, touch/feel, smell and taste. The empty table and chair were visual, but what about for sound or for touch/feel? Holly and I did not think that we could do much with smell or taste for this song.

I sensed that three verses were needed. Originally I thought the song would be sung all at once at the beginning. This would be before the Gardener's Wife is blessed with three children. Then I expressed to Holly that in some ways it was too bad that it would be sung once as the lullaby would be sung several times throughout the story.

Holly asked, "Does it have to be sung all at once?"

Silence. My mind racing.

"No, it doesn't!" I exclaimed.

As there are three children, one of the three verses could be sung before a baby comes to her. The lullaby would then be sung after a baby come.

First verse--rough draft:

A silent cradle.
A silent room.
A silent home that sounds like a tomb.

As not a single baby is in the home, it would be silent. The focus would be on the sense of sound.

Other things could be silent besides a cradle and room:

• laughter
• songs
• stories
• crying
• sharing
• chat/conversation/talk
• play
• room
• home
• corner
• place
  

Second verse--rough draft:

A lonely ______. (needs to be two syllables)
A lonely ______. (needs to be one syllable)
A lonely ___________________. (2nd and 3rd lines need to rhyme)

The Gardener's Wife knows that though she is not as lonely as before, she still does not feel complete. There is also not a playmate or sibling for the first baby. The focus would be on the sense of touch/feel.

Things that could create loneliness:

• moment
• time
• hour
• hand
• walk
• hug
• thought
• meal
• baby items
• places

Third verse--rough draft:

An empty table.
An empty chair.
An empty family that should be there.

The Gardener's Wife knows, as a mother, that someone is missing. A third child needs to come to the home. The focus would be on the sense of sight.

Other words could be like empty:

• barren
• nothing
• zero
• lack
• silent
• bare
• blank
• vacant
• unfulfilled
• forgotten

There will be a day when this "grieving" song will not be silent, lonely, or empty. All will be complete. . .soon.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Joshua Payne: Future Guitarist for the Teller

Thanks to the Daniel Day Trio for granting permission to post their picture.
(Left to right: Dave Bowen, Joshua Payne, and Daniel Day.)




Two months ago I talked with Clive Romney about the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production and how I imagined a musician, perhaps a guitarist, to accompany me during the story "Forsaken Brother", an Ojibwa tale.

He asked for an impromptu telling of tale, which I did, and then gave his recommendation: Joshua Payne.

The whole Payne family is musically inclined with Marvin Payne, the father, being the most famous as folksinger and actor. Marvin had been nicknamed "The Troubadour" with all his masterpieces.

His sons quickly turned to rhythm and cadence.

One of his sons, Sam Payne, performed at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival with guitar at the knee and later collaborated with Clive Romney, Nancy Hanson, and Tammy Robinson for the performing arts show that combined song, storytelling, dance and even quilting in "The Ghosts of Gardner Village".

Another of Marvin's sons, Joshua Payne, who has also played at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, joined his guitar talents with Daniel Day on drums and Dave Bowen on bass as part of the Daniel Day Trio. This group specializes in 80s, Contemporary, Jazz, and Neu-Jazz and original pieces upon request.

I called Joshua and left a message on his voice mail. I noticed that the Daniel Day Trio would perform at a restaurant about 20 minutes away from where I lived. Luckily, Joshua called back so I could let him know my plans to hear his group play and to introduce myself at the end.

I invited my neighbor, Teresa Cutler, to join me to hear the Daniel Day Trio as well as to enjoy some Japanese cuisine at the Tona Sushi.

Though I was able to hear some clips of music online from them, nothing replaces going in-person. The three musicians swung to the rhythms and grooves so that I found myself tapping my feet and nodding my head.

Afterward, I gave Joshua a copy of the "Forsaken Brother" story so he could see if it would be a story he would be inspired to create sound effects and songs. The printed version would not be the presented piece on stage. At least Joshua had somewhere to start.

Joshua expressed, "I am extremely interested. Rarely do I get a chance for creative pieces and that is what I love the most."

He even suggested that a friend of his may also be interested in the project and asked if I would be open to that thought.

I was thrilled by the idea and have yet to hear if his friend truly would like to participate.

In the meantime, I am pleased that it is likely that Joshua Payne will be joining my venture with the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

I called Clive Romney to thank him for the recommendation of Joshua Payne. Clive needed to know that I did remember though it had been two months to act upon it.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Lullaby of Love: Song of the Gardener's Wife

Songs and lullabies rushed to my mind after choosing "The Gardener's Wife" story for the grand finale piece of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love".

In a matter of moments, I could envision the gardener's wife rocking a baby in her arms. This image quickly switched to me caressing a baby. As my husband and I do not have children yet, such an image stirred emotions of great excitement.

The words came out of my mouth and I could see them sung to my future children.

In the story, a baby is sent to the gardener and his wife by the river. Water is also an essential part to birth.

So the words that came to me:
Oh my child, my precious child
The waters sent you here
Oh my child, my precious child
To have you close and near

This lullaby is short though such a song of love is often that way.

I called my storytelling friend, Holly Robison, and told her my discovery. I sung the lullaby to her and asked if she could sing it as a duet for a certain part of the story. We have told tandem tales before where we harmonized.

She said yes.

I explained that when the song is first sung, I would sing it. Then Holly would harmonize with me for the second time. She would "oooo" the tune while I narrated that throughout the village other mothers and fathers sung the song. This would be a hint to the audience to join in. As they would have heard the words twice and there are four lines with two lines repeating, then it would be simple enough. The words--though few--would also be in the program.

I may have an ASL interpreter so we would have the song in sign language.

Something happens when everyone sings together.

As the adopted children of the gardener and his wife grow up in the story, then the song will be sung again though not in such a dramatic way as the first time. However, the audience would be familiar with the tune and the words and could join in each time.

As the gardener and his wife wanted children for a long time, it seemed natural that the wife would have another song--a grieving song--while waiting for that moment.

The words and tune have yet to come to me.

There is a line that I feel must be part of it:
There's a hunger in my soul. I yearn for more.

As I explore the story more, then more inspiration will come.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Scribbling Songs from my Heart

I will create a few songs for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production, though I want one song to be a theme that shares different moods depending on how it is sung.

When this song is sung the first time, I would like a more upbeat and humorous feel. Upon the second time, I would like a more reflective mood from the audience.

Some of my inspiration comes from the musical "Oliver!", especially the "Food, Glorious Food" song as it has an endearing yet humorous quality when sharing the turmoils of being an orphan. Upon going beyond the tune and mood and into the lyrics, then the ironic twists are found.

Though no particular tunes have come to mind for my own program, I scribbled a bunch of phrases or words in several directions on a scrap piece of paper. Now I type some of my ideas here for you to explore. These ideas may or may not be transformed into a final product. I did not necessarily feel I had to rhyme yet sometimes it naturally came about. Most of the time, images and rhythm were more interesting.

One crumb.
Maybe two or three.
Perhaps four or five. . .just enough to stay alive.

You hear it?
The deep grumble below.
You feel it?
That tightening inside.
You see it?
The bones sticking out.

An empty table.
An empty chair.
An empty family that should be there.

Someplace--so far yet near.
A famine stalks the land.

There's a hunger in my soul. It yearns for more.

I will need to keep a notebook by my bed to capture any other phrases or thoughts that may inspire songs or stories.

As I read more multicultural tales, I may notice phrases or pieces that stand out and may merge well with the theme.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com