La musique de ma vie

Music seems to be in my life alot lately, with the new addition to my room of a radio I have been quite excited to have a good mix of English and French music to listen to instead of the same cds. Also last Thursday I went to kareoke night at the pub Le Chantier and had a hearty laugh at the French men signing Whitney Houston and the Bangles, my international friends signing "Yellow Submarine," and realizing that my job is needed here when Shakira's "Underneath Your Clothes" was spelled "Undermeat your clothe". And Monday nights is jazz night at the Mephisto where the adorable Italian Erasmus students got up onstage with the band and started signing in Italian and dancing. I also embarassingly had to sing a stanza of "I Believe I Can Fly" in class yesterday. Its a long story but basically my students randomly asked what that phrase meant and then they wouldn't let me move on with the lesson until I sang it because they thought I had a good voice. Blushingly I tried to divert the subject, then tried to make it an easier sillier song like one from "Lac du Bois" but no they wouldn't let up and I had to sing a stanza if I wanted to continue my grammar correction sentences on the board. To make it worse this classroom is in a portable where the walls are thin, so as I was exciting class my students from another class next door made a comment about how well I sing, so the whole class next door heard too! At least it was good comments (they said they thought it was a cd), but still embarassing. Then last night I went to the Opéra de Saint-Etienne with Heather and Bastienne to see "Les trois pentes de la lumière" by Mozart and played by the orchestra of St-Etienne. For some reason music such as that really puts my mind in a sense of reflection instead of relaxation, so that often I think about a million things while enjoying the music. Its like it gets the brain waves going. One of the reflections going through my mind was that its amazing how one person can individually come up with music for a whole orchestra which then acts as one body when they are playing. Its like all of their souls connect while joined in the song to create harmony. I also love how their bodies move with the music. I wish I had more of an ear for music, I was never one to hear differences when instruments are in tune or not, but I am glad I was in Symphonic Band because it really made me appreciate music more and I miss that connection you have, that feeling you get when you are surrounding by everyone playing and the music goes right through you. There was also a choir last night that sang with the orchestra and there were four prncipal members that just amazed how theuir voices carried all the way up to me in the balcony with no microphones. It gave me chills (chair de poule) and I can only imaginhe what their voices are like standing right in front of them. The concert also made me want a harp someday in my wedding, it was so gorgeous and fluid, and the man played the notes like his hands were made to move that way and know where to pull next, all without sheet music. I find that going to cultural events such as these or to museums don't teach me more about French people because the artists are from around the world, but instead art makes me reflect more on myself and how I view the world. It puts things into perspective for me, even if I don't understand what the artists' original intention was, and I hope I don't forget such reflections when I am away from these exhibits at home.