The Kitchen Musician ~ June 2024
Hello Friends,
Did I ever tell you that I can play the harmonica with no hands? … or that I can play a harmonica through my ear? No? I guess it is time for a demonstration. Join me in the kitchen!
Index
NEWS:
THIS MONTH’S MUSIC: “Harmonica Tricks & Dancing Jack”
UPCOMING SHOWS
FEATURED NON-PROFIT: Steps to Success
Photo by Kate McNally
News:
I had the great pleasure to join the Folk Show host, Kate McNally in the studios of New Hampshire Public Radio (see above photo). I have been listening to the Folk Show on Sunday evenings for a long time, so it was good to return to the studio, catch up with Kate and play a few songs live. If you missed it, you can listen at this link.
I am looking forward to several upcoming shows.
June 2, Sunday: Walnut Street Café, Lynn, MA (open mike feature)
June 15, Saturday: One Broadway Collaborative, Lawrence, MA (songwriter showcase)
June 25, Tuesday: The Optimist Café, Jaffrey, NH (dinner and a showcase)
July 14, Sunday: Dublin Community Center, Dublin, NH (songwriting workshop followed by a concert – with Wendy Keith)
August 24, Saturday: Peterborough, NH (family-friendly solo show)
August 31, Saturday: Rindge Historical Society, Rindge, NH (open mic feature)
All show details can be found at upcoming shows.
This Month’s Music: “Harmonica Tricks & Dancing Jack”
℗© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
I used to teach elementary and middle school math and science. The kids and I had a lot of fun learning and making all kinds of interesting things. I have frequently said that in some ways, my emotional development hit an apex between ages 9 and 12, so I was a perfect fit to teach grades 4 through 7. I tried to make every day a wonderful experience, but in spite of my best efforts, on some days the kids seemed uninterested. That’s when I would invite my friend Jack to the class.
My students called him “Dancing Jack”, a derivative of “limberjack” which is how most people refer to this folk toy, commonly found in the Appalachian Mountains near where I grew up. My limberjack toy is a person figure, but I have seen limberjack dogs, horses, goats, chickens and more. I have visited with my former students (some now in their 50’s) who tell me that the best days in my class were when Jack would visit and dance to my harmonica while I played it with no hands.
Among the lessons I taught were the science of sound and anatomy of the hearing system. We had a lot of fun making musical instruments, and when it came time to learn the parts of the middle and inner ear, I’d casually mention that I could play harmonica through my ear. The students always insisted that I demonstrate, and I of course refused until they forced me to show them how I do this – complete with a full diagram of the parts of the middle and inner ear. For some reason, students never had any difficulty passing the ear anatomy part of the final exam.
Here is a video of me in my kitchen, reliving a little of what it was like to be in my classroom.
Make every day a “Dancing Jack” day!
Tom
(If so inclined, I invite you to leave a comment by scrolling to the end of this page.)
Featured Non-profit: Steps to Success
I encourage you to get involved to support education in your local community. There are many ways to do this. One of the education non-profits I support in my community is Steps to Success. “The mission of Steps to Success is to promote equity for students from low-income families in Brookline by expanding their horizons, building upon their skills, and supporting their educational journey in order to maximize their life choices.” … “Steps has served more than 4000 students to date, through out of school time programs such as afterschool, vacation programs and camp access, career readiness through paid internships and workshops, and college success through advising, mentoring, and financial aid access.”
Join me in supporting Steps to Success!
Full disclosure: The new executive director of Steps to Success is a friend of my family.
Elaine
June 1, 2024❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Tom
June 1, 2024Hugs back, Elaine. 🙂
Virginia Amsler
June 1, 2024You and Jack have more moves than I’ve ever had!
Tom
June 3, 2024I needed a little silliness to balance the news these days. Thanks for “joining me” Miss Ginny. :).
Barbara
June 1, 2024Made my day with a few chuckles! Thanks Tom for the smiles!
Tom
June 3, 2024Smiles? Then this was a success. 🙂
Dave Mason
June 2, 2024Wonderful! Dancing Jack is great!
Tom
June 10, 2024Thanks Dave. It was wonderful to meet you in person last week. Safe travels!
Jon McAuliffe
June 2, 2024Tom, every time I see one of your Kitchen Musician installments, I’m convinced you’re on your way to becoming an Americana superstar, known the world over. You have such a distinctive and rare talent as an artist, and sometimes a comedian (limberjack falling off the stick). Over the years I’ve become a true fan and a very impressed and slightly jealous singer/songwriter. Your talents cannot be invented. They have to come gradually and over a long, long period of discovery, with more than an insight into the spiritual. You are a great, great artist and I am a great, great fan of all you do. Thank you.
Tom
June 3, 2024Thank you for these very kind comments, Jon. I’m blushing. 🙂 … and the admiration is mutual. Keep those great songs coming!
Nia
June 3, 2024Tom — your love of music and the joy of childhood is palpable (and contagious!). Thank you for featuring Steps to Success, and our work to bring greater educational equity to Brookline! ❤️
Tom
June 10, 2024Thanks for stopping by, Nia. Grateful for your continued work to make the world a better place. Steady on!
Edith and ED
June 5, 2024this was a great sesssion ! I’ve shared it with a special ed teacher in CT who is also covering some bi=lingual classes.
Tom
June 10, 2024Thank you for your kind comment. Thinking of this being helpful to a teacher makes it a good day. 🙂