Fluidity

FLUIDITY

By Angie Mack Reilly © 4/3/16

When I think of the word “fluidity” I think of smooth.

Easy.

Free.

Without restraint.

Healthy.

Flowing.

Adapting.

Changing.

Happy.

Soft.

Full of grace.

Simple.

Not stuck.

Not rigid.

Not hard.

Not strict.

(An antonym for fluidity is jelly.)

Sticky.

As in, “he got himself into a jam”.

So the next time I am asked,

“Why are you doing this?  Or, why are you doing that?”

Or, the next time I am judged or asked how or why,

I will respond,

I am simply.

Yes, simply.

Unashamedly.

Being fluid.

fluidity 2.jpg

I have been pondering the concept of “fluidity” now for about six months.  It’s a word that I have been meditating on especially when I go to my secret hiding place to relax and stretch in the water.  And, when nobody is looking, I play.  There has been this urge inside off me to understand what it means to live life fluidly.  I have sought for answers in the water much like a child diving for a coin at the bottom of the pool.  I have felt that there is a treasure in “fluid living” (if there is such a thing….)

If not, I am coining and copywriting it now.  FLUID LIVING.

It’s one of my top priorities these days.

 

YES

By Angie Mack Reilly

As a longtime performing arts coach, it is quite customary for me to be a cheerleader.

“Yes!  You can learn how to write music!”

“Yes!  You can learn to play piano at age 83!”

“Yes!  You can be a mom and still get on stage to perform!”

In a world of negativity, it feels good to be a coach for positivity.

SteveHeston

“Angela is a solid voice teacher and a very capable performer who deals naturally in “possibility thinking.” That makes her students and fellow performers function with the positive in mind, and creates better progress accordingly. Her work with our daughter helped foster a love for the stage and for music and I recommend her as a means of achieving similar outcomes.” –Steve Heston, Founder and Managing Principal at The Heston Group

One of my favorite quotes that a former pastor of mine used to say was, “There are fire-fighters and there are fire-lighters”.  In other words, there are those who can cast suspicion, negativity and doubt on our dreams and there are those who cheer us on and say, “Yes, YOU CAN!”

Reflecting back, I am recalling people who cheered me on.  Tracy, Alicia, Sippy, Sheri, Matthew, Annette……

We all need those people in our lives who say, “YES” when we are feeling a little bit of doubt in ourselves.

Bethany Burnham

“Before I met Angie, I didn’t have much confidence in my singing. I thought I was solely an actor who didn’t have a chance of singing on stage. Now I’m studying acting in New York City, and I’ve sang in every show I’ve been in here. Thanks to Angie, instead of second guessing myself, I say ‘no problem’ …”  –Bethany Burnham, PACE School of the Performing Arts, New York

Who are the people in your life who cheer you on and say, “YES!” ?  You need them….thank them for having faith in YOU!

 

When You Can’t Help But Being a Musician

by Angie Mack Reilly

Contact:  angie@ozaukeetalent.com

I have always said that “my people” are musicians.  I have come to know a lot of musicians over the years and the world needs to understand that we are a different breed.

We play to the beat of our own drum.  We’re sensitive.  We struggle.  We dream.  We express.  We communicate with our fingers and our voices.  We get excited about chords, licks, tabs and, most of all, our own creations.  We’re innovative.  We can be socially awkward.  We have a language of our own and we are content being alone.  We are prone to big egos and addictions.  We think differently.  Most of us are poor.

I have tried for many years to be “other things” that promised better pay.  But in the end, I am realizing that I just can’t help but being a musician.  These are the cards that I have been dealt.  It’s what I am good at.  It’s what I love.  And mentoring others to be musicians is equally as rewarding.

The other day, I had a conversation with a performing musician who has been going through relational  issues.  His partner doesn’t like the time he spends on the road or collaborating with other musicians.  But that’s what he’s good at.  When he gets on stage, he mesmerizes audiences with the skills he has spent countless hours trying to perfect.  He gets a sense of satisfaction performing for others.  He’s working on a new album.  And all of this takes time.  How can he quit being something that he JUST IS?

I know other musicians who have jobs to pay the bills.  But there is always a gnawing hunger within them to play music and to create music.

A few weeks ago, a lady from the U.S Census Bureau visited my house because I didn’t have time to fill out the survey they sent in the mail.  She told me that in a lot of European countries, people are recorded as being WHAT THEY ARE as opposed to what their job is.  So she recorded me as being a musician and Matthew as being an artist.   Because that’s who we are, like it or not.

the wrecking crew

The other day, we watched a great movie on Netflix called The Wrecking Crew about musicians.  During that movie, I couldn’t help but seeing myself.  A lightbulb went off.  “I AM A MUSICIAN.  And there is no shame in that.  I am wired this way.  God gifted me this way for a reason.  I need to quit apologizing for being a musician just because I haven’t made as much money as other people in other professions.  I am still valuable.  I need to be proud of the fact that I am a musician rather than embarrassed.”

When I see a piano, my hands immediately pull my body over to the keys.  I didn’t choose this skill set.  I was born with a love for music and I was fortunate to have parents who supported my talent through providing musical tools and instruments as a child as well as exposing me to a myriad of great music over the years.

Some people are just musicians.  They need to make and/or play music unless they die.

 

 

Purple Polka Dots, Star Shower Lights & a Disco Ball

by Angie Mack Reilly

Contact:  angie@ozaukeetalent.com

My current private music students and I are extremely excited to be moving into our Music Lab May 1st!  In the ABOUT section of this site, I mentioned that this is going to be an organic process that I will document along the way.

As a longtime performing artist, it has been highly customary for me to collaborate with other creatives.  For me, this has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the creative process.  Whether it’s a team of us putting on a musical or a team of us performing music together, I find creative collaboration to be one of the most exciting aspects in my line of work.  Gathering a group of creatives together to brainstorm is truly one of my favorite passions!

In thinking about the design for the Music Lab, who better to design it but music lovers themselves?

So I began asking some of my current students, “What do you think would make a really cool Music Lab?”  We all agree that we MUST have a disco ball!  I LOVE it!  Collaboration from the “get go”!

The first answer that I got was, “We should have a slide that you can slide down if you sing a note right!”  I wasn’t expecting such a random answer, but then again, this is how the creative mind thinks.  She also wants us to project Star Shower Laser Lights in the room.  How cool would that be??

Another student of mine loves playing the computer developing game SimCity and has been spending time drawing plans for me complete with the color scheme for the room.  She thinks that we need to have the room green because it is calming and reviving.  She would like to see purple polka dotted chairs, lime green Chinese lanterns, project tables, orange accents and a mini refrigerator with water to name few.

Music Lab Design

And gadgets.  We  NEED gadgets.  And noise makers of all kinds!  We could really use some donations in these areas!  What do you have laying around??

I have also been given great ideas from some of my adult musician friends that include “BUILD A GUITAR” workshops and a way to tie learning about the environment into learning about music.  My local musician friends are very passionate about the environment!  More brainstorming to be done.

Right now, I am in the process of gathering ideas.  You see, this isn’t “ALL ABOUT ME” Music Lab.  No.  This is about a space that creatives of all ages  feel comfortable exploring in, participating in and creating dreams in!

So bring on the purple polka dots, Star Shower Laser Lights and disco ball!

And PLEASE, if you have anything laying around that you think we could use, please contact me right away!  Recycling used and unwanted items is all a part of the vision! 

Current WISH LIST

Mailing Address:  Ozaukee Talent, 1111 Broad Street, Grafton, WI 53024

  • Disco Ball
  • Star Show Laser Lights
  • Lime Green Chinese Lanterns
  • Fun Furniture and Round Project Tables
  • Gadgets
  • Noise-makers
  • Instruments
  • Music Equipment and Gear
  • Lime or Sage Green, Orange, Purple or Periwinkle Accents including rugs
  • Slide
  • Canary and Cage
  • Plants
  • Karaoke
  • Music Books, Records, CDs
  • Headphones, Portable Music Players
  • Computers
  • Electronics
  • Aromatherapy
  • Mini refrigerator
  • Treasure Chest
  • Trinkets for Treasure Chest
  • People to help paint the room
  • People to help move small items into the room

Please note that Ozaukee Talent is not currently a 501c3 nonprofit organization so I cannot give you a receipt if that makes a difference.    Let me know if you have anything to let us borrow or if you have any unwanted items laying around.  Much appreciated! 

 

 

 

Ozaukee Talent Announces Interactive Music Lab Coming to Grafton, WI

 

by Angie Mack Reilly

Ozaukee Talent is pleased to announce that its “headquarters” will be located on the 3rd floor of the North Shore Academy of the Arts building beginning May 1.  The historic building is located at 1111 Broad Street in Grafton and attached to the Grafton Library.

Coming soon will be a music laboratory and non-traditional music classroom for hands-on and multi-media learning.  More developments will be unfolding in the near future.  Equipment donations for the music lab are now being appreciated.

Classes have  JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED for this summer.  Registration must be done in advance by contacting angie@ozaukeetalent.com

http://www.ozaukeetalent.com

NAIL THAT AUDITION!  Do you have an audition coming up?  How about the next school production?   Good preparation and coaching is key!  Bring in any information about the show that you are auditioning for to this helpful workshop.  Come prepared to learn, practice and get personal tips for improvement from an experienced audition judge, producer and director for children’s theater.

Instructor:  Angie Mack Reilly, founder of Ozaukee Talent, email angie@ozaukeetalent.com

Dates/Times:  Three separate workshops:

WORKSHOP 1:  6/20   9:00 am to 4:00 pm

WORKSHOP 2:  7/11   9:00 am to 4:00 pm

WORKSHOP 3:  8/11 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Ages:  5 to 14

Cost:  $110 per workshop

OPEN MUSIC LAB!  Explore musical concepts in our brand new interactive musical learning lab!  Hands-on activities, experiments, projects and fun learning activities will be provided!  Try out various instruments and performance costumes!  Sing songs with Miss Angie!  Dance and get excited about music!  Parents, use your own discretion regarding parental supervision during the hour.  Located on NSAA’s third floor.

Instructor:  Angie Mack Reilly, founder of Ozaukee Talent, email angie@ozaukeetalent.com

Dates/Times:  Open all Wednesdays in June, July and August 10:30 am to 11:30 am.  (100% attendance not required.)

Ages:  3 to 10 with or without parental supervision (staff will be on site)

Cost:  $110 for the entire summer.  Sign up a sibling for HALF OFF!

YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC CLASS!  Learn favorite children’s songs and motions, play interactive singing games with others, hear musical stories and more!   “Miss Angie” has been teaching music to children since 2001 and loves making musical learning fun! Located on NSAA’s third floor.

Instructor:  Angie Mack Reilly, founder of Ozaukee Talent, email angie@ozaukeetalent.com

Dates/Times:  Open all Wednesdays in June, July and August 9:30 am to 10:30 am (100% attendance not required.)

Ages:  Kindergarten and Elementary without parental supervision

Cost:  $110 for the entire summer.  Sign up a sibling for HALF OFF!

SING ON STAGE!  Do you love singing?  Now is your chance to sing your favorite songs like a true performer on stage, in costume and for a live audience!  We will rehearse while receiving group vocal lessons and will help you create your very own stage persona!  Bring your favorite songs to class!  A production for family and friends will be held during the last class.  Be sure to invite a friend to join with you!

Instructor:  Angie Mack Reilly, founder of Ozaukee Talent, email angie@ozaukeetalent.com

Dates/Times:  Thursdays 1:00 to 2:30

Session 1:  6/16, 6/23, 6/30, 7/7, Performance 7/14 (100% attendance not required)

Session 2:  7/21, 7/28, 8/11, 8/18, Performance 8/25 (100% attendance not required)

Ages:  9 and up

Cost:  $90

YOUR FAVORITE DRAMA CLASS!  Play fun, interactive drama games, learn some new theater techniques, gain confidence, work with props, and act in costume, meet new friends and be prepared to laugh a lot!  “Miss Angie” is an experienced actress and theater director who has been teaching drama to children since 2001 and loves making drama fun! Located on NSAA’s third floor.

Instructor:  Angie Mack Reilly, founder of Ozaukee Talent, email angie@ozaukeetalent.com

Dates/Times:  Open all Wednesdays in June, July and August 1:30 am to 2:30 pm (100% attendance not required.)

Ages:  Elementary age without parental supervision

Cost:  $110 for the entire summer.  Sign up a sibling for HALF OFF!

PRIVATE LESSONS:  “Miss Angie” is a musician and actress who has been performing, directing and teaching for 15 years.  Testimonials and referrals available on www.ozaukeetalent.com.  Lessons available in piano, voice, guitar, percussion, acting and songwriting.  Email angie@ozaukeetalent.com to inquire about available openings and pricing.

 

 

 

 

 

Connecting Grafton, WI to Nationwide PBS

A Successful Pitch to a National Television Show!

by Angie Mack

It had to be done.  More people needed to hear about the Paramount record label!!  They needed to know that Grafton, a small Wisconsin town, played a huge role in the music scene.  They needed to know more about the artists who recorded in Grafton and other places like Chicago and New York.  America needed to know!

Beginning in 2004, I began emailing everyone that I could think of who would be interested in connecting to the Paramount story.  I signed a lot of my email letters as “passionate about Paramount.”  (Did I ever email you?  Would you mind emailing me a copy at angie@ozaukeetalent.com ?)

One of the hundreds of places I wrote was the PBS show, History Detectives.  I knew that it was a long shot.  After all, they only film less than 2% of their story submissions per year.  However, the producer had taken interest and I began corresponding with the production team, I want to say, for entire year before it even aired.

Apart from airing nationwide, PBS has been promoting it online as well.  By now, the YouTube segments have been seen by over 35,000 people!

You can watch the first episode here.  Look for Part 2 on YouTube.