We had a great time playing at the Jazz Cafe in the Music Hall in Detroit recently. There was another band in the line-up (Bogden Vasquaf) and we sat in on each other's sets. This is what I love about music, you meet people for the first time, you already have a common language.
The lead singer in the band was a mailman by day and inventor by night. He has created an upright string bass made out of a cardboard box! This is serious business! He collaborated with engineers to come up with a great sounding, affordable solution for those who don't have ready cash for the real thing. In fact he has sold over 1000 of these world-wide in stores and on the Internet! There is a thriving cottage industry out there of folkie musicians who make instruments out of everything from cigar boxes to gourds. It's amazing what they come up with. This is the kind of ingenuity we need to see more of to combat this brutal economy! You can find out more about the "box bass" at http://www.edencompanies.com/bogdon/.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Music for the last journey
I did something earlier this week that I’ve done before, but this time it finally had a different meaning. First, here’s a little background. I play the cello for patients in the “No One Dies Alone” program at St. Joe’s Hospital in Pontiac MI. I learned from the staff at the hospital that death, like birth, can be a process with stages. When someone is dying naturally, it takes time for the body to shut down. Most of the people I visit are very old and are “actively dying”, meaning they only have a little time left--maybe days or hours. They have no family or friends to be at bedside, so volunteers come to sit with them. We are trying to help them travel through the last stages of life comfortably and peacefully. That’s where music comes in.
The patients are always lying there unconscious, but I’m told they can still hear. That’s one of the last senses to go. I quietly set up my cello next to the bed and start playing. No songs, just bowing the low strings of the cello at first. These low strings really vibrate, and the sound fills the room. After a little time passes, I start playing simple folk songs or hymns. I watch the person lying in bed to see how they are breathing. Sometimes when I first come into the room, the person’s breathing is very labored and shallow. I have learned that this is a sign of stress. I keep playing these simple, soothing melodies and after a while, I notice that the person lying there is breathing more calmly and deeply. Sometimes I hear quiet snoring. They’ve fallen asleep and gotten a little respite from the work of dying.
Those who are out on the floor often stop in to say hi and chat with me. They hear the music in the hall and it draws them in. There’s always a story about a relative who plays the cello, or just gratitude for the music. Somehow, those mellow sounds of the cello have a way of softening the rough edges of their day. In the past, these were the people who motivated me to come and play. I liked the encouragement, compliments, etc. from the people who were walking around (and talking to me!). The person I came to see would “just lie there”. But with more experience, I’ve gotten better at noticing the subtle reactions of the dying person. When I left, the man was breathing so softly and calmly. Completely different from when I came in. Noticing this change made me feel that the music had made a difference.
Music makes life so much richer. How many people can say, “Today I helped make someone’s last journey a little easier”. I’m glad I have this gift to give.
Playing for these patients also reminds me to reflect on the decisions I make in my own life. Why are they dying alone? Is it because they’ve driven away everyone who tried to love them, or just have the bad luck of outliving those who cared. I don’t know the answer and it doesn’t matter. I’m there to give, not to judge. If life is made up of small gestures, let me take time to consider my own actions, while I still can.
The patients are always lying there unconscious, but I’m told they can still hear. That’s one of the last senses to go. I quietly set up my cello next to the bed and start playing. No songs, just bowing the low strings of the cello at first. These low strings really vibrate, and the sound fills the room. After a little time passes, I start playing simple folk songs or hymns. I watch the person lying in bed to see how they are breathing. Sometimes when I first come into the room, the person’s breathing is very labored and shallow. I have learned that this is a sign of stress. I keep playing these simple, soothing melodies and after a while, I notice that the person lying there is breathing more calmly and deeply. Sometimes I hear quiet snoring. They’ve fallen asleep and gotten a little respite from the work of dying.
Those who are out on the floor often stop in to say hi and chat with me. They hear the music in the hall and it draws them in. There’s always a story about a relative who plays the cello, or just gratitude for the music. Somehow, those mellow sounds of the cello have a way of softening the rough edges of their day. In the past, these were the people who motivated me to come and play. I liked the encouragement, compliments, etc. from the people who were walking around (and talking to me!). The person I came to see would “just lie there”. But with more experience, I’ve gotten better at noticing the subtle reactions of the dying person. When I left, the man was breathing so softly and calmly. Completely different from when I came in. Noticing this change made me feel that the music had made a difference.
Music makes life so much richer. How many people can say, “Today I helped make someone’s last journey a little easier”. I’m glad I have this gift to give.
Playing for these patients also reminds me to reflect on the decisions I make in my own life. Why are they dying alone? Is it because they’ve driven away everyone who tried to love them, or just have the bad luck of outliving those who cared. I don’t know the answer and it doesn’t matter. I’m there to give, not to judge. If life is made up of small gestures, let me take time to consider my own actions, while I still can.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Cello-bella music video
Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend. We lucked out in that my brother Shaun was in town to show his film in the 1st Annual Ferndale Film Festival. He has a film about his family's trip to Africa in the festival. Shaun is a professional photographer, so we grabbed a camera (courtesy of my brother Darin) and shot a music video for Cello-bella.
To round out the sound, we asked our friends Ron Ellman (violin) and Craig Strain (electric bass) to join us. Another lucky stroke was that Craig's home studio wasn't booked since it was a holiday weekend, so we had a space to play in and record a good audio track. We decided to do the song Sugar Moon, since it's good for strings, and we know it well. Ron was playing with us for the 1st time, but he's an experienced jazz violinist so he just jumped in, and did a great job. Our friend Keith Nelson engineered the record, so Craig could be freed up to play the bass.
I posted the video on youtube, and I've embedded it here. Still waiting for my order to be processed for our digital album, but it should be ready next month.
Best,
Alison
To round out the sound, we asked our friends Ron Ellman (violin) and Craig Strain (electric bass) to join us. Another lucky stroke was that Craig's home studio wasn't booked since it was a holiday weekend, so we had a space to play in and record a good audio track. We decided to do the song Sugar Moon, since it's good for strings, and we know it well. Ron was playing with us for the 1st time, but he's an experienced jazz violinist so he just jumped in, and did a great job. Our friend Keith Nelson engineered the record, so Craig could be freed up to play the bass.
I posted the video on youtube, and I've embedded it here. Still waiting for my order to be processed for our digital album, but it should be ready next month.
Best,
Alison
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Cello-bella CD coming...
A couple of days ago I submitted 10 of our song files to a distribution company so, if everything goes as planned, we should have our songs available for sale as digital downloads in 6-8 weeks. Last night we ran through some tunes with our violinist friend Ron Ellman. It was really fun jamming with him and the violin was a nice enhancement on swing tunes, like "Sugar Moon" and Pennies from Heaven. He's going to join us for a few songs on our next gig.
Best,
Alison
Best,
Alison
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Story re-broadcast
Thanks to everyone who has written to us since our interview on Dick Gordon's radio program "the story" was re-broadcast last week. It is so exciting to see more listeners touched by our music. We continue to have so much fun doing it, and it's just wonderful making connections with people from all over the country!
As I mentioned earlier, we are in the process of releasing a 10 song CD. In fact, I was ready to upload the songs to CD Baby, but I have since found out that the company was recently sold. They are going through a transition period, and not providing their usual quality of service. So now I am on the lookout for a new distributer for our songs. I expect to have this situation resolved within the week, though, and we will send out an email with the scoop on where to get our songs to all who have inquired. In the meantime, if you would like to sign up to be on our email list (see the box on our myspace site www.myspace.com/alisondonahue , we will get you that info as soon as possible.
Best,
Alison
As I mentioned earlier, we are in the process of releasing a 10 song CD. In fact, I was ready to upload the songs to CD Baby, but I have since found out that the company was recently sold. They are going through a transition period, and not providing their usual quality of service. So now I am on the lookout for a new distributer for our songs. I expect to have this situation resolved within the week, though, and we will send out an email with the scoop on where to get our songs to all who have inquired. In the meantime, if you would like to sign up to be on our email list (see the box on our myspace site www.myspace.com/alisondonahue , we will get you that info as soon as possible.
Best,
Alison
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Just want to let everyone know that Mike and I are getting very close to releasing our 1st CD! We have all the tunes and are working on the CD cover art. Just have to upload the songs to CD Baby and we're ready to go. Thanks to everyone who requested info on our CD, and we will notify you via email when it is available. In the meantime, we continue to play live in restaurants, stores, coffee houses, on the street and anywhere else we are welcomed.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
From Mike - Spent the last few days in Chicago visiting (among other people) six month old grand-daughter Marlow. She got a private concert and seemed to really enjoy the music, if sleeping through it is any indication. Chicago - what a town for a bike rider like me! Bike lanes going everywhere, and riding a bike gets you from point A to point B faster than driving. Especially with all of the road repair going on there. Ah, but there's no place like Detroit, either. Especially since Alison lives here.
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