Epic Journey

Education.

Well, I arrived to Fargo late and made it into my dorm room just fine after taking the cab. It was nothing like the movie, then again, I’ve never seen the movie. People do talk funny up there though.

I spent the next five days in Moorehead, Minnesota which is right across the river from Fargo at Concordia College. It was here that I attended the Rene Clausen choral school. This has probably been the best thing that I’ve done in awhile as far as getting myself geared up to be a better teacher. I was surrounded by people who were talented musicians in their own right and who were all committed to music and specifically choral education at all education levels. The workshop was led by Rene Clausen, who is the choral conductor for the Concordia choir, a world-class choir renowned for its beauty and tone. Also leading lectures was Anton Armstrong, the director of the also renowned St. Olaf choir and Craig Arnold, director of the Luther College Choir (which goes under a name I’ve forgotten at the moment. I think they’re the Nordic Singers).

Anywho, each one of these directors gave me valuable insight into the profession that I’ve fallen into. I have learned how to disseminate scores, the basics of conducting, how to pick music, what resources I need to get my hands on to know about warm-ups, better strategies for teaching sight-reading. Most insightful was a lecture on the proper way of performing African American spirituals and their significance from Anton Armstrong. I’m more convinced than ever that our concert on the 22^nd will be a wonderful opportunity for my kids to show what they can do and to celebrate the diverse contributions that came from such dire and terrible conditions. It is in the spirituals that we find the most genuine and humble proclamations of the Christian faith, and I would argue all of the good aspects of Christianity: love thy neighbor, humbleness, and a strong hopebecause of and thanks to faith. I’ve also tapped into a valuable network of choral conductors from around the country whom I can go to if I have any questions. It was an amazing experience and I’m glad I had the opportunity to participate.

Following the choral school I realized why Amtrak isn’t exactly the most lauded form of transportation in America. I had a scheduled 2:30 a.m. departure from Fargo to Columbus, Wisconsin where Uncle Tom and Aunt Nancy were to pick me up. Deciding to get there a little early, I grabbed a cab at 2 and arrived at the station on time. To my dismay, the white board at the front of the window read that the train would be in around 6 a.m. Four hours late. Luckily the lobby was a people-watchers delight, and my gameboy DS kept me company along with my newly acquired choir teacher materials.

I spent the next five days with Uncle Tom and Aunt Nancy at their lake house in Lake Mills, Wisconsin where I got to see (again) most of mom’s side of the family. It was wonderful. I always enjoy reconnecting with family, and I enjoyed sitting with quality Wisconsin beer (Linenkugel=amazing), good cheese curds (which I accidentally left in the fridge), and my new copy of Harry Potter, which I held off on finishing for my train ride back to Greenwood, and then managed to leave in Aunt Nancy's car as she left the train station (only 200 pages to go). While at Lake Mills I also got to play on Uncle Tom’s jet ski, which I’m very good at riding and falling off of, but I still can’t figure out how to get back on the damn thing without someone yelling “are you ok?” and then keeping it balanced while I haul myself back up. Fun.

So a special thanks goes out to Uncle Tom and Aunt Nancy, who were wonderfully kind in letting me stay with them and picking me up/dropping me off where I needed to go. I’m now back on the train, this time heading south to Greenwood, Mississippi. The city I’ve known in my youth as a mythical place, Chicago, is on the left side of the train and the sky is red with the recently set sun. I think I’ve done a good job making the most of this summer.

Cheers,

-Nate

“Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me oh Lord. Standin’ in the need of prayer.” –Old Spiritual.