Courtney sings with enthusiastic children in Poland

August 2010

Hi Everyone,

After I got home from my Europe/Asia tour I went to Albuquerque, New Mexico to sing for their library system. Then on to Sunderland, Massachusetts to perform at Sunderland Elementary School. After performing in Sunderland I went to Concord, Massachusetts to meet with Author Linda Booth Sweeney. Linda is a systems educator and “is on a mission to make systems – rather than fragments -- the context for the way we think about decision making, learning and design.”

Linda wrote a book called “Connected Wisdom”for an educational foundation called SEED (http://www.seed.slb.com/content.aspx?id=32199). She picked 12 systems and researched and adapted 12 folk tales that beautifully illustrate each of one of the 12 systems. It is a really interesting book with beautiful illustrations and reminds me how profoundly connected we are in all ways large and small. I worked with Linda to do a CD of the folk tales. I wrote some music and did all the storytelling. We recorded at a great studio in Newburyport, called Thomas Eaton Recording. Tom is a superb engineer and fine musician and a wonderful person to work with. He specializes in acoustic music though he can do anything. We spent a week recording with Tom and had so much fun. We worked many hours but it hardly felt like work. Sometimes magic happens in the studio and this time it most certainly did. It was alchemy all the way! The CD will also be called Connected Wisdom. It's delightful if I do say so myself. I did at least 20 character voices. I will have a link for you once it is released.

I am taking August off and am going to visit my son and grandchildren in southern California. Towards the end of August my attention will turn once again to the school year,the world at large and new and beloved places to perform. I hope you are all having a fine summer wherever you are.

All my best to everyone,

Courtney