We Are Sisters — first preview

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

Tuesday I had the opportunity to share some of the songs from my “We Are Sisters” musical. This was the first time some of them were performed (since my total rewrite) and It was a wonderful experience. The best part about it was watching several of the sisters in my ward perform. They seemed to have a good time.

My mother also sang. She sang the only solo of the night, and did a wonderful job, helping the spirit to touch every one in the room. I am so grateful for her!

One of the comments afterwards just really made me feel good, she said, “You know I really was expecting a (how do I say this…) “cheesy” presentation…. And after the first couple of songs, I thought well she had to get lucky with a couple of good ones,…. but each song just seemed better than the first! This really needs to be performed in every ward!”

I really didn’t want to write a “cheesy” musical, so I was so glad to hear that. I’m sure I’ll hear more about those kinds of expectations upon hearing about a “Visiting Teaching Musical”. But that’s alright, it might be good to always have people coming in with low expectations!

Another sister told me that afterwards she really did feel a desire to improve how she visit taught. That was the best compliment I could have gotten! What a great night!

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My Cantata

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

I can’t sleep. I have all these songs that we’ve been singing in choir swirling in my head, and I guess I’m just excited.

Last week, I spent hours and hours working on a new arrangement called, “Far, Far Away.” It’s an adaptation of the hymn, “Far Far Away on Judea’s Plains” about the angels singing to the shepherds, and a song that C. Michael Perry wrote called, “The Star” which was about the Wise Men seeking the star of Bethlehem. I helped arrange the two songs together to be about both groups of people, shepherds and wisemen, rejoicing and coming to witness the birth of the Savior. It’s now one of my most most favorite songs in the whole cantata! I got to hear how it sounded after we previewed it with the choir yesterday. We all were just sight-reading through it, but even still, I could hear the song’s potential, and I’m just excited for how it is going to sound.

Collaborating has been a new experience for me. C. Michael Perry is a prolific Emmy Award winning composer (he wrote a PBS special musical called “CINDERABBIT”) in addition to being a playwright, novelist, composer and lyricist for numerous plays and award-winning musicals that have been produced across the nation. We “happen” to live a few blocks away from each other, and go to the same church building. You know it’s not by accident when things like that happen! Drawing on his experience and talents, I feel, has really been a blessing, and has helped take my music to a different level. I’ve been grateful for the experience and hope to continue maybe learning some of his orchestration techniques– it comes super easy to him, and I’m hoping he’ll teach me!

This Tuesday, I get to do my little musical preview for Relief Society. Five of the songs from my musical will be performed, and I’m excited for that too! All of the songs are new ones that I wrote since it was performed the first time, and the ones that were performed, have quite different lyrics. I might try to record at least a couple of them on videotape, if I can get someone to do that, so you can hear them.

Okay, well I guess I’ll try to go back to sleep now. With daylight savings time, I guess this is where I’m putting that extra hour…. not a terrible use of the time I don’t think! =)

 

 

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Putting Others in the Spotlight

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

Today I found out that my musical was selected as a finalist in the Church’s Cultural Arts Submission! It was so much work to get it all done, it feels good to have something to show for it.

For Relief Society, in a couple of weeks, I get the opportunity to share a few of the songs from my musical and bear my testimony about how great Visiting Teaching is. I’m really excited about it. Three of the songs have never been performed before, and I’ve rounded up several of the sisters from my ward to help me perform it.

There aren’t a lot of sisters that perform or sing very much in our ward, so in trying to find enough sisters willing to participate, I asked every single one of them. Several of them just laughed and said, “ME sing SOLO? You’ve got the wrong girl!!!” Others said, “Sing in a group- maybe, but sing a solo???  I’ve never done that before!!!”

Most of the people I asked had never sung a solo before. I’m excited to give some sisters that chance! I told them, that I didn’t want them to feel uncomfortable doing it- but that if it sounded like something they might enjoy, or might be fun, I’d love for them to have that opportunity. Some of them shyly told me that it did sound fun.

I am excited. Musicals are just FUN! I’ve always loved them. I think they’re all going to love it! — At least I hope they do! =)

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Speeding

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of speeding. Speeding trying to write my cantata, speeding trying to fit in all my personal goals, past times and hobbies, and speeding- literally in the car. A couple weeks ago I was caught speeding in my van- in a 25 mile-per-hour zone.

To be honest, I really didn’t think the speed limit was that low, but that was really no excuse. I deserved that ticket. I have felt for a while that I should slow down more when I drive, and I needed the reminder to be a better driver, especially since I have kids with permits that are watching how I drive to decide how they will drive. It was good I got a ticket.

Trying to slow down however, has been a real challenge. At first, it was almost painful trying to stay within that 25 mile-per-hour speed limit. I almost couldn’t do it. However, as I’ve adjusted, I’ve found that driving can be a relaxing activity instead of a stressful one. Instead of zipping here and there, I calculate the time that it takes to get somewhere, and then I don’t try to shortcut it. That’s just how long it will take me, and I enjoy the ride.

I’ve also tried to use this method in my busy scheduled life. Applying this lesson, I’ve begun to realize the “limits” of what I can get done when all my children are home, and not trying to fit in more things than I can easily do. Instead I’m finding, I can relax and enjoy the ride more. I plan to be home and not occupied when the kids get home. That’s just when I have to stop “going”.

Sometimes it almost kills me, and it’s difficult to go that slow, knowing how much other things I still want to get done, but I’ve found some enjoyment in slowing down and enjoying the ride. I do want to enjoy this time with my kids. I won’t always have them at home and I want to enjoy every minute with them.

Today my 2-year-old and I played “Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue”. He was so cute. He locked the door to his room and tried to keep me in there as long as he could. I had to slow down, and just enjoy it. He is so cute. I just love him so much! I’m glad to get the reminder to slow down. There’s so much in life to enjoy… I don’t want to miss any of it!

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Another Goal Check

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

So with the kids back in school, and a little more time to think, I thought it would be good to do another goal check for the year.

My first goal was to finish my musical…. Yay, that one is done, not orchestrated the way I’d like, but completed, and my second version was so much better than the first.

It’s good to remember goals you HAVE accomplished. It helps me feel better when other goals might not be going as well… After listening to the General Women’s Conference this weekend, I’ve decided I need to put one of the songs from my musical on my website. It went right along with the message about being like Jesus with our stewardship in Visiting Teaching. (more details to come…)

Another goal I have (still) is to complete our Christmas Cantata. The songs have mostly been written, though several of them still have yet to be arranged for choir and piano. I’m excited to be working on a closing song, “Joy to the World”. It will be an arrangement for choir and congregation with organ and piano. I still dream of it being a full orchestrated version, but just adding a second instrument to it gives me chills just thinking about it. I hope it turns out as good as I envision it in my mind! I’ve already submitted the lyrics to our bishopric for approval, and hoping that everything gets done soon! We’ll start rehearsals in a few weeks! It’s good to have deadlines…. I know it WILL get done!

I have almost finished my unplanned goal for the year… our vacation. It took up so much of my time, but I imagine it will be something we’ll remember forever, and SO worth the time, effort, and money that it took to go. The last thing I want to do for that goal, is just to consolidate my blogs about the trip, and make a nice Blog book, with extra pictures in it, to help us remember it forever. I’ve set a deadline to get it done for Christmas. Hopefully that will help me get it done…

My last music goal was to make a second piano CD. Many of the songs that I want to put on this CD have been on my website for forever (2000)! I purposefully saved some of my favorite songs so that for my second CD, I could have it be orchestrated. I’m left trying to decide if I should go ahead and just do the CD as a piano CD, without orchestration, or take a little longer and make it orchestrated. It’s a hard choice. For now, I think I’m going to finish up the piano sheet music for the book that would go along with it, and then see how I feel. “Reflections of Eternity” will be the title of the CD, and I already have a great idea for the cover art. I’m not sure this one will happen this year, but either way, it feels good to be making some progress towards that goal.

I’m excited about General Conference this next weekend. There’s always such good inspirational nuggets that I look forward to hearing from the leaders of my church. I always come away feeling uplifted and spiritually nourished. I’m bound to get some good inspiration for some new songs as well. I’ve started writing some new ones again… all of them just waiting for when I can orchestrate them the way that I want. I’m sure you’ve noticed a common thread… Next year’s goal will have to be… LEARN HOW TO ORCHESTRATE!

 

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My message

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

I made it! School has begun! We survived our summer, and I’m only a tiny bit sad that the rigors of routines and schedules are back in full swing. It’s been a full week, since last Sunday, but I wanted to share some of what I shared in the talk I gave last Sunday. It’s been on my mind a lot lately, and I just feel like sharing it…

My topic was the scripture from Doctrine & Covenants 88:118 “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”

It was a wonderful topic for me. I enjoyed preparing it very much. It was interesting as I pulled from personal experiences, recognizing the Lord’s hand so much in my life. I didn’t really get a lot out of school as I was growing up. I enjoyed the social aspects of school, but until I got married, I don’t think I took it very seriously. It was only with direct encouragement from my husband that I even continued my education, and was able to get my Bachelor of Arts in music.

After that, things changed dramatically. My husband gave me a priesthood blessing that told me that I was not using the talents my Heavenly Father had given me. It was a wake up call, and what I needed to begin, trying to write music. My first pieces were very simple piano pieces, being that I struggled so much with words, that it seemed a good place to start.

After I had completed these songs, I felt led and prompted to put them on a website so others could listen to them and play them. I couldn’t really see any purpose in it, and didn’t really know if anyone would even care about them, but through faith, I followed the prompting. I didn’t know anything about computers (though my Dad is a computer programmer), and so I began learning the very basics of HTML.

Through the years, I have learned so much. I feel like my college years were just preparation for the real education that would begin. I have been taught by the spirit. In my talk, I shared several scriptures and quotes about education and seeking knowledge through faith, and then I ended with the story of meeting Nawroz (See this post for more details). My association with him began because of those simple piano pieces that I’d put on my website.

Nawroz, from Iraq, was touched by those simple songs, he orchestrated and performed my music there in Iraq and we began what will I’m sure now be a life long correspondence.

I was able to share my testimony with him, and through some amazing series of events (again see the previous post), he was able to learn about the gospel and be baptized. Both of our lives were so touched by the miracles that happened. This summer was the biggest miracle of all, when I got to meet Nawroz and see his sweet wife.

I never would have guessed that by putting those simple piano songs on the Internet, I would be an instrument in helping someone find the gospel. It is only in seeking the Lord’s direction with faith that we can know what the Lord’s will is for us. I believe so strongly, that each of us has a great purpose, and a specific, individual mission that we are to fulfill. I don’t know what my mission is in it’s entirety, but I have a great desire to share this message with others, and I was so grateful for the opportunity to share it with those in my ward.

Afterwards, I got to lead the ward choir singing a new arrangement that I wrote of “Go Forth With Faith”. (I’m waiting for copyright permission before I can put it on my website, but I hope to soon!) It was a wonderful Sunday. I hope to have more opportunities like that in the future.

Happy Sabbath all!

 

 

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Being Happy

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

Some of you know I have been on a quest this year to become more “real”. It has been a very wonderful and good transformation for me. At one point, I tried to sit down and write out “who” I really was, and could only define myself by the things I do: I’m a mom. I sing and play the piano. I compose music. I like to play my guitar and perform, etc. The only things I could think of were the things that filled my time.

It took me awhile, and I had to remember back to my childhood, but one trait I could remember, was that I was happy. I remembered people telling me that I was always smiling, and that I always looked so happy. It made me wonder what had changed, that kept me from feeling that way more often.

The last couple months, I’ve been reinventing myself. I’ve been giving myself permission to “be” what I want to be. In the past, I’ve felt trapped by the things I felt I HAD to do in order to please others. Instead, I’m learning how to make good choices, and doing things because I WANT to do them.

Yesterday I took the kids bowling. I haven’t ever taken the kids bowling before, though I did take a bowling class in college. It was fun to challenge my kids (who have been practicing all summer with free passes). I beat them…. I had so much fun (though I barely broke 100), and I felt… incredibly happy. I’ve been more happy lately. I guess I’m just noticing. Why? Because yesterday, one of my daughters told me, “Mom, you’re just so happy. You’re happy ALL the time, and you always see the bright side.”

It was the best thing she could have told me.

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Story Road Utah – with Enoch Train and Marvin Payne

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

It’s my night off (my husband watches the kids) and tonight I planned to do things away from home (I don’t always get time off when I stay)…. and tonight ended up being SO much fun!

Maybe it was because I haven’t done much of anything musical lately, or maybe it’s because I just really needed a night out, but the combination of working on music, and enjoying other people’s music was exactly the right combination!

The night started off working on my cantata with my co-writer, Michael Perry. I’ve been feeling the pressure to get it done soon, so that we can get our bishops approval, and we can start practicing! There’s also a lot of other choir music we need to learn for all the months up until December. It makes for a lot of music to learn over the next few months!

It felt good to get the cantata more defined and focused. We both have things to work on, and I can tell it will be wonderful. Hopefully we’ll get it done soon. There’s still quite a bit of work we need to do on it. If you’re hoping to perform it for your choir- you should plan on doing it NEXT year. It will be done by then, and having had it performed and perfected, should be really good by then! I’m glad to be feeling more motivated to continue working on it.

Afterwards, I went to the Story Road Utah concert at the Sandy Amphitheater.  It was hosted by the Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts (UPHA), and was a wonderful celebration of selected pioneers settling in the Sandy, Utah area, as well as a fun display for the whole family of pioneer games, stories, and music.

I wished I’d brought my family. It was so much fun, even though I went by myself. I clapped and sang along to the fun folky kind of music. There was a wonderful cool breeze that kept the temperature perfect. I laughed and thoroughly enjoyed myself. There is something therapeutic for me, in going to a concert, and enjoying good music. I even wanted to jump on stage on start singing harmony. I love that kind of stuff. I just need a reason to do it more!

It was a wonderful night!

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Grateful to be a mother

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

This morning, I mentioned to my 5-year-old that we were going to visit some of the historical sites that are here in Utah to visit. He looked at me, and surprised, said, “They made it to Utah?!”

We visited the Visitor’s Center at Temple Square. It was neat to see all the art displays they had there, but best of all, was the opportunity we had again, to watch the new Joseph Smith movie shown there.

It was wonderful. If you haven’t seen it, I would highly recommend it. We had seen it when we visited the Washington D.C. Temple, but that was BEFORE we’d visited all the places of the restoration. This time we watched it having BEEN to so many of the places we saw in the movie. I was so touched, and again my testimony was strengthened. I know my kids testimonies were strengthened as well.

Tonight we had a special testimony meeting for our Family Home Evening. All my children took some time to share their testimonies- about Trek, about what they’d learned on this big vacation, and about what they’d learned today at the Visitor’s center. When my 5-year-old told me how grateful he was that the pioneers suffered so much so that we could live on this beautiful earth, I was touched. Maybe he did get something out of this trip!

The thing that touched me the most today, was visiting the Christus. This is a large statue of Christ, surrounded by a beautiful painted sky of the solar system. I took a picture of my kids in front of the statue.

As I looked through the camera, at the savior with his arms outstretched and my children just below him, I began to cry. These are God’s children. He has put them into my care. What an honor and a privilege it is to be their mother. I felt the awesome responsibility I have to take care of His children.

How grateful I am to be their mother!

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Pioneer Day

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Lindy Kerby

I’ve been home now for over a week. It’s been really nice to be home. Today we celebrate Pioneer Day. I led the choir in singing, “Faith in Every Footstep”. After having just completed our vacation, I am feeling especially thankful for the pioneers.

As we drove through Wyoming and into Utah, we came through the  mountains that enclose the Salt Lake valley, I was surprised to feel so emotional at the site of those beautiful mountains. Utah is truly a beautiful place, I never appreciated it so much before, but truly it is.

After seeing the sacrifices that the pioneers went through to come into this place, I am just so grateful for their continued perseverance.  I now live where I do, because of their sacrifices. I am so grateful for their faith and examples. I hope that I can have the same kind of faith. This was such a wonderful gift that they gave their future posterity.

I come from a strong family with pioneer ancestry on both sides of my family. Some of them were the first to come from England, and both were very strong in the faith. I’ve been told that I have the strength that comes from my pioneer heritage. I want that to be true. I am so grateful for their examples.

Happy Pioneer Day everyone!

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