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Show o etimes May 1,2003 " 'ry1 Photos by Beth Young Brad Wheeler points at Hill Field students as the signal to blow as he teaches them how to play the harmonica. Fellow blues musician Danny Walden plays guitar to help them along. Hill Field students playing the blues H by Beth Young Hilltop Times staff After passing the diddly bo to one of his fellow students, Corey Rosenbaugh used pencils to tap out a rhythm on his desk, pencil sharpener and book. This is just one of the side effects when someone has a case of the fourth grade blues. "Blues in the Schools," a music program sponsored by the Davis Arts Council, recently came to Hill Field Elementary to teach fourth graders that having the blues can be a good thing. Blues musicians Brad Wheeler and Danny Walden entertained with sound and stories as they taught Joan Behunin's class the history of the blues and its importance in American music and how to use the blues in their own lives. To get the program off to the right start, Walden, on his steel guitar, led the students in a toe tapping version of hand-clappin- g, "Blue Suede Shoes," while Wheeler accompanied him on the harmonica. "What I want you to do is clap along. 1 want you to hold the beat and not stop all the way until the end of the song. It helps me wake up, makes me feel good. It makes you feel good too. Can you do that?" asked Wheeler. Once the students got a feel for the music, they learned about the beginning of the blues and legendary blues artists like Charley Patton and Muddy Waters. They also learned about the important role the blues has in today's modern music. "With the exception of Native American music, the blues is the first pure American music to have originated in this country. Blues is the root of all music jazz, country rap, hip-hoyou name it," Wheeler said before playing them a Muddy Waters song and a modern techno song so they could hear the similarp, ities. t Danny Walden :v. Hn Breana Young watches as Walden shows Aniya Plater how to play the diddly bo, an improvised string instrulit ment made from a pool stick and a cigar box. Brad Wheeler The students also learned about how improvisation was a big part of the blues as early blues musicians who had no instruments made their own. The classroom was filled with clanks, bangs and pings as the students got a chance to play a washboard, one stringed electric guitar on a broom stick and a diddly bo, a stringed instrument made out of a pool stick and a cigar box. After the students had a general understanding of the blues, it was time to get down to the nitty gritty. Walden softly played his guitar as the children took turns talking about their trou- bles. When they were done Wheeler explained that blues music can be like ketchup you put on bad cafeteria food to make it easier to swallow. "Bad stuff happens to all of us, doesn't it? I wish I could tell you that as you got older less bad stuff was going to happen to you but I would be lying," he said. "And, blues music is a tool to help you deal with bad stuff that is going to happen in your life. When you have a problem, blues will help you swallow those bad times. It is like the hot sauce for Students write opera An original opera by Hill Field Elementary students is presented Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the school. The 4th grade students of Joan Behunin wrote the opera, as part of the Utah Festival Opera's "Opera for Children e by Children" educational program. Specialists work one-on-on- with students to create stories, librettos, music, sets and costumes for the production. The public is invited to attend. : urn ail t aMfcAm i me This is not your mother's washboard. With a cowbell and cymbal attached, it was hard for the students to resist giving this instrument a try by running forks up and down the ridges. iiwii -J Hi ii your life." From little brothers that mess up bedrooms to dogs running away, the students were not at a loss when it came to inspiration for their own blues song, which was important when each was handed their very own har- monica. After some instruction on how to hold the harmonica and play different notes, the students were given permission to play. As they gained more confidence with each huff and puff, it sounded as though a thousand tiny trains were coming into town. When Walden joined in on his guitar and Wheeler on his own harmonica the lesson turned into an impromptu jam session, with the students quickly picking up the rhythm. As this new song was being created some of the students couldn't help themselves and got up to dance. "This class has got more soul than any other that I have been to," said Wheeler. "I thought it was awesome. They played some cool songs," said student Antoine Walker. "The best part was I learned how to play (the harmonica). I am going to practice every night." "We all got up and danced an had fun. We learned everything starts with blues even heavy metal." added Christen Ferny. The lesson that Wheeler and Walden want the students to remember is how to take the bad and make it good. "My parents were in the military too and I have gone through all sorts of traumas in my life and blues music lias helX'd me," said Wheeler "I want them to learn to use music as a tool in everything that they do. I am aware of what music can do (for a military child.) If they can jam together they will end up hang- ing out together. It has helped me out willi a lot. Military people always feel kind of like they are on the outside looking in. Music can help them find a way to connect with others. "It is a great coping skill. I like teaching this in the schools. You get to see kids from different walks of life and how they relate you just realize (music) is a universal thing," added Walden. As the program came to an end Wheeler had one last hit of advice for the students. "Anytime you guys are feeling bad, mad, sad or upset, go play this harmonica for five minutes and I'll tell you what. You are going to feel better. Anybody feel bad right now?" As the classroom erupted into a booming "No!", there was no doubt that everybody had the blues. Emotional bank account' deposits improve relationships by Rita Roybal Organizational Health Center Using reciprocity to build trust, and enhance your work, family and social relationships is a powerful tool. Reciprocity is a basis of trust We've heard the law of reciproc"I'll scratch your back if you ity expressed in familiar terms scratch mine." "You reap what you sow." "You get what you give." The principle is that others reciprocate in kind give back based upon the way you treat them. The world gives you what you give to the world. Social psychologists use the term "idiosyncrasy credits" that result from the favorable impressions we make on others. These credits accumulate and you can cash them in for favors or to get others to do things for you. Stephen R. Covey, author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," uses the phrase "emotional bank account" to describe the principle of reciprocity and the corresponding process in relationships. Using the metaphor of a financial bank account, the emotional bank account describes the trust that accumulates in a relationship. Like the financial bank account, you must make deposits before you can make withdrawals. Eight important points regarding The Law of Reciprocity are: People expect repayment over time. This is based upon the idea of social exchange. Reciprocity is an unspoken assumption in most of our relationships. Giving and receiving favors is a credit-withdraw- cm ifcm II IF t' II 1 Organizational LiD ,,ealth common exchange. When someone does something for you, they expect that when the circumstance is right, you will do something of approximately equal value for them. For example, if you cover for someone at work, you expect that they will cover for you when you need their help. Acts must be mutually rewarding. A successful working or and personal relationship requires that all parties benefit from in the relationship. Even when one party has the priinvest mary power, those with less power still have the expectation that they will receive in kind. Deposits don't simply accumulate. Hie value of the deposits can increase or decrease over time. People may forget or ignore small decency deposits. People may be more apt to remember big favors and larger deposits. The value of deposits is what the other person perceives the value to be. So when you are engaging with a someone or some group, it's critical to know what particulars are valuable to them. You can go in the red. You can wipe out your account with a single withdrawal. A good example is when an individual takes all the credit for a team effort. You make deposits or receive credits by making favorable impressions on others and by doing tilings for them. You make deposits through courtesy, kindness, honesty, respect and other decencies. These decencies and other favors are often small, but they accumulate over time as your relationship blossoms. A history of reciprocity promotes trust. People evaluate your actions and motives based upon their perceptions of your previous actions and motives. If you are in a position of leadership, you need to be keenly aware of this fact. Your reputation can help you or hurt you. Reciprocity is a very powerful form of power. The expectation of giving and returning favors creates an obligation to stick to agreements. This is a very powerful and psychologically binding expectation. Although they may never discuss the exuviation openly, it is there and affects negotiations and relationships. Reciprocity can be both positive and negative. If you offend others by not keeping up your end of the bargain, they may seek revenge or retribution. People want to make things even in a relationship. They want to do good for those who have treated them well. They are resistant to, or want to get even with those who have slighted them. By understanding and using the power of reciprocity, you can improve your relationships and avoid mistakes that can permanently damage your relationships. In life and work, you get what you give. ) |