Want Fun? Ever Attended Tuba Christmas Concert?

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Want Fun? Ever Attended Tuba Christmas Concert?  My lovely hubby and were invited to our first Tuba Christmas Concert here is Kansas City. Honestly I had no way of knowing what to expect. But is was being held at the celebrated new Kauffman Center –Kansas City Performing Arts Center designed by Architect, Moshe Safdie, an award winning modernist. He designed interesting buildings in Singapore, India and Canada. I have yet to experience it but heard it was grand. So there was added incentive to attend.

Here is the back story. As a Spanista believes, the importance of nurturing loving relationships is essential to lasting happiness. The ‘how’ you do it through shared experiences is as important as the ‘what’ you do.  You know the feeling when a rush of warmth fills you up from the inside out. These are treasured moments that life long memories are built on.

So with this context, today’s story is about a young man in my life who is very dear to me. Before he could walk our time together focused of reading books. We would snuggle together and I would read. He so enjoyed it, we often read the same book over and over again. Eventually he could turn the pages just at the right time.  No sooner would I walk in the door then he would run to what was now a basket full of books and pull out his favorites, settle himself on the sofa and pat the seat next to him. That was his way of beckoning me to take my place and perform. Once he began walking we layered on music. From his Mother’s kitchen he selected pots and pans and wooden spoons to beat as drums to march to his own tune based on a story line for one of the books his imagination fully engaged. And funny thing was, when he did start to talk, he would form full sentences. Not just a word a two but a full thought.  To me this is just one small testament to the power of reading and music in a young child’s life. Together we built a ritual of joy and memories.

Fast Forward to today. Garrison is now 15 years old – a teenager with all the makings of a lad his age with one exception he is a gifted musician and plays multiple instruments – it all comes easily to him – drums (surprised)  and brass especially. He is now touching 6 feet tall – inching over that of his father. He likes to take the road less traveled so when his high school band needed a tuba player he stepped up tot he music plate. And he is having a great time at it.

Now this journey takes us to my first Tuba Christmas. Garrison now performs with Missouri’s top tuba players. They all travel to Kansas City for what has become a big annual event. The first Tuba Christmas was in New York’s Rockefeller Center in December 1974 by Harvey Phillips (coincidentally born in Aurora, Missouri) in tribute to his music teacher William J. Bell born on Christmas Day 1902 as a tribute to music teachers who inspire young people to take up music. Mr. Phillips was distinguished Professor, performer and entrepreneur. His vision for Tuba Christmas took fire and continues to grown as a holiday tradition throughout America. It is a special blend of students as young as 10, music teachers,the best local musicians who play professionally and those who continue on into their eighties. The holiday carols they play have a unique soulful quality – soothing really and quite lovely. Go to Tuba Christmas KC at kcsymphony.org

The kitschy thing they do is decorate themselves and there tuba’s as creatively as they like – it makes for a fun, relaxed and joyful concert experience. This style of unique music lifts the spirits high into the heavens.

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The Kauffman Performing Arts Center is the perfect venue. It has a warm and intimate atmosphere where the music resonates beautifully.  If you have a chance to attend one in any city – please do. Traditions like this set the tone for a positive holiday all around or do something a bit offbeat and memorable. It will build unexpected memories together.

Garrison loved having my hubby and I in the audience. Nothing like being there to watch him and his peers shine like diamonds in the sky. So proud of him.

May Your Self Care Journey To Joy Be Merry & Bright,

Ginny