Naomi Baltuck/Gibberish and More!  Mary Garrett¹s Reflections of RWWW

Two weeks ago (on March 3) Riverwinds sponsored a delightful workshop with
Naomi Baltuck (actually a whole weekend, but I only managed the workshop,
and what a workshop!)  It was snowing that day, as it is again today (St.
Patrick¹s Day), pretty snow that doesn¹t stick or make driving hazardous
(but also doesn¹t let kids sled and build snowmen; nothing is perfect).  I
was distracted by the stubborn ³angry hip,² which is still less than
perfectly content, but I brought home some good ideas, along with
autographed CDs and book. The CD, BTW, is great to listen to on the way to a
gig, very energizing.  (I had Naomi autograph the library's book; it makes
my favorite librarians happy).

One point she made was to adapt material to carry the message you want to
send.  She removes guns and shooting.  At the end of the day/night argument,
the frogs agree to wake bear up from his long winter's nap, bear hug!  (A
few years back Gladys Cogswell's "Three-Eyed Cat" went from winning to
walking away from every fight).  Modeling what we want makes sense.

Naomi encouraged even the less musically inclined to sing with the children,
who respond to the joy and love, not the expertise; we just need a high
note, a low note, and a middle note.  Or use chants, which have rhythm but
no pressure to sing.  I really liked ³I¹m not Small² and ³Take a little
walk, bear.²  (I¹ve reawakened my desire to learn to use the ³bones² from
this and from Mike Micham¹s CDs from Chicken Festival).  She also
demonstrated how to make the last action a settling down one, getting them
ready to listen.  Clever woman!

I also liked her big list on the wall, added to each time she did another
story or stretch.  The list was pretty impressive after a relatively short
time, and she said the children at her school used to ask for favorites from
the list.  I used to keep a list at my desk of stories, checking them off to
keep track of which class got which story.  What if I¹d made that list
poster-sized? -- I think it would have sparked the students to ask for (and
remember?) more stories.

We worked in small groups for many activities, and I changed groups each
time, because I like to mix it up (and not wear out my welcome).  Retelling
a story, ³One Day, One Night,² right after hearing it, is such a good way to
remember it (and our minx, Lucy, always adds her own touches).  We also made
up our own verses in groups, which Marilyn will be compiling and putting in
the Riverwinds Newsletter.  I was impressed with the variety and fun.  Our
group¹s  ³Little Princess² (modeled from the teapot one) was primarily
Jeanne Crews¹ inspiration; she¹s been practicing positive messages in rhymes
and stories for her granddaughter.

We were a rather ³random² group, getting sidetracked during introductions
and going off into discussions.  Then someone would point out that we hadn¹t
finished intros, so we¹d start again; I think we finally made it around the
circle on the fourth try.  It was interesting, though -- going off the track
is a good way to access new ideas and connections!

Naomi did the Red Riding Hood Rap  and/or The Three Pigs Rap, and someone
remarked that Bobby Norfolk does that one.  Naomi grinned and replied, ³I
gave him permission.² (Do we also have permission, Naomi??)  That was the
perfect  reminder to deliver Bobby¹s good wishes to all.  He was at the
wedding of Carmen¹s oldest daughter.  I love how connected we all are!

I missed the evening concert and didn¹t make it back Sunday, either (darn
the luck and the slow-healing hip).  I mostly stood throughout the day,
except for a brief lie-down on a sofa in the hall.  I found out how sweet my
storytelling friends are, though.  At least a dozen people offered to trade
me for a softer chair (I¹d deliberately chosen a hard, flat folding chair,
my best bet for any sitting time at all), and Karen Young and a few others
came over to chat with me in the hall, making me feel much less conspicuous
and very cared for.  Thanks!  The best part for me was the active, standing
stuff -- therapy for storytellers!  (and I know restless children like it,
too).  I had used ³Hi, my name is Joe² before and since, but I didn¹t
realize until Naomi said so that it was written as a labor union piece!
Wonderful!  (wonder if we could do more of the IWW songs for children?
Little RED Hen, perhaps??  Hallelujah I¹m a Bum??  Spread it on the Ground??
-- ok I know that one is going too far).