March 18 . Issue #135 - Paul Yanuziello

“Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. Don’t be afraid, just play the music.” Charlie Parker

1. My ‘Kindle Creativity‘ workshop at the East Gwillimbury Public Library, was a success. A great March Break event for the children. And I have another draft for a story. A little girl, a big dog and a grand adventure in space – the final frontier.

I created characters from everything imaginable. Oh, and I had my trusty harmonica in my pocket and that became a character (Harmony) in a story based on the library’s theme for their Write On event, Out of This World.

Once a few characters were created, the next step was to get creative with our opening introduction to our stories. Using exactly 10 words, the participants set the reading hook with their introductory sentence.

2. World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the March equinox, on March 20. Register here, it’s free and it will be available online till March 22.

This year my friends at Settle Stories are hosting award-winning storyteller Ursula Holden Gill. Lost and Found is the theme of World Storytelling Day 2022.

What have you lost since the pandemic started? What have you found?

For me, the loss of community gatherings, the loss of in-person martial arts teaching and training with groups of people. That is the biggest loss. What I have found is great respect for time, solace and nature. During the pandemic, I have created this weekly journal. I have written and published 4 books.

3. My normal routine for listening to special musical artists is on the anniversary of their birth. This week I was drawn into the anniversary of the passing of Charlie Parker. Bird, as he was known, passed away on March 12, 1955.

Charlie Parker, Bird, or Yardbird, was and remains one of the biggest influencers in jazz. I don’t think there is a saxophonist who hasn’t been influenced by his inventive playing.

From Rudresh Mahanthappa: ‘While we bask in the brilliance of Bird and his forward-thinking and groundbreaking concepts and ideas, let’s not forget that one of Parker’s greatest assets was his dedication to perfecting his craft.’

4. My reading took me to visit the place where Tai Ji Chaun comes from, with a wonderful guide, Chungliang “Al” Huang and his book Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain: The Essence of Tai Ji Chaun.

I felt motivated to practice my Tai-Ji Chaun with a sense of freedom in my movements.

5. My eye candy this week ‘Turning Red‘ from Pixar animation studios and director, Oscar winner, Domee Shi. This is a brilliant film that had me rolling with laughter. Highly recommended.

Thanks for reading, if you think someone you know would like to read my newsletter please share it with them.

If you are looking for a great children’s book check out one of my books, including my new children’s early reader chapter book, now available at Indigo/Chapters Scratchy the Squirrel: A Time for Friends. Paperback version, on sale for a limited time.

I’m super pumped to be in the top 100 in Children’s Books over at Amazon.com.

Or one of my other children’s picture books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve. Or you may enjoy Samba in Brazil or the Brazilian/Portuguese version Samba no Brasil.

Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.