Today, March 15th, 2020, I’m participating in Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life Story Challenge.
“Sounds great, guys, sounds great! Let’s just remember to keep our volume down, okay?” I looked up from behind the Roland electric piano where I sat. Our musical director, a wonderful saxophonist named Doug, seemed pleased. He smiled jovially at all of us. I glanced back at the drummer, then over to our bass player, and finally to the guitar player, who sat adjacent to me. We had just finished playing Henry Mancini’s composition, “Mr. Lucky.”
The rich brown wood of the studio that surrounded us, once an old Dutch barn, felt comforting somehow. Amidst a global pandemic, with schools closing, sports seasons canceled, public sites and destinations shuttered, grocery stores emptied, sitting behind a piano playing music delivered just a bit of normality back to life last night. And for that, I felt so grateful. I guess you could say I felt like Mr. Lucky himself.
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Author: Lanny Ball
For more than 29 years, Lanny has taught, coached, presented, staff developed, and consulted within the exciting and enigmatic world of literacy. With unyielding passion and belief in the possibility of workshop teaching, Lanny has worked to support students, teachers, and school administrators around the country in outgrowing themselves as both writers and readers. Working first as a classroom teacher, then as a coach and TCRWP Staff Developer, Lanny is now a literacy specialist, working and living in the great state of Connecticut. Outside of literacy, he enjoys raising his three ambitious young daughters with his wife, and playing the piano. Find him on this blog, as well as on Twitter @LannyBall. Lanny is also a former co-author of a blog dedicated to supporting writing teachers and coaches that maintain classroom writing workshops, twowritingteachers.org.
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LANNY BALL, Literacy Specialist 
Great perspective! I think more than ever we need to count our blessing and find our “Mr. Lucky” every day.
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We have to remember all the things we CAN do! Thank you.
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I need to hear about glimpses of normalcy. Thanks. Glad you have music.
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I have been thinking about the balance and finding some normalcy…I think I’ll go pick up my guitar, which has been gathering dust for the past week or so. Thanks for the reminder.
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Music has been listed as one of the things we can still do and enjoy despite the drawbacks of the pandemic. Since my instrument is my voice, belting out tunes in the car has sufficed! I’m glad you found a spot of joy in all this craziness.
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Everyone is craving normalcy. I told someone recently that we will all have a new appreciation and sense of gratitude for our “normal” lives. I’m glad you had this moment.
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Music is sometimes all we need to change the mood! I’m glad you were able to find some normalcy. Keep playing that music.
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This is such a powerful small slice. What a gift for you to feel normalcy- I am trying to create that in our home each day.
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Folks should grab all the normalcy they can get right now. You honor each musician here and reminded me of Ann Patchet’s spectacular novel “Bel Canto.” I wish I still had my copy to revisit and experience the music in it.
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So happy to hear that there is still some normalcy out there. Enjoy the music.
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I felt your normalcy here! So happy that you had this moment, that time, for you! As the days go on, we will keep finding and appreciating the little silver linings of our days – we will – I believe in all of us!
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Music absolutely calms the soul. Happy playing!
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I am glad that something positive is coming from this chaos. Music is so important. I wish it were still part of the curriculum in our district. I guess, I am thinking beyond the coronavirus.
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Music is my way back to normalcy too. Thank you for reminding me to find those small moments in the big chaos.
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Music is always a relaxer for me. Thanks for the reminder.
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You are inspiring me to get out my trumpet. I always feel better when playing it. We have a piano I can play too, but for me there’s something different about belting out a tune on a trumpet. Music is such a connecting and healing force. Might need to convince Elliot to a duet. 🙂
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Thank you. In this time of new normals, it’s important to remember those things that bring us peace. I worked up a new piece for a piano prelude this morning for church (all 20 of us that were there). It soothed my heart to offer the piece as a gift. I know it did other’s hearts as well.
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Thank you for this post. I have seen a lot of lists of things we can do during these not-normal times. It can be hard for people like myself who like routine and normalcy. I bet you guys sounded amazing.
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I love this slice. During times like these, things like this bring such joy!
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