Admittedly, this is the strangest October we have ever seen. Nevertheless, the leaves are changing to bright colors, the evenings are cooler, and the daylight hours are getting shorter. It is the time that we celebrate the Harvest, and children look forward to the events of the month including pumpkins, costumes, family celebrations, and that other crazy celebration at the end of the month known as Halloween. Of course, all of us do not celebrate Halloween, and this year lends itself to be different according to guidelines from the CDC.

One thing remains unchanged--music! Music has a way to change our mood. Let us all join in creating our mood, rather than letting exterior conditions control it for us.

We have a lot of music that celebrates the changing seasons and the spirit of these Harvest holidays. Monday is October 12 (a Suzuki School holiday), and whether to celebrate it as Columbus Day or Indigenous People's Day, we can find music that can express our views, our feelings, and our mood. As our families become more adept at navigating the internet, I do feel that I enjoy the wonders of searching for music recordings on Youtube. Here are a few to get you started:

SSN students playing Wintertime in Russia
A Star Wars cello duel... in costume!
Harvest fiddle tune
Persian Festival of Autumn

At the Suzuki School of Newton, we often discover the wonders of the minor mode--turning Mary Had a Little Lamb (in do major) into "Sad Mary" (playing in do minor) brings delight to our students. Playing minor tunes like Bohemian Folk Song or the minor Minuets in the dark, no lights on, and with a candle (parent supervision required) might add to the spirit of the season! Our string department has modified last year's Spooky Suzuki into a hybrid event that will be held via Zoom on Friday, October 30th. Let's create something with our music.

A family celebration that might include decorating the house appropriately and making home crafts appropriate to the season. A favorite is collecting colored leaves from the yard and pressing them in newspaper with heavy books which will preserve their color. Perhaps your family likes baking and making foods that go with the season or holding a family concert with this special seasonal music. All these things could go a long way to uplifting our spirits. Yes, the power of music and the strength of our families can do so much. As Dr. Suzuki said, "Where love is deep, much can be accomplished."

Sachiko