As I Sit Down to Eat
chorus:
Pranayama, kapalabhati, dirgha,
Dear God, let me be a mindful eater
Goddess, let me flow like tumbling water
Fire, burn away what is not needed
As I sit down to eat
May all beings have enough
As we sit down to eat

Through winter into spring I was part of a pilot program at Kripalu about mindful eating that had a focus on pranayama, mindfulness, yoga and Ayurvedic principals. I wrote a song to integrate some of the teachings and to share at our last session.

Thank you to our extraordinary teachers Larissa, Janna and Tosca for their skill and compassion and to all the participants in Yoga and Mindful Eating.

Words and Music by JoAnne Spies
5/06/10
The rest of the song soon to be recorded... stay tuned!
contact: spiesart@aol.com for more info

photo by Jennifer Reis

Mohican friends Shawn Stevens, Molly and Shannon performed at the new Club Helsinki in Hudson, NY as part of FODfest (Friends of Danny Pearl) fodfest.org

Vicki Richards (vickirichards.net) /JoAnne Spies at Spies' original "Me & Melville" performance atop Mt. Greylock/Bascom Lodge

It was a thrill to perform "Me & Melville" on the highest point in MA where Thoreau, Hawthorne and others have gone before us. I passed out quotes from "Moby Dick" as well as Hawthorne and Thoreau quotes for the audience to read.
A good time was had by all and dinner was delicious too.

Vicki Richards and I will be doing an hour-long cable TV performance for PCTV's "Acoustic Voices" of my original songs and some of her loop-swoopingly beautiful flights on violin March 30.

Looking forward to the debut of my new song "Celebrate," at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA May 1 and 2 at CATA's "Stick & Stones" annual fundraiser:
www.communityaccesstothearts.org

The song was written from thoughts shared with me by elders I visit in CATA workshops in Alzheimer's units, assisted living and elder care facilities.

View the "Red, Red Robin" video I directed for CATA's show last year:
http: //www.vimeo.com/cata

David Darling wins Grammy

Music for People
photo credit: Julie Weber

Congratulations to master cellist, inspiring teacher and humanitarian David Darling.
As a graduate of his four-year Musicianship and Leadership program at Music for People, I join the family of folks who say thank you, David, for your healing music and leadership. His award-winning CD is called "Prayer for Compassion."

Gigs

Goddess Loop
Vicki Richards and I have been performing to loops with tabla rhythms
Audience has been playing boomwhackers as Elemental Orchestra


writer and song by j spies

Friday, February 5th at FUEL Coffee Shop
5pm - 7pm
join me with
Electric Violinist Extraordinaire - Vicki Richards
More Elemental Orchestra!

Friday, December 11
FUEL Coffee Shop
Raga-inspired Vicki Richards on fiddle and surprise guests
join me at this acoustically delightful venue.
5pm - 7pm
286 Main ~ Great Barrington, MA
413) 528-5505

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Friday, November 6
Come to FUEL coffee house @5:00 for a few hours of music and song.
The multi-talented Doug Tanner from the Gypsy Wranglers is in town and will be playing fiddle, banjo and chromatic harmonica. I'll be on guitar, accordion and percussion.
Be prepared to multi-task or absolutely do nothing.

5pm - 7pm
FUEL Coffee Shop ~ 286 Main ~ Great Barrington, MA ~ (413) 528-5505
Free Admission

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Shawn Stevens of Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe playing flute at RiverMASS
photo credit: Keith Emerling

This is a special chance to visit beautiful sites honoring the Mohicans right on Main Street. See you there!
Don't forget to visit the historical room on the lower floor of the Stockbridge Library or the small museum at the Mission House that are each full of interesting artifacts from the first people here in the Berkshires.

SOUNDING OUT THE PATHWAYS: Honoring the Mohican Presence with JoAnne Spies

Saturday November 7

10:30am-12noon, rain or shine

The Mission House, 19 Main Street, Stockbridge

413.298.3239 x3000 (weekdays) or www.thetrustees.org

The Trustees of Reservations will host a program to honor the Mohican presence in Stockbridge, led by singer JoAnne Spies and Trustees educator Tammis Coffin. From the Mission House on Main Street, the group will walk former Mohican paths to sites that help tell the tribe’s story: the Housatonic River, burial ground, meeting house, and Friends of our Father’s marker. JoAnne will guide the group on an interactive exploration of these sites with songs, sounds and rhythms to honor the Mohicans, sharing what she has learned as a friend to the tribe. All ages are welcome and the program is free to the public. Afterwards, refreshments will be served.

It was great to be a part of FODfest in three locations this year ~ Great Barrington, MA at the Mahaiwe; Oak Park, Illinois at the Village Players and Norfolk, CT at Infinity Hall.

Bravo to Todd Mack,the fabulous FODsquad and all performers and audience involved.

Bascom Lodge ~ Mt. Greylock, highest point in Massachusetts

Wednesday, October 21
Melville, Music and the Mountain as Inspiration
I'll be reading from authors who've been inspired by Mt. Greylock as well as singing songs from "Me & Melville" with Vicki Richards on fiddle
6:00pm performance with dinner to follow
Call 413-743-1591 for reservations
This performance at Bascom Lodge atop Mt. Greylock is dedicated to Danny Pearl as part of World Music Days. His gift for friendship and ease of playing music wherever he went is inspiring to all.

Learn more about World Music Days:
http://danielpearl.org