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She Can Be Taught

6/28/2014

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Teaching a skill or a trick to another person is an art unto itself. You have to communicate what is necessary to the student in a way that is accurate, but you also have to be understandable in order for the student to be able to assimilate whatever it is you are trying to teach them. The biggest challenge is to try to communicate the information while considering that the student does not have the benefit of experience, which is something that you the teacher have in spades. If you are a good teacher you try to explain the finer points of your lesson while remembering that it is all still theoretical to your student. Hopefully, your desire is for the student to assimilate the information then be able to accomplish the skill or trick on their own. This challenge for a teacher has come up three times in the past month during discussions with good friends (and there was wine). Once while discussing teaching singing lessons, once while discussing teaching a new language, and once while discussing teaching me how to do this:
So I wanted to take a little time and share my journey, which is by no means over, as I learn to suspend my post pregnancy body from a rope using my own sheer will and my own upper body strength, then swing out over a body of water and a section of audience members who likely think it all looks pretty, darn easy.
Before my first attempt at doing a much shorter swing (that would only involve me having to swim in a few feet of water then dry off my ego and my body should disaster occur and I let go of the rope) I did dead hang after dead hang from my pull up bar, from a large ladder, from a sheet tied to my ceiling, and from the manila rope on the set. I gotta tell you, dangling for 2, then eventually three, and now 6 seconds does very little to calm the nerves when you consider that the consequences of losing your grip are a trip to the bottom of a body of water and a very bruised ego. Never the less, I screwed my courage to the sticking place, took about 20 deep breaths, and lifted my feet off the ground. I made it to the landing pad, barely, and after one swing back to the other side decided to call it quits for the day. I am now able to swing back and forth about 3-4 times before I think my arms are going to fall off and if I squeeze my knees together around the rope I can swing back and forth without touching. I should be attempting the above any time now! 
So I want to give a few pointers for anyone else trying to traverse the finer points of swinging on a rope.


1) Your first time will be very scary, but it may not be as scary as the next time you come back and have had a few days to think about it.


2)Try not to think about it! For that matter try not to spend too much time talking about it either. Walk in and just do it as soon as you can as often as you can.


3) Some people feel that it is easier to keep your fists together at your chest, lock your elbows, and get "on top of the rope". I think it is easier to keep my dominant hand at my chest and my other hand just above my face. Neither of us are correct. The easiest thing to do is to not swing on a rope, over water, in front of people.

4) As you get a feel for hurling your body across open space with only a rope, your will, and your muscles to save you think about hurling yourself a little faster! The momentum makes it easier. Either give it a 3-4 step run, or jump up and slightly away from the rope in order to lift your legs.

5) You are probably not going to fall, so get out of your head. Remember #2? Try not to think about it.

Hopefully, someday I will be able to post a video of me doing this insane feat! I think I can!


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The New Yok Holiday Singers

11/9/2011

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Come and see

The New York

Holiday Singers on

November 19th at

The Singer's

Forum.

For Tickets visit: http://brownpapertickets.com/event/208840

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Brooke Aston Sings: Divas!

8/23/2011

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Hey Friends! Remember all the times we said let's get together and have drinks? Well, here's our chance! And I'll even sing to you...

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Only In New York: A Cabaret

10/18/2010

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  Only In New York

A mini-cabaret
Performed by Brooke Aston

At: The Duplex

61 Christopher Street
(at 7th Ave.)
NYC, NY 10014


http://www.theduplex.com/index.shtml

When: October 26th at 9:30pm Pre-sale Tickets: $12.00 + 2 Drink Minimum

At the Door: $13 (see below) +2 drink minimum

21+

Please buy your tickets using Paypal!!!

I must pre-sell 10 tickets by Friday October 22nd. 

So if I can count on you to make it to the show next Tuesday, please oh please buy your tickets as soon as possible.  If you want to use your bank/paypal account tickets are $12.00 (debit cards add $.65)

Paypal sales are closed!
I still hope to see you on Tuesday!!!

You can buy tickets at the door for $13

Wanna Make Reseravtions?
Call The Duplex: (212) 255-5438

Mention my name!!!-5438

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A Summer Gig

3/13/2010

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In three days I will be on my way back to the Crystal Symphony.  I wasn’t dreading the 17 hour flight until I went to the gym two days ago and threw out my back.  Fortunately, the light at the end of that very long tunnel, during which I will passing over the international, date line and losing a day of my life, is a life-long dream trip from my bucket list, Australia and New Zealand!

My attempts at ‘being still’ when it came to booking my next job has proven practically everyone who knows me correct, once again.  At the urgings of my good friends Tyler and Megan, (sorry guys, once you are engaged you are no longer singly credited for anything)I sent the managing director of The Derby Dinner Playhouse a note listing my availability and practically begging for a job.  Well, it payed off, and I will be playing the Godmother in Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.  My hunger for the golden age of musical theater will be partially satiated by this piece from later in R&H’s career, but my luke-warm feelings about the show are brought up to a simmer by the fact that I’ve played this role before; In the eighth grade, at Meadowbrook Middle School, in Poway, CA.

Here’s to coming full circle and here’s to always being drawn back to the place I call my hometown, North County San Diego! Not to mention a return to one of my top five favorite cities, Louisville, KY.

Where: The Derby Dinner Playhouse

What: Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella as The Godmother

When: July 6th-August 15th

Tix: www.derbydinner.com
 
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    Brooke Aston

    Since the age of sixteen my adventures in music have taken me all over the country. After years of bouncing around I've made Orange County my home. Here are my stories.

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