We moved to Maryland from California in October 1997, just in time for Halloween. At that time we had kids ages 2 to 18. I had told my husband that he needed to find me a house that did NOT need major renovations and had enough bedrooms for our 7 children. (We had done 3 major house renovations already!)
I couldn't imagine living through another renovation with toddlers and teenagers and WINTER. Our children had never been through a winter with actual ice and snow. Before, with our renovations in California, we lived and played outside year-round. But in Maryland, I knew we not only needed enough bedrooms, but indoor spaces to play during the long months of winter.
We were fortunate to find a former "model" home in a developing neighborhood. It had five bedrooms and a finished, but not fancy basement. That basement had off-white carpet, and white walls, AND was so antiseptic and cold-looking, that my younger kids would not go down there. It was the logical place for a playroom, but not inviting at all.
I couldn't imagine living through another renovation with toddlers and teenagers and WINTER. Our children had never been through a winter with actual ice and snow. Before, with our renovations in California, we lived and played outside year-round. But in Maryland, I knew we not only needed enough bedrooms, but indoor spaces to play during the long months of winter.
We were fortunate to find a former "model" home in a developing neighborhood. It had five bedrooms and a finished, but not fancy basement. That basement had off-white carpet, and white walls, AND was so antiseptic and cold-looking, that my younger kids would not go down there. It was the logical place for a playroom, but not inviting at all.
My quick fix was to hang a "storybook land" wallpaper mural on the wall, mount a little wooden pony swing from the ceiling, and put a colorful, climbing play set down there. After the space became "kid friendly" the little kids would go down and play there. Just having some structures and contrasting colors made such a difference!
Deshi sings "Magnificent Flower" from "A Successor to the Throne" In almost every area of our lives, Structure and Contrast play an important part. We usually don't like clothes or environments that are bland. Some people like getting more daring with colors and forms than others, but nearly everybody admits that having some structure and contrasts in place makes life better.
It's the same in music, and in Children's Musicals. Even when all of the songs are good on their own, if they all have the same format, tempo, rhythms, instrumentation, and tonality, they can come off as too much of a good thing and may even be boring for an audience. Audiences like VARIETY and that means paying attention to STRUCTURES and CONTRASTS.
It's the same in music, and in Children's Musicals. Even when all of the songs are good on their own, if they all have the same format, tempo, rhythms, instrumentation, and tonality, they can come off as too much of a good thing and may even be boring for an audience. Audiences like VARIETY and that means paying attention to STRUCTURES and CONTRASTS.
Cast of "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse" Most every good show starts with an upbeat OPENER that introduces the setting, characters, or plot elements of the story. Then there is usually a SOLILOQUY early in the first act - a lyrical song where the audience gets to know the main character's inner thoughts and motivations. The show is then sprinkled with PRODUCTION NUMBERS that include some main characters and many or all ensemble players. Those songs are used to move the plot along. Throughout the storyline, there may also be contrasting songs that provide explanatory information or exist just for COMIC RELIEF. Then, summation comes with REPRISES of important message songs or a big FINALE.
Alec in "Never Cry Wolf" Each of these songs will be in contrasting styles, time signatures, keys, instrumentations, solo or chorus singing, and so forth. Many shows may also have certain instrumental "colors" that provide cohesion --- such as exotic bells and harp sounds suggesting a Persian setting, or using the Pentatonic scale in a Japanese folk piece.
VARIETY is key and that comes with variations in STRUCTURE and CONTRAST.
Here are a few examples of SOLILOQUY from "A Successor to the Throne," "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse," and "Never Cry Wolf."
VARIETY is key and that comes with variations in STRUCTURE and CONTRAST.
Here are a few examples of SOLILOQUY from "A Successor to the Throne," "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse," and "Never Cry Wolf."
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