Ebb & Flow
- Irene Feher
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
“Ebb & Flow”: A recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going or decline and regrowth.
It has been awhile since I last sat down to write, and so much is changing. Since I turned 60, it feels like the ground I have been standing on is shifting. Priorities change. The stories of the people in my life also expand and become more complex and rich. People from my past return, and people close to me depart.
I have moved into my new home.
I am addressing several health concerns that I left on the back burner for too long.
I am establishing a schedule for self care, singing and creativity.
I am making more time for friends and family.
The days just fly by…
I am learning to pace myself
And I am excited to return to sharing the joy of singing and music improvisation at a slightly reduced pace.
Writing is another way that I love to express myself, but I owe it to you to only publish when I have something meaningful to share.
Long Interlude
My imagination and creativity had to be put aside to deal with other facets of life. It was a difficult decision to make but creative expression cannot be forced. I like to immerse myself in my writing and I can only write about what I am truly experiencing. Owning my own home is something I have wanted for as long as I can remember, and it was time to make that big step.
It has been an all-consuming steep learning curve, and a major challenge for a creative like me. I had to read documents over several times before I could grasp what they meant. I learned a lot of new terminology and practical knowledge that most people learn in their 30s! I am now the owner and caretaker of my home - my own landlord. Oh yes, did I forget to mention all that comes with transferring my apartment lease, organizing my move, moving, and unpacking… all this during a busy semester of teaching.
Then came the shock of having to organize, downsize, and set up my home. My years of experience teaching voice, doing research, singing, and facilitating and organizing workshops did not prepare me for everything that comes with setting up a living space, including assembling furniture!
Thankfully I had the help of an army of very skilled and patient friends, and an amazing cousin who I think of as my big sister!
So that is why I have not been writing!
…and life ebbs and flows
Music for People Improvisation Retreat at
CAMMAC May 2026!
Thank you to all of you who came from far and near! YOU made this fourth annual retreat a magical experience!
Guess what?!?!
We are already booked for May 28-31, 2027! Please mark your calendars for our 5th annual retreat!
The Spaces Between
When improvising, an often overlooked gesture is silence. Offering silence when you really don’t have anything to say/play is an act of trust. An intentional offering of silence brings a lot to an improvised piece. For example, it adds playfulness, anticipation or a change of texture. Quality silence is always accompanied by intentional listening. One beautiful improvisation challenge is to allow yourself to play only ONE sound or phrase ONCE over the course of a large ensemble improvisation. Learning to know when to drop out is an important skill. In other words, to be a good conversationalist, one must be a good listener.
That silence, those spaces in between, allow us to anticipate and receive with clarity, and to honor and appreciate what has just been played. There is also the oft neglected silence that frames a piece of music, the silence just before and after a piece is played. We often begin too quickly, diving in before we really feel ready, or we don’t give the final sound a chance to dissolve completely into silence. It can be jarring to hear a beautiful ending be cut off by commentary or applause.
…and it is the same in life. I would pack my schedule so much that I would find myself not as present in some activities. Allowing for the spaces in between lets us be truly present for each activity. Having that time to pause, appreciate, transition, recenter and open up for the next activity is vital for some of us. I have had weeks pass that feel like a blur.
I invite you to notice how you begin and end an improvised piece of music. Do you allow the spaces in between to happen? Or is your mind already moving ahead of real time?
I invite you to play less notes so you give yourself and others the space to enjoy the ebb and flow of each improvisation!
I invite you to offer yourself more “spaces between” meetings, lessons and activities so you can savour the richness of your life.
