Wednesday was a busy day, with the morning in Princeton, NJ and the evening in Canton, CT, and, I guess, the afternoon on I-95. The morning session was another curriculum-building get-together with fellow teaching artists. Good to see familiar faces. I worked up a family night for pre-k and parents with play songs, hand-games and dance. Anybody hear of “Lemonade”? I want to learn it. Very satisfying to be at work on actually getting stuff down and into grant form. Off to Canton…

Monday was a great session, the Language of Rhythm, with Josh Robinson and Alex Shaw, two teaching artists. Alex led us through finding rhythm in our bodies, and Josh put the beat is words. Both good ways to internalize rhythm. Sponsored by LINC.

I returned to Bethlehem to work on my CT Troubadour application, putting some of my Philly Folk Festival shows on DVD, and recording my new song CT 29th Colored Regimen. Off to Princeton for another Family Arts curriculum session then up to Roaring Brook..Phew…

Saturday brought me to YANJ’s cushy campus office near Princeton for an interesting session with Family Arts, a subgroup of YANJ that works with a pilot program focusing on preschool kids and their families. I’ve been to several training sessions with other artists, and I assumed the same. Looks like I snuck in on the planning itself. It didn’t dawn on me at first… Anyway, cool.

The pilot plan centers on Arts evenings putting preschoolers, parents, teachers together at an arts event, stirring them up creatively, and, hopefully the kids and parents become arts-partners and can continue at home.

I had the privilege to work with Claudio, who brought in a wonderful book of Latino kids’ and family songs, ones he learned as a kids and also passed on to his kids. It was great to hear Claudio sing these songs, and I hope to pass them on to you as I learn them.

We took one song, El Burrito, that has a funny story about a sick burro and the cures the doctor prescribes. That would be the focus of the community evening. The rest of the evening has warm ups, creative games and a wrap-up. Hopefully, all will come away with the hunger to sing, share stories and dance as a family.

I’m headed back for another session on Wednesday, then drive up to Roaring Brook for my open mike spotlight.

I had the wonderful to present a “talk” on “Folk Music in the 21st Century” for a group of active seniors out at Northampton Community College on Wednesday. I enjoy wrestling with this subject anyway, but its more fun to play music along with it, too. It was a very good situation in that the first presenter was a chef who fed us all, and then we we all sang together. These seniors were a delight to play for (and with), and I remarked that these folk knew the importance of live music, something that is somewhat endangered now-a-days. A long trip for no pay, but well worth the effort.

I had a local gig Tuesday! A mere 20 miles from home, I journeyed out to Killingworth, CT for a cozy two assemblies at a K-2 and 3-4 grade school. Again, it is so much fun to get the kids singing and dancing (along with the teachers, too.). And I was home for lunch. Cool… thanks, gang, for the good time.

I got to play for some folks for a combination birthday party and old-time train ride in New Hope, PA. Big steam engine with several vintage cars behind, ours filled with kids and families and food and balloons, and music. I’ve played for Jocum and Josca for several birthday, going back to Josca’s first b’day in Macungie. A beautiful fall day. Thanks, all!

I played at a new (for me) festival in Bethlehem in the Sun Inn courtyard. They’ve built a new, permanent stage (I played on it this June before it was finished). My friend, T Y did some great magic before me, and later, along with Larry Sceurman, a LV Storyteller. It was fun to play music while the kids destroyed several bales of hay, decorated pumpkins and generally had a good ole time.

It’s been since the end of summer since I played back in Madison for the elders at Strong House. Big crowd with many familiar faces. As usual, John – 89 years young – got up and danced right away, and one particular lady got up with her walker and danced. A big effort. Nice.

First Thursday means the Buttonwood’s open mike. Train Wreck, Ron Anthony, Stan Sullivan, Kent Aldrich, Bob Gotta, Nat Kennedy and other usual suspects. Always worth the trip.

I played at a nice K, 1, 2 school in Morris Plain, NJ. A warm day for October, so I worked up a sweat. I played for a full hour, since we were all having such a good time. the principal had seen me in Clinton, NJ several years ago.

Thursday – I called up Ron Anthony to see if he wanted to get away from his home restoration and play at the Buttonwood and Pine Loft on Thursday night. Opening night with Bob at the Buttonwood brought out Kent, Stan and some other folks, so we passed it around. I had the contact of the Buttonwood fall into my hands, so I’ll see if I can scuffle up a gig there. Seems to be a movement towards more folk there.

Off we went to the Pine Loft near New Britain for the later stages of their regular Thursday night open mike. Nice tour…. Good folks and a friendly group of players, and food, too.

I got into town on Sunday and popped in on the Godfrey’s Open Mike. I got to do THREE songs! Since I had played all Friday, I was warmed up and still got through the songs with only minor dents. I’ll be hosting the GD Open Mike in December.

Monday brought me to Norristown, PA for a gathering of YAPA artists and the new woman in charge, Aileen Lynch-McCulloch. Looks like this YA chapter is gathering speed to reclaim its former prestige. All points to its success. Good to see Minos, Two of a Kind, Cats’ Pajamas and other fellow education travelers. I’ve got homework to do, updating web sites, info, etc. so I’ll be spending time on the computer. Uh, oh….

I finished Friday for my last East Wharf concert in Madison. A nice crowd gathered, and, of course, we had a good time. I packed up, and sat down in the gazebo to take in the sunset. It really dawned on me on how this kind of gig is so special. Blankets, families, pizza boxes, kids running free in the sand, parents talking with each other, rolling waves and pink skies. The end of the summer is so fine, and we should take time to take it all in. Very special…..

I spent the afternoon on the green in Madison for my second visit to the Friday Farmers Market. A beautiful day in the shade of the old oak tree. I tossed open the bag of musical toys and we proceeded to play. A unique way to play some tunes. Tonight… the beach!

I was Googling the internet the other day, self-indulgently checking out the other “Dave Frys” on the page – an economic adviser, some video of a day in Easton, etc. but I stumbled on Dave Fry, a folk singer in England – he has albums, plays 12 string guitar and does similar things to what I do here in the states. I wrote him and asked if he was my evil twin. Nope, but very curious, indeed. It’s a big world out there……

Two very nice shows at the Pottery Barn in Newark, DE, packed with all kind of kids, moms, grandmoms and one very special grandpa, too. This was an especially friendly show, and some very nice interplay, wide eyes on the part of some small kids, too. Thanks for coming out. See you next time. Back to CT for the Labor Day weekend – Rosalie started college today and Jaimie goes back to school on Monday.

Friday brought me to the Walt Whitman Arts Center on Friday for two interesting and distinctly different sets of music. The first show was with a variety of day-cares and camps trucking on down to the center, and it was a lively and interactive show. I think we made a whole lot of noise, but then, that’s art.

The second show was with a special needs boy Isaac, his mom and older brother, and a first grade girl and her mom and younger sister, both of whom spoke no English. Actually, I’m glad there were just a few folks. I invited the folks up on stage, ditched the sound system and broke out the rhythm instruments and had a good, close-up time together. Both sets were hard work, but in different ways, and it was good to have both experiences. Thanks…

It’ll be a bright, sunshiny day – from the Jimmy Cliff song – in Easton for my second center city gig outside the Crayola Factory. Goddard school kids, an Easton day-care and some families from exotic places like Wisconsin, NJ and, ..gasp, CT. I broke only one string!

Good animal day, with Precious, the dog, helping out with “I Wanna be an Dog”, right on cue, and the horse from the Bethlehem horse and buggy crew in the “Bear Hunt”. Also live police effects for Bear Hunt as well. Nice. Off to Camden’s Walt Whitman Center for two shows tomorrow.

Well, the family left Martha’s Vineyard on the 1:45 ferry – home of some great clam chowder, and drove 3 hours back to home in CT. One hour to shift gears and back east to Madison, CT.

Wednesday’s gig at the Madison Beach Hotel was mighty fine. I eschewed the sound system and set up on the lawn in front of the front porch. It’s the best when the mikes don’t get in the way. It was open to the public (good job, MBH), and it was a gathering of local families, hotel guests, some grandfolks, and some mosquitoes thrown in. The grass felt good under the feet, and we proceeded to dance and sing and shake that thang. It’s always neat to see the kids wander in on these situations and get involved. Reaching out is what its all about.

The sunset was spectacular – even with no clouds…. “Hand o’ God Productions”, as I often say. Off to PA for a noon gig in PA.