When I’m not working as a keynote artist with Lipstick & Laughs, I teach pre-school and elementary school music classes.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it’s exhausting work, but I love it. Children are like sponges, and music is something they devour hungrily, all 387 of them.

Somedays, the lessons I have planned take on a life of their own and I’m just along for the ride. Sure, a perfectly executed lesson plan is a good thing, but sometimes the lessons go where they naturally want to go and I have no control over it. The kids’ inspiration are the driver of the inspiration bus, and I’m just the passenger. Most of the time the kids teach me more than I can imagine.

What they teach me is how to let my inspiration flow.

For example, one day in class we played a guessing game where the kids had to close their eyes, reach into a paper bag, touch an object and use words to describe what they were feeling with their hands. Their words were quite simple:  ”bumpy, sharp, fuzzy, smooth, squishy, soothing and cold.”

Then we sat “criss cross apple sauce” and listened to some music. They had to keep their eyes closed and describe what they heard.

One boy described Louis Armstrong’s “It’s A Wonderful World” as “springtime” and “soothing.”

A little girl described one of my original songs called “Lost in Boston”  like this: “I felt like I was driving around in circles, but then I was happy because the Red Sox won!”

Another boy heard Allison Krause’s “Down to the River to Pray” and said “I thought she was an angel.”

Every human being is “wired to be inspired,” from ones who are just turning 5 to the ones turning 95. Each one of us can tap into our own experiences and feelings and direct them to whatever we decide to do in our lives. Sometimes we “cut” these wires or forget we have them, but they’re inside of us.  Always.

I’d love to know what you think. Please feel free to comment below.