Building Communities of Inquiry
Andrea Cooper's Page
Profile Information
- Favorite subjects
- Singing old songs, harmony singing and some songwriting, flower gardening,visual arts, reading and respecting good fiction, decorative arts and children's book illustration. Finding good medical care and becoming your own advocate.
- What do you want to learn about?
- Easy music theory; sight reading for choir singing; world history through the arts; conversational foreign languages; traveling solo or with small groups on a tight budget; mosaic and found art construction; beginning crochet, knitting; and beading. Relaxation techniques. Watercolor and other painting/drawing adventures. Having fun with art (for lapsed artists).
- What could you teach?
- Community singing using folk songs; Songwriting--new songs that sound old (incorporating traditional tunes and language styles); singing games and movement songs for all ages. Patient advocacy ; patient-doctor communication; chronic pain and treatment options; long-term cancer survivorship issues (discussion).
- Who are your heroes/heroines?
- (need more time for this)
- What are you passionate about?
- Keeping good folk songs alive; keeping folksinging/music on the front porch instead of behind microphones; helping people in pain find their way to good treatment and support; seeing beauty in everyday things and to always keep learning; listening to other people's stories.
About me…
The Lyceum is just what I need these days. I'm a somewhat lapsed visual artist (went to Maryland Institute of Art in the 70's), who got into doing graphic design for a living, but am now paying for it (want to talk about carpal tunnel?). I enjoy sharing ideas, music and art with other folks, and am looking forward to the many opportunities that are waiting for me just around the corner.
I love folk music--especially singing with others; song leading is a passion: to get a roomful of people singing is pure joy. I often sing with groups for fun; a bit of performing and teaching here and there, as well as some song crafting when I am so moved. Music, for me, is a like taking a deep breath. It's both calming and invigorating.
Lately, I've been involved in patient advocacy work with the American Pain Foundation, which is based here in Baltimore. Turns out I'm a pretty good public speaker, and often represent chronic pain patients when the media comes calling. Unfortunately, I have lived with chronic pain from fibromyalgia and other conditions for a very long time, but I find that helping others helps me as well. I serve on a national advisory council for the foundation, and represent it on their board of directors.
I am also thrilled to be able to participate in the Lagniappe Project, a charitable foundation dedicating to improving the lives of people with life-altering conditions through arts-based activities.
Otherwise, my time is spent with my husband and our two young adults, several cats, a dog and gardens that always need more attention than I can give them.
I love folk music--especially singing with others; song leading is a passion: to get a roomful of people singing is pure joy. I often sing with groups for fun; a bit of performing and teaching here and there, as well as some song crafting when I am so moved. Music, for me, is a like taking a deep breath. It's both calming and invigorating.
Lately, I've been involved in patient advocacy work with the American Pain Foundation, which is based here in Baltimore. Turns out I'm a pretty good public speaker, and often represent chronic pain patients when the media comes calling. Unfortunately, I have lived with chronic pain from fibromyalgia and other conditions for a very long time, but I find that helping others helps me as well. I serve on a national advisory council for the foundation, and represent it on their board of directors.
I am also thrilled to be able to participate in the Lagniappe Project, a charitable foundation dedicating to improving the lives of people with life-altering conditions through arts-based activities.
Otherwise, my time is spent with my husband and our two young adults, several cats, a dog and gardens that always need more attention than I can give them.
Andrea Cooper's Photos
Andrea Cooper's Blog
So, are you smiling?
My grandmother used to say "So, are you smiling?" at the end of every phone conversation. She's been gone for many years, but think of the value of such a short, sweet question. A reminder to enjoy the little things in life; take a breath and find something to smile about. Of course, she also said "This too shall pass," which conjures up other emotions, less happy but also reassuring. Let's hear it for Jewish grandmothers! She may have fed us all enough trans fats to clog our arteries with blint… Continue
Posted on September 6, 2007 at 5:57pm — 1 Comment
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I like that story about your granny. I did a placement in a hospice and realised the importance of good pain control. We go to a folk club in a local pub some Sundays.
I am in Brighton Uk and I am a mad woman with a mental health disability by the way.
Nice to meet you.
Jill