BOLLI (Brandeis Osher Lifelong Learning Institute)
For several years Naomi had been trying to get me to join a lifelong learning institute at Brandeis University, where courses were led by the members based on professional expertise or passionate interest.
I resisted because I was very content with my loosely structured days of piano playing, running, high school tutoring and website development.
Then during dinner with friends we began to talk about what course each of us might lead if we were to give one.
My choice was 20th-century music, a deep interest that I'd had since the 1960s.
It would be a chance to proselytize on a subject that many music-lovers approach with suspicion, at best.
The target level would be the average concertgoer without much knowledge of music structure.
The idea was welcomed at BOLLI, became a proposal, and then a fully-attended course that Naomi and I gave together during both semesters of the 2006-2007 academic year.
It was called
"Who's Afraid of 20th Century Music?"
(click to see the description).
Over time I may post some details of the course, such as the syllabus and a list of composers and works.
Besides giving a course, there was also the opportunity to take some others.
The ones I chose in my first year were: Post-war German literature, The Mayans, Timeless Issues in Drama, and a survey course on the world's religions.
In the meantime, I developed another course called
"Five Physicists Who Changed the World View"
(click to see the description), which I'm now giving in the Spring 2008 semester.
The five physicists are Galileo, Newton, Maxwell, Einstein and Bohr, with two classes devoted to each.
At the same time, I also took a course called "Creative Writing", with two purposes in mind: to look for some validation that my writings (started in January 2004) had some merit, and to find stimulation for further writing from other class members and the class leader. Making my first contribution a verse that I had just written, I found the class to fertile ground for more writing that was well-received, the works being
Only A Teapot
A Brooklyn Afternoon
Onkel Heinz
Crane Beach
Suspended License
Spring
Then in late April I actually became a published poet when the latest issue of the biannual BOLLI Journal was distributed, an issue that included my
Aeolian Laments.
This is journal to which members contribute poetry, short stories, memoirs and photographs.
The Annual Meeting this year will also include an art show, to which I've contributed a framed photograph:
Staircase at Abbey Melk.
Information about the institute itself is at
BOLLI.
The new website design (late spring 208) features three pictures; to my surprise, I'm in the leftmost one.
Updated 6/30/08