12 Jun Andy Gilbert
Program: Fort Lauderdale Junior Session 1, (Fort Lauderdale Junior Session 2)
Position: Music director
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Age: 27
Lovewell history:
On staff since 2008.
Outside of Lovewell Andy has a few different jobs. He works at University School, teaching classes and music directing their musicals, which are now after school Lovewell processes.
– It’s great! It’s a totally different field. You’re there for 1,5 hour every day after school, five days a week for twelve weeks. The kids came out saying and feeling things that were very similar to what I’ve heard students say here in the summer.
Andy also writes and records music, musically directs different shows and teaches private piano, guitar and voice.
Who is your inspiration?
– Without a doubt my mom and my dad are my number one inspiration. Everything that makes me successful at Lovewell I learnt from them. I came in without ever being a student, but I had a lot of the same ideas and thoughts, which came from my parents for sure. I want to be as much like them as possible.
What has been accomplished at Lovewell today?
– Today was the first day where we had everything in place and our schedule felt like it is going to feel for the coming weeks. We did an awesome dance warm up, some vocal warm ups with some breathing techniques and some of our exercises that we always do, and that I think the teens downstairs do too.
After affirmations we did our first round of brainstorming. A lot of the times the show doesn’t end up being about what’s brought up the first time around the circle, it’s just something that is said in the beginning that sparks the idea that comes out later on. We also did a writing exercise where the students were to choose a book or a movie they’re familiar with and find out who’s the protagonist and antagonist and what is the conflict, resolution and theme.
What has been your favorite moment today?
Every time that I’m teaching a song, it’s my favorite moment. So today we learned the song Chain of Change, from the Lovewell songbook and originally performed in the Lovewell Sweden show 360°. The song is awesome. I love what it stands for, it’s beautiful. This is a great way to unite new students with old students, juniors with teens and American students with Swedish students. We want everyone to feel like they’re part of something that not only goes on here, but also in other places in this country, in other countries, on other continents.
Favorite Lovewell quote:
“I create my everyday.” (Banned together, 2004)
– It fits hand in hand with my favorite affirmation: “I visualize perfection daily, until I breathe it into expression”. It is one that I can actually practice and do without saying the affirmation.
It’s basically about not just being along for the ride, but understanding that you have control over what’s going on at that moment. Going to bed every night knowing that you were the creative energy and the person putting everything in motion is the most rewarding thing.
Why are you here at Lovewell?
I see a never ending need for us as humans to create better people who stand out as creative beings and loving people. This is a place where I actually have a chance to do that, where I can make that my number one goal. I want to teach the students to sing, I want to help them write an awesome musical, but that’s second.
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