Где-то в конце зимы 2016 г., преподаватели в Сашиной пре-школе Сузуки положили в Сашин шкафчик достаточно толстую записную книжку и набор фотографий всех детей из его группы, насаженных на металлическое кольцо. На каждой фото был один ребёнок в полный рост, фото небольшие, заламинированные, и вырезанные так, что нет ничего, кроме ребёнка. В книжке уже были исписаны несколько страниц. Да… мы тоже далеко не сразу поняли, что это было такое…
Поскольку Сузуки это музыкальная школа, то группы по возрасту носят музыкальные названия. Саша ходит в старшую группу, которая называется Whole Notes. Так вот, идея этого кольца с фотографиями всех детей и записной книжки следующая: все дети из старшей группы в виде своих фотографий в полный рост (плоские Whole Notes/Flat Whole Notes) ходят в гости друг к другу, и принимающая сторона посвящает их всех в какие-то свои приключения. Другими словами, каждый ребёнок при помощи родителей описывает каки-то свои активности или похождения в этой записной книжке и потом передаёт книжку в Сузуки, где преподаватели читают её всем детям, прежде чем передать её в следующую семью. Таким образом, Flat Whole Notes как бы становятся участниками жизни и приключений каждой из семей. Подавляющее число записей в этой книге, которые мы видели, были достаточно короткими. Наша запись получилась несравненно более длинная. Вот это она (мы собирались поместить её сразу, но лучше поздно, чем никогда…).
Sasha took the Flat Whole Notes on some of his favorite adventures over the course of a few weeks this winter. He invited two of his closest friends (who also happen to be brothers) and their parents for a sleepover to his house. Sasha, his little sister Nastia (who is also a Quarter Note!), their friends and the Flat Whole Notes (and parents too, of course) had tremendous and absolutely unforgettable fun! They put together numerous puzzles, built whimsical sculptures from laser pegs, drove and chased radio-controlled police cruisers through the house, gathered in Sasha’s room in the dark in a tight circle and created and projected their masterpiece drawings onto the ceiling with a special projector. The kids and the Flat Whole Notes helped inflate camping mattresses for the guests and set them up in Sasha’s room for the kids and in the guest room for adults. It would be pointless to deny it: yes, there was definitely some jumping on these mattresses! And, as it was starting to get dark outside, everyone gathered in the living room and helped the four siblings from a fantasy novel by C. S. Lewis free the land of Narnia from the evil White Witch. Completely exhausted from a long day, everyone looked forward to getting some sleep. We’ve never seen Sasha run up to his room, which that night he shared with his good friends, that fast! The next day, everyone thoroughly enjoyed a super lazy and relaxing morning, devouring large and paper-thin crepes made to order on an industrial crepe machine and filled with ham and cheese or with fresh and aromatic home made strawberry jam. Oh so very yummy. If only the Flat Whole Notes could travel through time, they’d go back to that morning right now (and possibly just stay there)! And later in the day the Flat Whole Notes completely disregarded the fact that it was still winter, and there was a lot of snow everywhere, and joined everyone for a long walk outside, through snowy streets of Newton, and watched all four kids ride their scooters!
On another day, Sasha took the Flat Whole Notes on a cross-country skiing adventure. Without traveling too far, we skied along one of the aqueducts which passes through Newton, right behind our house. Cutting through gorgeous and pristine white powder with his skies, Sasha made a new track in the snow and led the Flat Whole Notes into the frozen Fairy Tale Land. His little sister Nastia skied for a bit as well, but later opted to walk so she could better explore her surroundings. We looked at the snow-covered houses, watched various birds, who cheerfuly chirped, enjoying the gorgeous scenery, examined paw prints left in the snow by small furry animals, and studied the intricate patterns of tiny snow flakes. What a fantastic day outdoors!
There was one other activity to which Sasha had to take the Flat Whole Notes with him. Ice skating! Sasha enjoyes skating and listening to music at a large and nice Daily rink. There are many children as well as adults of varying levels of proficiency skating there, and it’s a good place to learn. Sasha especially enjoys watching a real (and blue, which is Sasha’s favorite color!) Zamboni machine resurface the ice there! And guess what?! On the day when Sasha brought the Flat Whole Notes to the rink, we ran into Danny, Sasha’s fellow Whole Note, and his dad also skating there! The two boys, of course, had to show each other how well each of them skates! Fun, fun, fun!
The Flat Whole Notes had a very memorable time with Sasha, his family, and friends. Thanks for spending the time with us. Enjoy your next stop.
Sasha.