Quotes
Children’s Quotes (spelling errors are the children’s)
I never thaet that math was so important and interesting befor you came. I thaet that math was just plane old numbers. I never rellised math and music could be a grate cohanashan (combination). Thanks to you!– Sophie
Thank you for makeing me a smart kind and makeing me love poems and lalabuys. – Eli
I am so glad you came! I was so excited I told my whole family! I loved all the progects we did together. I wish you could come again! -Amanda
I had such a good time making the mural and our song “Life Cycle Goes On and On.” – Robert
I want to thank you for coming in to teach us things. I realy want you to come back. -Natasha
Thank you for the wonderfull time you gave us with the songs, writing and evreything else.– Brendan
Your music is amazing– Jacob D.
Thank you for teeching us about the life cycle of butterflies and plants.– Austin
We will miss you forever. Thank you for writing a song with us and the murals too. -Dylan V.
It has been a fun time working with you.– Jake
Thank you for everything. You are the best in the hole world.– Zada
Creativity Workshops for Adults
It was a lovely day of fellowship, communion with the earth, connection with the self, a beautiful flowing of music and words in a peaceful, welcoming setting. Many thanks to Sina and Leslie for their sensitive and loving facilitation. –Julie Cook
Thank you for these lovely poems! It was an amazing day facilitated by two talented gifted artists! The blending of Music and Poetry and the great outdoors served to delight and inspire me to sharpen my creative pencil! I highly recommend your workshop to anyone who wants to step out of their “box” and enjoy discovering themselves in a NEW way with music and poetry. -Deborah Donne
I am lifted up by the creative sharing and support that I experienced by being with you, singing with you, sharing poetry with you all. I felt safe, encouraged and inspired by everyone who was present. It would be an answer to my prayers to meet again and perhaps continue on a regular basis. Wisdom House is one of my favorite places to be for many reasons…the labyrinth, the artwork, the delicious and nutritious meals… I am so grateful for it all! -Frances Clem
This is a long over due thank you for an extraordinary experience in your “She Walks in Beauty” workshop at Wisdom House. Over the years I have attended many writing workshops, and I have to tell you that yours was one of the most inspiring and transformative. Leslie, your suggestions in how to consider an aspect of nature opened up some floodgates, and I was able to write from what felt like a new place. I love what happened on my pages thanks to your wise and practiced guidance. Sina, your music and the music we created at with your knowing direction was magically penetrating. The entire experience of being in the presence of your powerful, creative energy and the powerful, creative energy of the others and the powerful, creative energy of Nature stirred something in my soul that has needed attention and freedom …freedom to speak … and sing … and rejoice … and remind me to keep attentive to my passion – which is poetry –something I have put on slight deferment as I have been trying to get my healing arts business off the ground. However, I had an epiphany of sorts at your workshop too … that I can combine my two loves and somehow incorporate poetry in my healing arts practice … because after all – writing can be for many – solace for the soul. I am deeply grateful to you both for putting together such an extraordinary workshop. I truly appreciate all your time and effort! I learned so much and feel like I grew another dimension! Thank you, a thousand times for this absolutely gorgeous, inspiring and meaningful experience.- Alisa Parcells
Educators’ Quotes
Thank you for all the gifts you have given our children…thank you for your inspirations and support in organizing our little poem with music and dance. I believe the students will follow the advice in song and listen to their hearts. –Alison Burke, Squadron Line School, Simsbury, CT
Thank you so much for the outstanding work you have done with the 2nd grade at Squadron. This was my favorite Native American performance/informance that I have done in Simsbury because it was such an amazing experience for the kids and so much of it was student created. You have so many creative ideas and I really enjoyed working with you. Hopefully we can work together again! –Donna Gallo, PhD, Music Specialist, Squadron Line School, Simsbury, CT
I cannot describe the feeling I left school with last Friday. I was so proud of my class and I think that their performance was one of the most memorable experiences in my career. I even hummed our song all weekend!… I signed my class up for a road trip to share their song with the Board of Education. They help support the HOT school grant in our building and should enjoy this project. – Tricia Generalli, Educator, Alcott School, Wolcott, CT
The assembly was just outstanding. Ellie and I agree that when you are in our building miracles begin to happen and with Leslie on board we were doubly blessed…Thanks again for a great residency. The students were totally immersed in the experience and I know that they are better writers for having this experience. -Norma Turcotte, Music Specialist, Enfield, CT
Thank you for helping my students make memories together- Janice D’Amico Rocky Hill, CT
Thank you for sharing your gift of music and joy! – Ilona Earle, Rocky Hill, Ct
Performance Quotes
Wow! What a great concert you presented the other night! You could just sense the magic & power of music and song in the air. – David Rau, Director of Education, Florence Griswold Museum
Thomasina sang so beautifully with her velvet voice, so true to pitch, and playing her collection of dulcimers. -Heidi Muller
If you are hungry for peace and comfort, take some time to listen to Thomasina Levy’s Parallel Universe. If you are very lucky, you might catch her live on a stage, which she instantly turns into a sanctuary. But even if you have to settle for cd or streaming, you’ll be restored and relaxed by music that fills up the room, the car–and your heart. –Doe Boyle
Exhilarating…Mesmerizing…Uplifting. These words just begin to describe benefit concert performed by Thomasina Levy to celebrate the launch of her newest album, Parallel Universe, recently released from Hearts of Space Records. On an autumn Sunday afternoon in Connecticut, Thomasina and her supporting musicians played to a completely full house, yet the performance transported the audience of all ages to an intimate and personal space. By turns soothing and toe-tapping, each piece not only showcased the accomplished musicianship of the performers but also the diverse global influences of that inspired Thomasina’s original compositions. The music – intricate and emotionally-rich – enthralled me. Time and stress seemed to slip away as I flowed into Thomasina’s “parallel universe”; I was reluctant to leave this sacred musical place. Luckily, I have the CD and I’ll surely return to it again and again!
Dulcimer Workshop Quotes
“Thomasina is a communicator… she brings her creativity and love of song to her students with kindness, patience, and a calm graceful approach”.- Heidi Muller, Wallowas Dulcimer Festival, Joseph, Oregon
Students at Swannanoa Gathering, Warren Wilson College:
Intermediate Class:
- Thomasina was great, as always. The music she provided was appropriate and her approach is both warm and professional. Her bringing in some improvisation was good for me as I’m slow to spread my wings. It was a good experience. Probably mostly because it wasn’t at all threatening.
- Excellent!! Thomasina is a great teacher. Very skilled at working with a class of people on a wide range of levels and making sure they all understand and get what they came to learn.
- A great session. Helped me understand chords better, capoing and various tunings. Presented techniques for flatpicking, strumming and some fingerpicking. “Sina” is a top=flight instructor. Went out of her way to help one with my problems. I can recommend her as an instructor – very knowledgeable. Learned several nice new tunes.
- Wonderful instruction, geared to student needs. I found her strategies extremely effective. Just a few minutes allowed to practice prior to executing w/ group was helpful. No teacher had everdone this for me. Her style was just what I needed to start relaxing and relation to music. She was very encouraging to all students. Thanks you, super tab!
Beginners Class:
What can I say? Thomasina is an excellent teacher for beginner dulcimer. Our class had a wide range of students with differing amounts of musical experience and abilities. She was able to keep the class together and each student was able to progress at his/her own pace without being held back or left behind. This is not an easy thing to do. I could not be happier with the instruction I received. I’ll be back!
Sina is an excellent teacher. She introduced material and explained until we understood. She had us go over the songs slow enough and long enough for us to learn them. She was very concerned about each student and was open for suggestions of songs we wanted to learn. Having one teacher for the beginner class was wonderful and helped us to bond and learn more. Before the week was over we had learned many songs, studied a little theory, learned to tune our dulcimer, know the difference in ADD and DAD and tuned and played in both, a little pickin’, capote. It was a real overview and basic class.
Thomasina is an excellent teacher. Very patient. Provided us with appropriate music – gave attention to each student. Class size of 10 was just right.
Very good pedagogical approach, clear instructions, inspired teacher – fun to be with, very patient, very good rapport between fellow students!
Thomasina was able to blend the talents of 10 diverse people from those who knew very little of music to those who had a more extensive background, and make us into a cohesive group. She was very enthusiastic and supportive. I would love to take another class from her some day. I felt very challenged and learned a great deal.
There are not enough words in my vocabulary to describe how wonderful she was as a person and as a teacher. On a scale of 1 to 10, she was a 10!
The class materials were wonderful to have. The speed of the class was just right for me and it was challenging. It was stimulating. We all left the week with materials to work on and goals to reach.