Exploring the relationships between wine and song,
wine and food and most importantly... wine and people!
"Wine, like music, inspires and adds an extra dimension of pleasure
to all aspects of your life.
Sipped moderately, wine is guaranteed liquid health.
A noble product of the vine, wine is a symbol of Hospitality,
Generosity, Passion...everything good in life!" - joel reese
Joel's Wine Tips:
photo by Chris
Hansen Pictures
7/9/08 - Bottle Aging (To wait or not to wait)
Everyday red wine...such as the grocery store bottles
you may find just under $10 won't improve with age.
Their attractive fruit flavors fade away with time and
unpleasant, oxidative, animal and vegetal notes develop.
Enjoy these wines upon purchase.
Fine, hand-crafted wines on the other hand do improve
in the bottle with time!
The fruit character remains while other complex flavors
develop around them.
7/9/08 - Bottle Aging (To wait or not to wait)
Everyday red wine...such as the grocery store bottles
you may find just under $10 won't improve with age.
Their attractive fruit flavors fade away with time and
unpleasant, oxidative, animal and vegetal notes develop.
Enjoy these wines upon purchase.
Fine, hand-crafted wines on the other hand do improve
in the bottle with time!
The fruit character remains while other complex flavors
develop around them.
Treat your
family and friends to
hand-crafted wines.
The lingering palate pleasures, delightful aromatics
and rich conversations will make for truly lasting memories.
The lingering palate pleasures, delightful aromatics
and rich conversations will make for truly lasting memories.
11/18/08 - Making Family my
Priority
Music
was my professional obsession for 22 years. In the summer of 2007 I decided that relationships
would become the number one focus in my life.
My family and I talked it over, prayed about it, put the
Nashville home on the market and sold it in February 2008. Determined to begin a new career
that would give me more time with my family, we moved
to California.
I now conduct wine tours and provide public relations and marketing for Leonesse Cellars in Temecula, California.
I'm at home almost every night and I'm still able to
perform...the concerts of my choosing.
Joel' Favorite Pairings:
Viognier with Spicy Indian food
- The spices soften the citrus notes in the Viognier making for a refreshing and smooth finish.
Pinot Grigio with Oyster on the half shell and Halibut
- The acidity sparkles over the oysters and halibut like fireworks!
Syrah with Midnight Moon cheese (goat)
- This medium/soft cheese brings out the chocolate notes typical of Syrah.
Even if you don't like a full bodied, peppery red wine, you will like it with this cheese
Career/Music Tips:
Joel plays and
endorses Ovation instruments
VOCAL TIP #1
A typical week for me includes one to two shows a day, telephone speaking, after show speaking and community service speaking. What keeps my voice strong and/or brings it back when it's been taxed?
* I relax and re-align my vocal chords after shows and before bed time by HUMMING and doing a series of bright, cheezy "eees" to a upwards, 1-3-5 triad! I begin each day by HUMMING and singing lightly in my comfortable, lower register. On my way to a show I will begin vocal exercises. The days when I don't make the effort to care for my voice by "warming up" and "cooling down," I pay for it and experience a strained, semi-hoarse voice.
More tips later!
Thu,
May 25th, 2006
Just Show Up!
Often times getting out of the house or the office and "just showing up" at a meeting or an event can be one of our best career moves.
When I moved to Nashville in 2001, I attended a National Speakers Association meeting where I met an important contact.
A few months later, I received a call from this contact to perform for a "character trait" event at a local school. After the show, the owner of a brand new Chick-fil-A restaurant approached me and hired me to perform my Singing Cowboy act for his upcoming children’s night.
Five years later, I perform in different Chick-fil-A restaurant locations every Tuesday night. These shows grow my database, increase product sales, build "brand presence," attract private parties and school bookings, and bring the greatest reward of all…working with children!
I didn’t have a video, fancy cards, or even a current head-shot. But being at that first NSA meeting with a smile and a willing spirit was all I needed.
It’s amazing how many people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and entertaining all because I chose to show up!
Joel Reese Edu-tainer, Public Speaker and Educational Consultant
Just Show Up!
Often times getting out of the house or the office and "just showing up" at a meeting or an event can be one of our best career moves.
When I moved to Nashville in 2001, I attended a National Speakers Association meeting where I met an important contact.
A few months later, I received a call from this contact to perform for a "character trait" event at a local school. After the show, the owner of a brand new Chick-fil-A restaurant approached me and hired me to perform my Singing Cowboy act for his upcoming children’s night.
Five years later, I perform in different Chick-fil-A restaurant locations every Tuesday night. These shows grow my database, increase product sales, build "brand presence," attract private parties and school bookings, and bring the greatest reward of all…working with children!
I didn’t have a video, fancy cards, or even a current head-shot. But being at that first NSA meeting with a smile and a willing spirit was all I needed.
It’s amazing how many people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and entertaining all because I chose to show up!
Joel Reese Edu-tainer, Public Speaker and Educational Consultant
The Concert Trail 9/8/06
I'll perform my first school assembly of the season tomorrow morning, "Giddy Up and Rope
A Book!" ( R = relate what we read to our lives, to what we already know.
E = enjoy reading every day. A = adventures await us in good books. D = dreams can come true when we read! )
I introduced my horse puppet, Buster, to young audiences in 2005. Buster makes the children laugh a lot. While performing at LEGOLAND a few years ago, I enjoyed watching a well known ventriloquist, Kevin Johnson and his puppets, Clyde and Matilda. Later, another ventriloquist, Nacho Estrada became a mentor for me in developing more effective school assemblies.
I am thankful for Kevin and Nacho's inspiration and advice. I'm not a ventriloquist, but my puppet is effective. Mary Jo Huff is a well-known storyteller, puppet handler and teacher, and I picked up some great tips from her while traveling the teacher's conference circuit as well.
Remember: when children feel safe and loved and they are laughing and singing, endorphins are released in the brain and they will learn and retain more!
The Joel Alan Reese, "acoustic concert" at the exciting new Leonesse Cellars winery in California was a huge success! I was even inspired to write one of my favorite new songs which is featured on my JUKEBOX in this website. Check it out and take a listen!
Concert Review: 8/24/06
Saturday
night’s concert at the Leonesse Cellars
winery in Temecula, Ca., was a treat for all. In the middle of
beautiful
wineries and hilly horse country, the out-in-the-open, star-lit
surroundings
couldn’t have been better to set the mood for an evening of
laid-back folk, pop
country music by Joel Reese, the multi-talented singer, song writer and
storyteller. All age groups were captivated by Joel’s
easygoing style and
choice of music. The venue included Joel’s renditions of 50s,
60s and 70s
country and rock ‘n’ roll standards made famous by
entertainers such as Marty
Robbins, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino and James Taylor as well as more
recent
material from entertainers such as
I
was proud to feature "The Spelling Bee," a
song lyric from Daniel Beagan (5th grader) that I put music to and
included on my new c.d., "Rise and Shine Round-Up!" During my school
visits I'm always inspired and amazed by the lyrics the students come
up with.
A college in Tennessee is considering the filming of my children's television concept and I hope to include some of your children and their creative submissions when it comes through.
Keep those funny jokes, poems and song lyrics coming... all potential material for upcoming shows and recordings!
House Party Concerts
Book a special concert in your living room or other venue of choice. Imagine The Singing Cowboy entertaining your family, friends and neighbors as you gather "round" for an intimate concert in your home or back yard.After the concert and sing-a-long, Mr. Reese and your little wranglers may gallop outside for a "Little Britches Rodeo" and other fun games and activities.
A college in Tennessee is considering the filming of my children's television concept and I hope to include some of your children and their creative submissions when it comes through.
Keep those funny jokes, poems and song lyrics coming... all potential material for upcoming shows and recordings!
House Party Concerts
Book a special concert in your living room or other venue of choice. Imagine The Singing Cowboy entertaining your family, friends and neighbors as you gather "round" for an intimate concert in your home or back yard.After the concert and sing-a-long, Mr. Reese and your little wranglers may gallop outside for a "Little Britches Rodeo" and other fun games and activities.
(Ask
for more Details) info@joelreese.com
Parent/Teacher Tips: ______________________
The old One, Two, Three Punch!
Pick two or three important calls or assignments
you’ve been procrastinating and make it a point to
achieve them today!
Most of the time we can discern the important tasks
that could make the biggest impact on our careers,
if accomplished today.
Being prepared and having the proper tools is important,
but sometimes we need to just say, "one, two, three, punch!"
Then go to it with whatever tools we may have!
Imagine how good you will feel when you’ve checked
these assignments off of your list, today.
Get ready, because your mouth will water as you
imagine tasting the fruits of your labor.
One, two, three…Go! And enjoy some punch too.
By Joel Reese Edu-tainer, Public Speaker and Educational Consultant
Math+Music Program Raises School Test Scores
The same research team that discovered that Mozart
boosts IQ has turned to raising test scores in the nation's
schools. The results sound sweet: The MIND Institute
reports that its Math+Music program, which combines piano
lessons with computer math games, has boosted scores
on the California Achievement Test by a whopping 20 percentile
points. For more information, go to http://www.mindinstitute.net.
Schools interested in joining the program can find contact info at http://www.mindinstitute.net/MIND3/mst/availability.php.
Special thanks to Elizabeth Miles at
http://www.tuneyourbrain.com/news.htm
Bullying -- How Can Our Children Cope?
Part
1 By Joel Reese
"Hey Jolene, pretty dress you're wearing today, Jolene!"
My cousins and schoolmates found great joy in teasing me when I was a boy.
Dolly Parton's song, "Jolene" made teasing a boy named, Joel
very easy. Of course the "pretty dress" was a figment of their imaginations.
In primary school, I was unequipped with the skills necessary
for coping with teasing and physical bullying. Like many children, I responded with
anger and shed a few tears, unaware of the power I was giving to the bullies.
Shelley Hymel, associate education dean at the University of British Columbia,
Canada, has been studying child behavior for two decades. She says: "We've got
kids who are figuring out how to play the game and unfortunately , bullying works.
They get what they want -- they get power, status, and attention."
During my school assembly presentation, "Be A Buddy Not A Bully," I suggest
that children should expect to be teased everyday. When we expect it, we can be more prepaired to deal with it. One way to cope with bullying is to learn to laugh at ourselves.
When I was called, "Jolene" and was told I was wearing a pretty dress, I could have
laughed with the taunters and replied, "Oh, thanks! You like my pretty dress?"
That kind of confident, humorous response would have surprised the taunters.
They wouldn't have received power over me and might not have teased me anymore
either. Of course laughing may not work in every case. Walking away, telling, or possibly speaking with them face-to-face when we are calm and collected may help.
Recently, a teacher related a positive response to a suggestion I'd made during a school assembly. One of her kindergartners reminded a classmate to laugh when a boy persisted in calling her names. The student said: "Remember what the 'Singing Cowboy' said? Laugh with him!" The girl tried laughing and felt better. The boy quit teasing her, too.
(Watch for Part 2 )
"Hey Jolene, pretty dress you're wearing today, Jolene!"
My cousins and schoolmates found great joy in teasing me when I was a boy.
Dolly Parton's song, "Jolene" made teasing a boy named, Joel
very easy. Of course the "pretty dress" was a figment of their imaginations.
In primary school, I was unequipped with the skills necessary
for coping with teasing and physical bullying. Like many children, I responded with
anger and shed a few tears, unaware of the power I was giving to the bullies.
Shelley Hymel, associate education dean at the University of British Columbia,
Canada, has been studying child behavior for two decades. She says: "We've got
kids who are figuring out how to play the game and unfortunately , bullying works.
They get what they want -- they get power, status, and attention."
During my school assembly presentation, "Be A Buddy Not A Bully," I suggest
that children should expect to be teased everyday. When we expect it, we can be more prepaired to deal with it. One way to cope with bullying is to learn to laugh at ourselves.
When I was called, "Jolene" and was told I was wearing a pretty dress, I could have
laughed with the taunters and replied, "Oh, thanks! You like my pretty dress?"
That kind of confident, humorous response would have surprised the taunters.
They wouldn't have received power over me and might not have teased me anymore
either. Of course laughing may not work in every case. Walking away, telling, or possibly speaking with them face-to-face when we are calm and collected may help.
Recently, a teacher related a positive response to a suggestion I'd made during a school assembly. One of her kindergartners reminded a classmate to laugh when a boy persisted in calling her names. The student said: "Remember what the 'Singing Cowboy' said? Laugh with him!" The girl tried laughing and felt better. The boy quit teasing her, too.
(Watch for Part 2 )
Character
Round-Up Club
Howdy Wranglers,
I want to invite all the girls, boys, parents and grandparents to be my pardners in a "Character Round-Up Club!"
Simply look for kind, respectful, and responsible deeds to do in your home and neighborhood.
Parents and teachers can catch and commend their children for good deeds and/or achievements. If you will notify me about your child's deed or special achievement, I will send him/her a personal email and/or gift, and make a special presentation during a live show.
Wranglers take care of horses and each of us can take care of people, animals and the land by joining up and riding in the "Character Round-Up Club!"
See you down the trail, Mr. Reese, The Singing Cowboy
Howdy Wranglers,
I want to invite all the girls, boys, parents and grandparents to be my pardners in a "Character Round-Up Club!"
Simply look for kind, respectful, and responsible deeds to do in your home and neighborhood.
Parents and teachers can catch and commend their children for good deeds and/or achievements. If you will notify me about your child's deed or special achievement, I will send him/her a personal email and/or gift, and make a special presentation during a live show.
Wranglers take care of horses and each of us can take care of people, animals and the land by joining up and riding in the "Character Round-Up Club!"
See you down the trail, Mr. Reese, The Singing Cowboy
Career/Music Tips:
Joel plays and
endorses Ovation instruments
VOCAL TIP #1
A typical week for me includes one to two shows a day, telephone speaking, after show speaking and community service speaking. What keeps my voice strong and/or brings it back when it's been taxed?
* I relax and re-align my vocal chords after shows and before bed time by HUMMING and doing a series of bright, cheezy "eees" to a upwards, 1-3-5 triad! I begin each day by HUMMING and singing lightly in my comfortable, lower register. On my way to a show I will begin vocal exercises. The days when I don't make the effort to care for my voice by "warming up" and "cooling down," I pay for it and experience a strained, semi-hoarse voice.
More tips later!
Thu,
May 25th, 2006
Just Show Up!
Often times getting out of the house or the office and "just showing up" at a meeting or an event can be one of our best career moves.
When I moved to Nashville in 2001, I attended a National Speakers Association meeting where I met an important contact.
A few months later, I received a call from this contact to perform for a "character trait" event at a local school. After the show, the owner of a brand new Chick-fil-A restaurant approached me and hired me to perform my Singing Cowboy act for his upcoming children’s night.
Five years later, I perform in different Chick-fil-A restaurant locations every Tuesday night. These shows grow my database, increase product sales, build "brand presence," attract private parties and school bookings, and bring the greatest reward of all…working with children!
I didn’t have a video, fancy cards, or even a current head-shot. But being at that first NSA meeting with a smile and a willing spirit was all I needed.
It’s amazing how many people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and entertaining all because I chose to show up!
Joel Reese Edu-tainer, Public Speaker and Educational Consultant
Just Show Up!
Often times getting out of the house or the office and "just showing up" at a meeting or an event can be one of our best career moves.
When I moved to Nashville in 2001, I attended a National Speakers Association meeting where I met an important contact.
A few months later, I received a call from this contact to perform for a "character trait" event at a local school. After the show, the owner of a brand new Chick-fil-A restaurant approached me and hired me to perform my Singing Cowboy act for his upcoming children’s night.
Five years later, I perform in different Chick-fil-A restaurant locations every Tuesday night. These shows grow my database, increase product sales, build "brand presence," attract private parties and school bookings, and bring the greatest reward of all…working with children!
I didn’t have a video, fancy cards, or even a current head-shot. But being at that first NSA meeting with a smile and a willing spirit was all I needed.
It’s amazing how many people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and entertaining all because I chose to show up!
Joel Reese Edu-tainer, Public Speaker and Educational Consultant