Naming my children wasn't too bad. The first one, my wife named so that was easy: Preston Avery. The second was a little more challenging because up until the baby was delivered we told it was girl. Low and behold as the little tyke was passed to me the doctor said. Congratulations dad, it's a boy! So after getting over the shock and deliberating for 5 days, we arrived at Asher Ellington. At least I got to contribute the middle name this time. But now I find my self at the name game again. NO NO! There are no more baby Brooks' waiting in the wings. I have to come up with a name for my world drumming ensemble. Prior to my move to this new school. I had a very successful drumming ensemble we called Nankama. It means "born to do this." The kids really identified with the name and it's meaning. As a group we performed all over the city at local and major events. I had the pleasure of play at Maya Angelou's 80th birthday celebration. But all that is in the past and now I am at a new school and I'm trying determine a name for this group. It's hard because we currently lack the cohesion of my former group so I find it difficult to come up with something that unifies us in spirit. Since we are at The Main Street Academy, my wife suggested Main Street Beats but we both decided that didn't sound distinguished enough. I am playing with the idea of MSADE (pronounced mmm-sah-deh) which would stand for Main Street Academy Drumming Ensemble. I know that names are important, so I want to make good choice and I want it to mean something. I have learned that names say a lot about who are whether we want them to or not. Monday, March 28, 2011
What's in a Name?
Naming my children wasn't too bad. The first one, my wife named so that was easy: Preston Avery. The second was a little more challenging because up until the baby was delivered we told it was girl. Low and behold as the little tyke was passed to me the doctor said. Congratulations dad, it's a boy! So after getting over the shock and deliberating for 5 days, we arrived at Asher Ellington. At least I got to contribute the middle name this time. But now I find my self at the name game again. NO NO! There are no more baby Brooks' waiting in the wings. I have to come up with a name for my world drumming ensemble. Prior to my move to this new school. I had a very successful drumming ensemble we called Nankama. It means "born to do this." The kids really identified with the name and it's meaning. As a group we performed all over the city at local and major events. I had the pleasure of play at Maya Angelou's 80th birthday celebration. But all that is in the past and now I am at a new school and I'm trying determine a name for this group. It's hard because we currently lack the cohesion of my former group so I find it difficult to come up with something that unifies us in spirit. Since we are at The Main Street Academy, my wife suggested Main Street Beats but we both decided that didn't sound distinguished enough. I am playing with the idea of MSADE (pronounced mmm-sah-deh) which would stand for Main Street Academy Drumming Ensemble. I know that names are important, so I want to make good choice and I want it to mean something. I have learned that names say a lot about who are whether we want them to or not. 
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You have a wonderful dilemma in front of you. I am sure you have put it out there for the students to brainstorm, have you had them think about creating a physical mental map. I know it sounds a bit staged, but perhaps it will open someone's mental doors. I too am in the name game...for my third child. Names are important words. they create mental pictures, they drum up emotions, and to some degree they define us.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best of luck, and I wonder if you can't bring your group together in some way to have them identify their "tying trait" what is it that will or does pull them all together? Perhaps a day of downtime, a party of sorts may not spark some creativity. You could call it a naming party. Anyway, I think your children's names are beautiful, and again, wish you the best of luck. Sending some creative inspiring vibes your way!