Poisoning Pigeons in the Park

This morning I decided to do something completely random and hit the shuffle button on my iPod and picked the first song to come up to write about.  Out of the numerous songs, ranging from just about every genre there is, the one the showed up was “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” by Tom Lehrer.  In all honesty, I was so NOT expecting that song to be the one to be the first one out the box.  No matter though, because I love this song, giggle every time I hear it, and it brings back some great memories of Dr. Demento.

As I am a huge Dr. D fan, I have heard so many different crazy and wacky songs in my day, but this has to be one of my favorites.  Not only is it funny, there is great piano playing and it is very lyrical.  All the humor aside, Tom Lehrer proves the point that music and academics go hand in hand.  When you hear a song like this, you wouldn’t think it’s author to be a mathematician as well as a composer.  This is a man who earned his AB mathematics degree from Harvard at the age of 19, and received his MA degree the next year.  As a musician, he is an early version of Weird Al, specializing in the art of parody of popular songs.

For more information about Tom Lehrer, check out this link to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lehrer.  It provides some interesting information about this amazing satirical, mathematical, musician.

Tired of the Back Burner

I find it only safe to warn you, I have put on my “angry eyes” to write this post.  I am climbing up onto the soapbox and am going to get a few thoughts out of my head and translated to paper…or computer in this case.  Please keep in mind as you read this, these are my personal feelings and thoughts about this topic and not that of the band or its director.  I’m not saying they do or don’t agree with me, I’m just making it clear ahead of time, this is all coming from ME and no one else.  Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, and if you haven’t hit the back button, let us proceed to the rant, shall we.

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE football.  I mean, I am a huge Steelers fan unquestionably, and because of this, I may have some of you call me a hypocrite, and that’s fine.  If you feel that way, it’s your right to.  And while I understand that NFL players stem from our colleges, thus from our high schools, please keep what I am saying in perspective and that everything I am talking about is on a primary (in this case 5-12) level.

When did we become a society that is all about modern day gladiators and so little about culture?  We live in the Coliseum of a modern day Rome cheering on our favorite gladiators and we care little for what the Michelangelos, Leonardos, Mozarts and Beethovens have to offer us.  When did sports start defining our culture?

I am by no means and anti-sports person.  Like I said, I’m a HUGE Steelers fan, HOWEVER, I find it disturbing that on the educational level we place so much importance on sports and so little on our arts programs.  Now, I’m going to make this down right personal, and if I offend any Hennessey football players or parents, I ask you to try to look at this from the flip side.  I am very proud of our football team for taking state for the first time ever, BUT how many more times are we going to honor them?  My youngest son just went to solo contest and got a superior rating, pluses in ALL AREAS of his solo and ALL positive comments from the judges.  Will he be recognized by anyone other than his director, his class mates and his parents?  Doubtful, as I heard a rumor that for the awards assembly THE ARTS AWARDS ARE BEING CUT DO TO TIME.  Now, you tell me WHY is not only his 1 rating, but every student who got a 1, which was 12 total, WHY ARE THESE STUDENTS NOT RECOGNIZED LIKE THE SPORTS STUDENTS ARE??   Why is it when budget cuts are mentioned, you NEVER hear about ANY of the sports organizations in that conversation.  My personal though is, if you’re gonna cut programs funding…….make it an even cut across the board.  Don’t just take from some students …. students who are working towards scholarships in band or music.  If you’re going to take money from one, take some from all.

We need to stop sending our kids the message of “If you’re not into sports, you’re nobody.”  Please, don’t try to deny that this mindset doesn’t exist.  It was there when I was in school, and I heard it everyday.  It is there today, and I have heard it from my own child, wondering why.  My kids are “band nerds” and proud of it.  They are part of an amazing group that is teaching them so much more than just “band”.  They are learning skills they need for life.

I was thinking about what we see on TV…and if you think about it, there are so many music related shows out there, and we’re all drawn to them.  “American Idol”, “Glee”,  “The Sing Off“, “The Jonas Brothers”, “Hannah Montana”, “Lemonade Mouth” and so on.  When you get in your car, what do you listen to?  I’ll bet some form of music.  Kids are excited about music!  They want to be a part.  Check out this link for some percentages http://www.wannaplaymusic.com/harris-poll-2010/back-school-survey-shows-%E2%80%98glee%E2%80%99-%E2%80%98camp-rock-2%E2%80%99-fuel-kids%E2%80%99-desire-learn-and-make-musi

We should be fighting to keep our music programs strong.  We should be letting it be known from our school boards, to our state board, to the federal level that it is so important that we keep our arts programs in our schools.  For some of our students it so much more than an extra curricular activity, it’s the very air they breathe.  Just come meet some of our band students, and you’ll see what I mean.  Music …..music is life.

 

1st Time At Contest….NO PROBLEM!!

Saturday, there were several 5th-8th band students who participated in the Marlo solo and ensemble contest.  As a parent, when you chaperon a trip filled with middle high students, you expect to walk away frazzled.  This is where I get to brag on these kids the first time.  They were amazing on the trip and a blast to be around.  While the other students were playing their music, they were respectful, quiet and attentive.  I didn’t come home frazzled, however I did come home minus one ear drum due to singing on the way home. 🙂

As for the contest itself, we had 11 kids come home with excellent (2) ratings and 12 with superior (1) ratings.  When you take into account several of these students are first year band students and have never done this before and three of them got 1’s….WOW!! It is hard enough to play in front of your friends at home, but add in a school you’re unfamiliar with, a judge, people watching from the hall and the pressure of “this time it’s for real”….well, it’s almost heart stopping, especially the first time!

While that first time is torture because you have never done this before and are not sure what to expect, for a lot of people, it doesn’t get any easier as you continue to compete.  I know this as I still get massive stage fright before a performance. After 30some years, I’m finally to the point of being ok once I get started, but it’s still a hard and terrifying time leading up to it.  This is why I said in my last post, NEVER put down or give any type of criticism other than that which will help the student’s performance for the next time.  Don’t set a student up for failure by giving negative remarks, or making fun of them if they messed up.  This is not an easy endeavor and encouragement is always a great confidence booster.  This is where confidence, self-esteem, bravery, self-worth and a sense of great self accomplishment are built.  When you are put in the spotlight, all alone with maybe just a cd to back you up, where every tiny flaw will be exposed because you aren’t part of a group where it can be hidden, where you discover, you know I can do this and I’m going to be an awesome musician…THIS is where excellence begins, in the class room, at solo contest, where in the midst of self discovery you find the musician that’s deep inside you ready to play, ready to march, ready to succeed in life at ALL things!

Braving Jr High Band Students

Today, I am heading to Marlow with the 5-8th grade band students who are going to solo contest.  Should be an interesting trip 😉  Talk about taking bravery to a whole new level.  I know as I have 3 Jr high students!!!  I’m very excited for those who are competing for the very first time.  Solo contest is a great experience for kids and not just on a musical level.  It builds self confidence, a sense of self worth, self esteem and bravery.

Unlike playing with the group or on a team, solos put you in the spotlight and on display, and is NOT an easy thing to do.  No matter how amazing or not so amazing a student does, PLEASE NEVER tear down a student for it.  Constructive criticism in where you help them is one thing, making fun is something completely different.  Just getting up in front of a judge and/or a crowd should always be commended.

SO, good luck today students.  I hope you all get superior ratings.  And even if you don’t, I’m super proud of you anyway!!!

………………To be continued

No More Boring Band Concerts

After having performed through 8 years of band myself and 7 so far with my kids, I finally got to the point of “enough is enough” concerning concert band.  Every school band concert is the same.  You sit through the younger bands sets of squeaks and squawks, looking at the watch wondering “Is it over yet?”  You endure the time it takes for the bands to transition to and from the stage and you are bored out of your mind.  It’s ok to admit, honest.  It’s boring for the students, it’s boring for the parents, so WHY does concert band have to be like this?  Well, it doesn’t!

We are in the process of re-defining what our school’s concert season is all about.  Concert season for us will NO LONGER be the same old, same old.  We are heading in a new direction.  Concert season is about to become as fun and amazing as marching season…..if not a little more so.

This year’s concert theme is “Blue Carpet Movie Event”, featuring music from some of cinema’s biggest films.  The great part, is not just the high school band gets to be featured and recognized as a star.  We are showing our community that all of the musicians of the school, all the way down to the 4th graders who play the recorder are stars.  But for all of this to make sense, I’ll have to break it down a bit more.

PROPS:  Each student 4-12 each have their own “Hollywood Star” with their name on it.  Giant box of popcorn.  Giant movie ticket.  Movie reels with film that will curl up around the main doors into the auditorium.  In the film will be pictures of the high school band members.  Posters with quotes from some of the different movies.  One of the art students made a jet for “Top Gun”, The Enterprise for “Star Trek” and is currently working on a pirate ship for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”.  For “Pirates there will also be waves that the 6th grade students will be using in front of the stage.  There will also also be a table that has “classic movie” memorabilia, including black and white photos of:  John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby.   Film biographies of:  Judy Garland, Errol Flynn and Bing Crosby.  An old school camera and copies of some classic DVD’s.  The 5th grade will have their own props including straw hats and posters for audience participation.  We’re also working on the velvet ropes block off the “blue carpet” and a marquee sign for outside.

SPECIAL EFFECTS:  “Star Trek”:  Mushroom Light and Fog Machine.  “Pirates” Ship, Waves and Fog Machine.  “Top Gun” Buzzing the Tower.  “The Pink Panther”  Watch out for the thief!!  “James Bond” The intro like you’ve never seen it before.  The “A-Team”  If you remember the intro from the TV show…it’s been re-written for the band 😉  and “Northern Exposure” in which we will create the Northern Lights.

CHARACTERS:  We will have characters representing the different movies.  Some of the band will be dressed as different characters, but if everything works out, we will have guest “celebrity” appearances as well.  I almost forgot to mention that the “Sonic Coke” will be there wandering around as well 😀

COMMERCIALS:  To make the transition between bands less boring, we are making commercials to play.  The curtain to the stage will be drawn, so the audience will not have to watch the bands trade places.  We will show them the different commercials about upcoming events, keeping music in our schools, and about our Drum Line and Color Guard.

MERCHANDISE/DONATIONS:  We will have a table set up for donations with pictures showing what the band’s “Most Wanted” (and needed) items are, and what the public’s donations will be going to.  There will also be a merchandise table set up with marching show shirts, instruction books and other items for sale.

DOOR PRIZES:  If all of this wasn’t enough, there will be 2 door prizes given away.  1 child and 1 adult prize.  You MUST be present to win a door prize.

I am so excited about this upcoming concert and I can’t wait to see the end result as well as the community’s reaction.  Shows like this take a lot of team work, coordination, rehearsal and support.  So, an early shout out thanks to:  Garrison Lumber, Sonic, Luckenbills, TCM Photography,  Stoehr Wire Rope, The Band Boosters, Directors and Assistants, but most of all the students. (If there is anyone I have forgotten, I apologize, but please know we are so very thankful for your support of the band program.)