A Week of Music
This has been quite the music filled week for us. It has been interesting to participate in as well. Monday started us off with a violin solo by Mikenzie. She is so excited to participate in a little competition ( w/o prizes, just comments from the judges ). She played Ode to Joy on her very out of tune and beat up violin. She looked so cute and serious as she warmed up and then played her number for us. Very wonderful to hear her progress.
Tuesday night was the much anticipated 6th grade concert. All of you beginner band parents know how exciting these concerts can be * wink, wink *. It is fun to hear Twinkle Twinkle played by all of the sections, all out of tune and out of time with each other. The kids are all so proud. Our band director came out in a bit of a huff and said " Too many kids in too small of a band room for too long. Let's get started " That was about all he said until the 3rd or 4th number. Kyle enjoyed the performance and we watched proudly as did all of the parents. I have noticed a decrease in video cameras as our children get older. We honestly enjoyed the 7th grade jazz band, they were amazing.
Just a little memory here-- When Alex played in his first concert he was so frustrated. He came out after the concert and told me " All of the trumpets were off and I had to keep playing louder and faster so I could correct them. But they just kept playing louder and faster. No one would follow me!! " I think all of the 6th grade trumpets said the same thing to their parents. It still makes me smile, it is so Alex.
Onto Thursday night, the 8th and 9th grade band concert. Jeremy's band was up first and they did quite a good job. Jeremy plays sax and loves it. He also plays piano and is learning to play the gee-tar. He loves music and is inspiring at how determined he is to learn to play--despite his parent's weak budget.
We had to sit through the South Valley's 8th grade band before we could move on to Alex's combined 9th grade band performance. It is amazing the difference a year can make. We did have to laugh at a fellow ward members son who was on percussion, tympani drums no less, when he lost not one, but both of his sticks. Poor kid, he was frantically crawling under the drums trying to grab them before anyone could notice. Alex did a great job, he always takes the performance very seriously. ( See above memory )
Friday night was the creme de la creme. Our generous and thoughtful friend Jodi called and offered tickets to the KC Symphony. We juggled a few kids around ( Kyle and Jeremy were heading out the door for the Klondike-- not an easy task to prepare for ). We hurried them out the door, pulled some frozen Chimichangas out of the freezer for the remaining children ( such a great meal ) and ran off the the symphony.
There was a world renowned trumpet player. She was amazing, as was the entire symphony. We felt very cultured and enjoyed the evening. As I listened to the last ( and very, very long ) piece, I thought of all the concerts I had been to in the last week. Starting with a sweet little 5th grader all the way to very professional and gifted musicians. It made me think of our path in the gospel and in life. We start out as little sunbeams and move all the way to qualifying for the Celestial Kingdom. It is amazing how little by little, day by day, we practice and learn to become who we were sent here to be. We are so blessed to have a patient and loving Father in Heaven who listens to each little recital and realizes that someday we too will be worthy to perform as part of a much grander symphony in the eternities. I could go on and on with this analogy, but this posting is long and you get my drift.
Be Grateful!!
This has been quite the music filled week for us. It has been interesting to participate in as well. Monday started us off with a violin solo by Mikenzie. She is so excited to participate in a little competition ( w/o prizes, just comments from the judges ). She played Ode to Joy on her very out of tune and beat up violin. She looked so cute and serious as she warmed up and then played her number for us. Very wonderful to hear her progress.
Tuesday night was the much anticipated 6th grade concert. All of you beginner band parents know how exciting these concerts can be * wink, wink *. It is fun to hear Twinkle Twinkle played by all of the sections, all out of tune and out of time with each other. The kids are all so proud. Our band director came out in a bit of a huff and said " Too many kids in too small of a band room for too long. Let's get started " That was about all he said until the 3rd or 4th number. Kyle enjoyed the performance and we watched proudly as did all of the parents. I have noticed a decrease in video cameras as our children get older. We honestly enjoyed the 7th grade jazz band, they were amazing.
Just a little memory here-- When Alex played in his first concert he was so frustrated. He came out after the concert and told me " All of the trumpets were off and I had to keep playing louder and faster so I could correct them. But they just kept playing louder and faster. No one would follow me!! " I think all of the 6th grade trumpets said the same thing to their parents. It still makes me smile, it is so Alex.
Onto Thursday night, the 8th and 9th grade band concert. Jeremy's band was up first and they did quite a good job. Jeremy plays sax and loves it. He also plays piano and is learning to play the gee-tar. He loves music and is inspiring at how determined he is to learn to play--despite his parent's weak budget.
We had to sit through the South Valley's 8th grade band before we could move on to Alex's combined 9th grade band performance. It is amazing the difference a year can make. We did have to laugh at a fellow ward members son who was on percussion, tympani drums no less, when he lost not one, but both of his sticks. Poor kid, he was frantically crawling under the drums trying to grab them before anyone could notice. Alex did a great job, he always takes the performance very seriously. ( See above memory )
Friday night was the creme de la creme. Our generous and thoughtful friend Jodi called and offered tickets to the KC Symphony. We juggled a few kids around ( Kyle and Jeremy were heading out the door for the Klondike-- not an easy task to prepare for ). We hurried them out the door, pulled some frozen Chimichangas out of the freezer for the remaining children ( such a great meal ) and ran off the the symphony.
There was a world renowned trumpet player. She was amazing, as was the entire symphony. We felt very cultured and enjoyed the evening. As I listened to the last ( and very, very long ) piece, I thought of all the concerts I had been to in the last week. Starting with a sweet little 5th grader all the way to very professional and gifted musicians. It made me think of our path in the gospel and in life. We start out as little sunbeams and move all the way to qualifying for the Celestial Kingdom. It is amazing how little by little, day by day, we practice and learn to become who we were sent here to be. We are so blessed to have a patient and loving Father in Heaven who listens to each little recital and realizes that someday we too will be worthy to perform as part of a much grander symphony in the eternities. I could go on and on with this analogy, but this posting is long and you get my drift.
Be Grateful!!
1 comment:
What a fun week :) I for one am glad that we have music to help us develop and enjoy life along that long stretch between Sunbeams and Celestial Kingdom! You are obviously a very devoted and wonderful mother, Terry :)
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