Off topic - the weekend finally ended last night

It sounds as though the concert was a bit of a curate's egg. However, it's good to hear that youngsters are at least trying to make their own music and entertainment. On this island with under 400 inhabitants we're fortunate in having several musically gifted school children (and adults) who helped make the Christmas Eve carol service a memorable occasion; it was good experience for them to perform in public too.

I do realize that for many of these kids, it is the very first time they performed in public and at least it was adoring families and understanding parents. I'm just really hoping that is loads of improvement before the spring concert.

Don't hold your breath ;-) Listening to elementary strings or winds is a labor of love. Count yourself lucky if you can identify the tune! I don't think it gets palatable until late high school, if then. We just all go and applaud to support the effort and provide some encouragement until then, bless their fuzzy little hearts.

Best wishes, Ericka

And be grateful that the kids have not taken up playing the bagpipes or the sousaphone.

I've heard the efforts of the middle schoolers, they are in "band" 5 days a week, plus most are in private lessons and all are supposed to practice 3+ hours a week. You can tell what they are playing - usually. The Londonderry music program is quite well known at multiple levels. The marching band is headed Beijing this summer and they play at the Rose Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and more. The jazz ensemble has quite a few awards in state and national competitions.... And Friends of Londonderry Music has their hands out all the time. ;)

Given the noises I heard out of the violins, I'm not so sure.

My dd competed this weekend in the All Stars and came out fifth overall. I was very proud of her - she really swam hard and dropped some time. She also saw some older kids swimming the 200 fly (she is actually looking FORWARD to swimming that!) and told me she'd be back next year to swim it. I don't doubt it.

Also, she was a real friend to the other kids who made it - one in particular has not been very nice to some of the other kids. A made me go back to the pool for a session she wasn't swimming in just to cheer this girl on. C was so happy about it she cried.

Linda

My kids went to a K-12 school who had a *wonderful* band teacher. Almost all the school kids started in band in the 5th grade and nearly all of them were still in it their senior year. It was tradition that at the 5th graders' first concert they played the Mickey Mouse song. :) At the spring concert all the different bands played (grade school, middle school and concert bands, plus the side bands like the jazz band, trios, etc.) and it was fun to hear the progression in their abilities.

She had nearly 300 kids in band. Many of her students starred in the state competition. She also had "the look" that silenced everyone if she noticed someone fooling around. Sadly, she retired in 2004, the year before DD graduated. They've had problems trying to find someone to fill her shoes ever since. No one has been able to get the music abilities out of the current crop of kids like she did, nor able to control that many students. The size and quality has dropped considerably. Treasure a good music teacher!!!!

Joan

Even so, it's still painful (at least for this musician). They've got a lot more ability at the middle school level, but even then the intonation is off (drives me nuts), the rhythms are rarely as precise as they could be (also drives me nuts), and there's always a person or two who really has some issues ;-) That's all to be expected, even among the best players at that level, but it still sets my teeth on edge. I come, I support, I applaud, but inwardly I still cringe a bit!

But of course ;-) Support your local band!

Best wishes, Ericka

We're breaking in a new one at the middle school level-- came in part way through the school year, a mere week or two before a concert! She comes of good stock, though. I used to play for her father on occasion. He was very good and is just retiring this year. I suspect she'll rise to the challenge, but it'll take a bit of time before she's well settled in. The high school band director is very, very good. All in all, a good program and I'm pleased, even if hearing the concerts is still a bit torturous. After the new director gets her bearings more, I'm going to go in and work with the flutes a bit, even.

Best wishes, Ericka

Really good teachers are hard to find - no matter the subject. Too bad she didn't hang in there one more year.

I think Tuesday night would have sent you running home then. ;)

When they support Friends of Londonderry Hockey? Actually, they do; we buy glow sticks from them and they buy hotdogs and water from us.

Good for you, Ericka! I'm sure she'll appreciate the help.

Joan