Our Little Town

Last Wednesday evening our town had a program in honor of Veteran's Day. And it was wonderful.

When we moved here 15 years ago the music program in the schools was pretty pathetic. If you asked Nick and Sam they would tell you about how they'd play Star Wars on the band teacher's computer. It was pretty sad.

But things changed. A retired band teacher moved out this way for the golf course and was convinced to come out of retirement to teach at the Jr. High. Then another one came and taught in the Middle School. And between those two men things started changing.

Then a family moved out and the woman taught strings, and she was invited to teach at the Jr. High and that became a full time experience for her. And the music program in the High School started getting REALLY good because the kids were progressing through the grades and really learning. And my boys played in the Jazz band and the Concert band. And pretty soon there was a strings orchestra. And all the bands were placing in State competitions, sometimes in First Place.

And more talented people started moving out here. And the folks who were already here started noticing what was happening and started organizing and creating and not giving up on the possibilities. And we now have an AMAZING pops symphony orchestra in our little town comprised of semi-professional players to people who love to play their instruments and probably never thought they'd have these kinds of experiences.

And everyone volunteers their time. (That's Abbie's violin teacher, Jessie, on the left.)

The program last Wednesday was stirring with the music and the spoken word from local dignitaries. Those who have served in the Armed Forces were honored.

And the music was Just Wonderful. That's Jake with his trombone standing with the brass section. What a really incredible experience it is for him to be able to play with this group.

I realized that there are groups like this all over the world. But in our town of 5000 this is pretty big stuff. It has been wonderful to be a part of the evolution of talent and music in our community.

And for those of us who attended the program last Wednesday it was a stirring and fulfilling experience. It was like the old-time patriotic community programs.

Only we didn't have any apple pie.

Be-boppin' The Night Away

*sigh*

Wednesday night.

What shall we do?

I know!

Let's go to the High School

and Bop Shu-wop

while the Jazz Band plays.

And join other brave souls

on the dance floor

and pretend like we know what we're doing.

And we can watch Jake

the Trombone Man

watch his music

And we can watch him dance

while he gets

a-talkin to

(Look-the other girl to the right is shaking her finger at him, too. What'd he do?)

We can stare at this curious lamp

and try to understand.

Mostly we will soak up the music

and visit with folks

and enjoy this evening.

Always something to do in our little town.

Even on a wintery Wednesday night.

He's A Music Man! He's a What? He's a What?

So, a nickel if you know where that line came from. Ahhh...too easy.

Jake has had quite an exhilarating  24 hours. He was invited to be part of an Honor Band Concert. It really was quite something.

Musicians from the surrounding area were invited to participate. Some drove home from college towns two or four hours away.  College students, high school students and musicians in the community all participated. 

Last night, Friday, they met at 6:00PM to get the music and begin rehearsing. They rehearsed until around 9:00 PM. They started again this morning at 9:00 AM. They learned the music and rehearsed until around 4:00 this afternoon, with a few breaks here and there.

And tonight they performed for the community at 7:00 PM.

These are warm-up pictures because I didn't want to disturb during the performance. And it was very thrilling. They played for about an hour and a half, some pretty impressive pieces of music, which they learned in 24 hours! It was really wonderful.

Jake's mouth was ringed with the shape of a trombone mouthpiece!

This was a great way for us to spend our Saturday night. 

I LOVE that my children are musical. I love that Jake was a part of this.