It's 2nd Semester Already?

Wait, I didn't write anything about first semester? Was it really that busy? Well, yes it was.

We started off my rehearsing and performing a song for a PBS Special called "Celebrate America" produced by Tim Janis. The rehearsals went quickly and with the song learned we entered the DPTV studio on October 8th. After some preliminary instructions and photos we were told to take as many "takes" as we would need. We had watched one of our neighboring schools on the monitors and realized that they were up to take #7, and thought it would be a long process.

As proud of my group as I should be we entered and took take #1. The producers and engineers chatted quickly amongst themselves and told us that we would take just two more takes and that would be to get as many different camera angles as possible for the finished project. In other words our first performance was a winner! We had some extra time to chat with Tim and his assistants and then followed up with some interviews with the writers.

Our performance is scheduled to be aired on Friday, March 12 2010 at 8pm on the local Detroit PBS station, DPTV.

We are trying to get 50 people to pledge memberships to DPTV in the name of Redford Union High School. When we reach that goal RUHS Madrigal Chorale will receive a grant from the Hal Leonard Publishers to purchase music.

If you would like to sign up for a membership, please respond to this blog and I'll forward the information to you.

Thanks!

July - Summer's midway point

Well here it is the middle of July, or almost middle, and the school supplies are in the stores and the ads are beginning to hit. Geesh I hate this time of year. I won't mind it when school actually starts but mentally I'm not ready to start "thinking" about going back to school yet.

Granted I don't totally shut school out of my head once that bell rings in mid June, but I certainly don't concentrate on preparations that need to be made and things that have to be done.

Part of the dilemma is that I'm still looking for administrative work. I have three applications that are still out there, with another position opening up this week. So my mind is playing the "what if" games and driving myself crazy. I just need to not worry about things, what will be will be.

Soon I'll start listening to "new" music for the upcoming year, heck if I'm really bored I might just stop into the high school and steal my mail and toss most of it away. Oh boy!

Summer Break Has Begun

Yes, at last! Summer break is here. Don't get me wrong, I love my students and most of my job, but let's face it, school is tough! If not for handling the barrage of minute problems through into the fire by students, their parents, the administrators, and just the endless paperwork, school would be easy; especially teaching choir.

Things get to move at my pace now; or at least at the pace my family lets me set. I completely a book on Michigan's involvement in the Civil War, and I'm about half way through a book on Cadillac's settling of Detroit. Not too bad for someone who doesn't really care for history, but I'm really learning to appreciate some Michigan history.

I'm going to listen to new music this summer, and hopefully stay ahead of things again next year at school. I'm hopeful, not optomistic just hopeful, that we'll have a contract by the fall and perhaps a small raise. It's been at least five years since the last raise and the budget at home is getting tighter and tighter, just like the rest of Michigan.

Our oldest daughter is going to be married next year; a year from today as a matter of fact. Hopefully the time will go by relatively smoothly, not too fast or too slowly. Our middle daughter is expecting a baby (boy) in early September, so that will be a different change for this year. Our son is engaged and we believe is expecting his first child before the end of the year. 2009 has been quite the ride!

Hopefully more news to follow soon!

Student Honors

Every spring our high school hosts an Honors Convocation to honor the graduating seniors; listing their accomplishments, academics and scholarships, plus plans for the future. Each department may award a student or two for a variety of criteria. In the past I usually ask the students in my advanced choir for their input on whom to select. They know up front that I hold 100% of the decision, but I do appreciate their candor on the seniors in the choirs. Sometimes they recognize things, deeds, and even people, that I may have simply overlooked or taken for granted.

This year I had someone in mind when I handed out the ballots, and true to form the students agreed with my choice: Brianna Peruski. Brianna is not one of the flashy seniors who hogs the spot light at every chance, but rather is a strong leader by her actions and her words. She questions others as well as herself and shows that many times the answer to a problem is the simple, and obvious choice that lies right under our noses.

Brianna has been in my choirs since middle school and has been a strong alto, who does all the right things at all the right times. She has matured into a lovely young woman who knows her limits and isn't afraid to show her true emotions: good, bad or otherwise. She is far from a drama queen, although she continues to shine on our stage in straight shows and musicals. This spring she entertained and stabilized our production of "Bye Bye Birdie" playing the role of Rose Alvarez, Albert Peterson's secretary. Just remember, "Spanish is not a religion!"

I know that whereever Brianna ends up she will be successful and entertaining; a true leader amongst us all!

Choral Festival

We're heading into that season known as March Madness. For most people it refers to the basketball teams as they head into their tournaments and prepare to close out their season, hopefully with some playoff games, and perhaps a title and trophy.

For musicians March Madness means choir festival season. I find the preparations to be exciting, perhaps where I do my best work. It's fun to have a nicely trained group ready their selections and practice sight reading. The challenges come along when you plan to take the "less than experienced" choir into festival. For many students this is their first time at festival, so they don't really appreciate the specifics of the preparation process until they've actually gone through the festival.

Some years it is more of a chore than others. This school year my advanced students are doing well, musically and theory-wise. My concert choir has both of their songs prepared nicely (which scares me a little bit since the competition is still more than three weeks ago). Their sight-reading is improving steadily. For the most part their attitudes and efforts are also where I'd like them to be. Hopefully this will continue and they will peak just at the right moment. It would be interesting to find out exactly how many of them took the sight reading home to practice over mid-winter break. I'd like to think 80%, but we'll see.

A Sunrise Kyrie

There are few things more beautiful than a sunrise or sunset. This one comes with a Kyrie attached. Enjoy!

23 Things Update

One of the tasks from the 23 Things adventure was networking on sites like Facebook. I've enjoyed the site and have made many connections with current students, colleagues and friends.

More importantly it has allowed me to connect with people whom I'd lost contact with over the years. I recently found one of my best friends from junior high (yes it was junior high back then, and not this modern "middle school"). Over the past week we've worked on catching up with each other and will continue to renew our past friendship.

Let's hear it for Facebook!