Friday, May 24, 2013

How cold did it get this week?


Cold enough to turn off the air conditioner we had on for one short day!  The system lever is on Off, so the furnace won’t be on soon, sadly.  Excepting one day this week there has been little sign of spring.  Even the flowers are shivering, and the weeds know it’s too cold to work in the garden.

Tom and I went to Laura’s Wednesday Friday Band concert last night.  There are eighty two children playing in this band, and an equal number in the Tuesday Thursday Band.  They are all fifth graders, the first grade level that offers band in the school system.

At the end of their last concert in January, their director explained the group had played the same note to the same timing and tempo throughout.  They did a great job, and if we liked that, just wait until they worked even harder to present their May concert.







The children delivered what he promised.  They began with Old MacDonald had a Band, in several part harmony and finished with the band director’s arrangement of Imagine Dragons, “because we don’t like sharps.”  All the band grinned as Mr. Barrett made the explanation, so apparently there were no sharps in his arrangement. I have no idea.  In between we heard Manitoba March, (because every band concert should have a march), Snap, Crackle and Bop (which we at home know by heart), Carnival of Venice, and some ensemble performances.



I was quite pleased with two things about the concert.  First, the level of discipline reached by so many children in four months.  They were good in January, but much better in May.  I especially liked watching the children go from watchful attentiveness when Mr. Barrett stood next to the podium, to straight backed attention when he mounted the platform.  He raised his arms, they began.  Eyes moved between the music and the director. 





And I was very happy with the temperature in the gym.  Warm.  There were murmurs of discontent all around before the concert commenced.  Mr. Barrett apologized, saying he asked twice for the temperature to be reduced—even before the school day ended.  “So, I guess you see where I fall in the hierarchy.”  But no one fell asleep, the concert was excellent, and I was warm as toast, with my jacket on.




Our trumpeter, eyes on the director.


Our little trumpeter, the concert is over!

21 comments:

  1. Wonderful stuff, Joanne. There is nothing like music to bring that extra special dimension to a child's life -- to all our lives.

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  2. That feeling of accomplishment is so important.

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  3. As a former second chair flute I remember those practices. On the only warm day here I found my A/C broken so I was glad for the chilly weather to return.

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  4. This brought back memories of being in the school choir. We were so focussed on the conductor (Miss Brooks) we had no idea if anyone had turned up until we heard applause.
    Jane x

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  5. It's Burrington not Barret Grandma. :)

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  6. Awww, we just went to a musical performance too, but the choir kind. It looks like it was a lovely performance!

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  7. Are you keeping warm? I don't ever recall it being this call on Memorial day weekend.

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  8. Every day the air conditioner is off you're saving money....Bundle up and stay warm!

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  9. I remember my daughter's first year in band. The difference between the Christmas concert and the end-of-year concert was tremendous. Sounds like it happens in all beginner bands ... hard work pays off! Great pictures.

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  10. How lovely. And the weather is odd the world over it seems. This morning there was a frost, so I turned the heater on. When I had done the washing I went into the garden - and very soon had to take my jumper off as it was very, very warm in the sun. From minus two to overheating in about four hours...

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  11. Pretty trumpeter! I used to study the violin.

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  12. We're having a cold spell here too. Those of us who qualify as old-timers are having ourselves a little self-righteousness party, because we did not plant tomatoes yet, and won't until at least June. Then we can score a tomato by sometime next October.

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  13. Bravo ! Well done them.
    I hope you warm up soon. It's gone very cold again here too !

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  14. Great pictures - they give your readers a real feel of the event. As for cold - I know all about that!

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  15. Great photos, Joanne. It got pretty cold here in Montreal as well. It is chilly and rainy today.

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  16. It sounds like grandma's eyes were pretty watchful too. I would have loved to be at your concert. I really enjoy seeing kids showing off their skills.

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  17. Hooray for the accomplishments of those young musicians. I hope there are special blessings waiting for all good band teachers. That job must require a lot of patience and a lot of love for music. Hope your temps go up enough to bring back your spring.

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  18. Yep. Our furnace came on last night. Sigh. Love seeing your little performer! Band is so good for teaching discipline and cooperation. Love it!

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  19. It must be pure bliss to hear those kids play good music live! I'd love to experience that too in person :)

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  20. Music is a very disciplined art and seeing so many children learning and enjoying it is a pleasure. Well done all of you.

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  21. I've always enjoyed going to school concerts. You are such a wonderful involved grandma.

    Joanne, thanks so much for all your kind messages while we were gone to China and I was cut off from my blog. Although I couldn’t access my blog, I got your comments via e-mail and they always brought a smile to my face.

    I’ve just finished my China blog posts so I need to work on our photo album because we have too many things happening this summer that will take up our time. Life does tend to occasionally intrude on our blogging. Thank you again for being such a lovely friend.

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