A life filled with sound

The Messiah, Cathedral Church Choir, Voices+, St. Mary's Central High School Choir, St. Mary's Blues, school liturgies and the choir tour... Wow! OK - So I know everything will turn out just fine, but I think I'll learn how to delegate a bit more. I think the toughest part of it is keeping everyone informed. My computer has become my other right arm with the audio files, lesson plans, spreadsheets for fundraising, posters and program preparation, grade book, liturgy slides and major form of communique. LOL! Well, if I can get a computer to do my workouts, I'll be set. I hope people are able to take time to enjoy all the beautiful music that the wonderful singers are preparing.

Our next big SMCHS Choir thing is November 20 out at U-Mary. It will be a great retreat day for the singers. On Sunday, November 22, the choir sings at 3:00 in the Cathedral for the Feast of St. Cecelia Concert. I get to combine my church choir AND my school choir. Should be fun! That evening at the Kirkwood Mall, the St. Mary's Blues will sing carols from 6-9 PM. They will be taking part in the "Season Premiere". We are selling tickets for admitance. $5 gets you into the mall and also registers you for a $1000 shopping spree. Let me know if you want a ticket.

We requested our performance at Ground Zero. This week we also pick broadway musicals to attend. Amazing fun and learning.

Touring is definitely a great experience. The Saints are working to pay for their trip. When I listed all the fundraisers they have already had, I was surprised. I thought I'd let you know what's up in case you're looking for a way to help. Tuesday, October 20th from 4:30 - 6:30 the students were planning to tailgate with baked potatoes. They will serve them at SMCHS since we are having unseasonably cold weather. Come stuff a potato. Proceeds go directly to the students. If you can't come, you can help by telling others. And, if you want to have a great coffee, just see any student to order your fresh roasted bean from them. They'll help you find the best type for your enjoyment.

OK - enough. The Messiah starts in a little more than a week. I know the 80th will be amazing. If you want to sing - check out the link for rehearsals. Join us at TLC.

For fun - I've included a clip of a really neat stairway. You'll see what I mean. :-) Enjoy. Here is the link to youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26-aZd4uv_o

Breakfast News and more

Today we served french toast, sausage, and fruit for breakfast to all guests at SMCHS. Our chair couple did a great job. The parents were awesome volunteers and the students definitely got the task done. It was a nice collaboration of music parents. I saw a lot of smiles and heard good things about the food and workers; (better than McDonalds-lol). So, I will be taking a class in Mandan for the next two days and I guess that means I'll tell you how we did financially on Wednesday. We did serve 384 adults and 74 children. The bake sale was a success. I hope everyone feels as good as I do about a job well done.

We start selling coffee on Wednesday. When I get back to class I will hand out forms and information. The link to the coffee company is here. All money will be turned in by October 26. Next week... We'll pick two broadway musicals from the many options available. You'll be voting for your top choice.

Congratulations to all 12 students that were accepted by recorded audition to be members of the ACDA Honor Choirs in March! Excellent work! Remember, North Central ACDA Honor Choir members, your forms are to be postmarked by October 15th. If you need the forms, here is the link. It's a .pdf file. I'll also have these available at school on Wednesday. Minneapolis and the Real Group will be quite an experience!

Have a great couple of days. I'm looking forward to continue my coursework, learning to be a better teacher.

Thanks for the kind acts!

Today I was the recipient of agape. Agape is the love of the bible - not the mushy emotional feeling we get from those that attract us. It's a VERB. So... I hope the people know who they are. How do you thank them without sounding silly? One student was so kind, she raised funds for my son to help with his tour costs. It will really help. Another decided to create the fun and not wait for it to happen, so he shared music and food with those around him. I sure enjoyed rehearsal more. I hope he felt the change in the others around him. An adult told me last week that she can't make a difference any more. She doesn't have the energy left to do this. I'm sad for her and those she would help. And, my mother-in-law has a roomate for six weeks. She is extremely kind and thoughtful. She's making changes and we can see the fruits of her labor. Just simple acts of love. We have all these gifts. I think we look to give the gifts that others have instead of identifying our own talents and sharing what God gave us. Each one has so much to share with another. One person CAN make a difference. We may not notice what effect we have had on the situation until later, if at all. But, Mother Theresa was heard to say "do it anyway".

I love teaching. I am gifted everyday with the blessing of being around the students. I pray I never lose that! As I continue to work on being a better listener, I also learn to receive from others. Thanks for reading to the end. Go show love! :-)

Well, I'm very excited to have this week arrive. I get to work with my St. Mary's Central High School & Cathedral students. I will spend Wednesday evening with the Cathedral Church Choir. Anyone wanting to join us, click on the informational link on the side of the page. A great thing to happen... Father James Shea will be installed, this week, as the 6th president of University of Mary. Sister Thomas Welder has been such a tremendous mentor. I'm lucky to have been a student during her presidency. More excitement... I am hiring soloists for the 80th Messiah production and my boys have soccer & football games to enjoy. Sometimes the business is filled with great energy and lots of joy. Anyone who needs something to do on Saturday, September 19th? The SMCHS Choir will have a food booth under the canopy at Eckroth Music. We'll be there from 10 - 3:00 PM. They're having a sidewalk sale. I think there will be an open mic. Come have some fun and support the choir on our journey toward our June 2010 Choir Tour to NYC. The picture I included is from Capitola CA. Just a great place to hang out. Travel is so wonderful.

Rest - Sometimes the best part of music is in the silence.

It's labor day. A day of rest after Sunday, another day of rest. It's funny. Sometimes, when teaching a new piece of music, the choir does very well, until they come to a section with rests. They let go completely and forget to feel the time in the rests. So, they don't come back in at the right time. I think life is the same way. What we do with our time of rest says a lot about us. Do we fill it with as much activity as possible? Try to fit in all the things we've just been waiting to do? Or, do we just enjoy being present with those around us? Just food for thought. I know that as Tuesday arrives, we'll have so much activity in our lives that we may even have to take time to breathe. How to balance the sound and the silence... Good luck to you with hurried lives. I will keep my students and their families in my prayers. I am extremely excited to start the Blues rehearsals this week, and to begin the Cathedral Church Choir next week. Apparently it will be quality rest over quantity. :-)

The year is here!

So, 62 wonderful students, an accomplished accompanist, and an eager conductor filled with creative ideas...

The students are going to have the time of their lives this year in our choir. I just had a meeting with their parents and a 7 minute mock class. I used to hand out folders, make them warm-up, sit in the right seats and sing something. The class was a bit longer back then. Now, we just push the information out and get everyone geared up.

This blog will definitely get used. I plan on linking enough stuff to it to keep the students in the know. I have a few tricks to figure out, so if you're a parent that is web saavy and isn't afraid to coach me, let me know. This is not old html.

The jazz choir auditions are coming up on the 31st of August. We're going to run jazz band and jazz choir both in the same evening for selecting our groups. The band gives up first Wednesdays each month. Ours will start with everyone at 6:00 PM and then individual auditions (bring any jazz/pop song) will be in timed slots until we are done. You can sign up in the choir office.

I'll write more often. Just wanted to thank all the great parents for the help with our lock-in and for showing up tonight in support of your son/daughter. Keep them practicing.