Well, the dust has settled, or maybe I should say the puddles have dried, but here we are finally at Christmas Eve. With the tree trimmed, the pies in the oven, the presents wrapped, the dog bathed, and still some time to clean the bathroom tomorrow morning (TMI?) I have a moment to sit and reflect on the amazing concert my students put on last Tuesday night. Is it bragging? Maybe, but I can't help it. They blew me away.
The fifth grade band at Sierra Madre is comprised of seven flutes (one of which appeared at the concert in her soccer clothes telling me she had a tournament that night and wouldn't be staying for the show), a clarinet, a couple of alto saxes, a trumpet plus a couple of ringers from the middle school group playing percussion. We like to say they are a small-but-mighty group, and they really played well on Tuesday night.
They were followed by the fifth grade strings which is about 20 strong and includes a cello and a viola, as well as a third grader and a couple of fourth graders. The strings also sounded great. Together these two groups are the future of the middle school orchestra, and if Tuesday night is any indication, then we will have a strong middle school program for the next several years.
The evening was topped off by the middle school PAK Orchestra- (should I change the name, as we have talked about to the SiMa Philharmonic?) and all the detailed preparation we had done last week really paid off. They listened to each other, they watched me, they minded the pitfalls they had discovered and thought about, they waited for cutoffs, they even crescendo-ed! What a show! The principal was very complimentary, and I have gotten lots of positive feedback from parents. The kids themselves beamed when it was over, and the audience clapped and clapped.
The success of this concert has prompted me to do something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I think this orchestra will go to the Forum Music Festival this year, in May. We will play for an adjudication, and then spend the rest of the day at Magic Mountain. This group is up to the challenge, and deserves the fun such a trip would give them.
Now for a couple of weeks of rest. After the holidays we dive into preparation for the All-District Festival, which happens in February. But for now, pumpkin pie, family and lots of sleep!
Happy holidays, everyone!
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