Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

Friday, January 25, 2008

I could kiss my mail man

As I was running out the door to sit through a 3.5 hour band dress rehearsal with my daughter, the mail mail left me a little present, MY GILBERT! JOY!!! Not that going out in below zero weather to sit through a concert I have to go to again tonight would be tedious, it just that I have to not talk to my momma friends and sit still. I'm a bit hyper as an adult and sitting still and quiet can be a challenge sometimes, especially when I'm freezing cold. Did I mention I could not bring my trusty mug of hot coffee or tea?! But, alas, I had my Gilbert to keep me happy. And that it did. I finally got to sit and read an issue without multitasking, no dinner being prepared while reading this time! I did stop reading once in a while to find out if my child was sitting still and not talking as well(she was not, like mother like daughter).

I barely noticed the time fly or the extreme cold, well, the later was more noticeable as I read about Mr. Alquist's trip to a much warmer state, CA. but he, too lives in the bitter midwest, so all is fair. All in all the evening was much improved my good reading material, and tha fact that the homeschool band is playing a Danny Elfman piece, the Batman Theme.We won't tell them that he was in a rock band before he started composing for the movies, oooh, better not mention the Simpsons, either. Tonight's concert will be great, and having not seen the bulk of the prep for it , I will better enjoy hearing all the results.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Homeschool band

If you live in the Chicago area, and are free Friday night, come and see the West Suburban Homeschool Band. The 151 member band will play at 7pm, at the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles, Illinois. More info and pictures can be found at the band's website www.wshsb.com . My daughter is the cute little Sax player in the middle.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

These Homeschoolers Rock!

Okay, seldom, but they are very musically enjoyable. West Suburban Homeschool Band is one of two homeschool bands that I know of in the country,and last Saturday, they marched in 30 degree cold in the dark to bring Santa to his Wheaton, IL home. The band boasts between 150 and 185 members between all of its groups. My daughter is in her second year and is a member of the junior band (ie, can carry a tune this year).

The coolest thing about this band is it is open to any Christian homeschooler. We have had a chance to share our Catholic faith with many of our non-Catholic Brethren who may have been raised to be weary of Catholics. Many priests and brothers come to our concerts, as do some local pastors of other churches. They see our holy lives and genuine love, we see their enthusiasm for evangelizing and great knowledge of scripture. Everyone is kind and loves one another. It is a great experience for the kids.

I'll post band performances here regularly, if you live near by, it is a great chance to see the band. I am always impressed at the caliber of their performances. This week they, like Tiffany before them, played the mall. Yorktown to be precise.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

My daughter Asked me to post this....

So eldest child was looking over my shoulder while I was reading The Blue Boar today, and really thinks everyone needs to see this....PS she HATES praise music and especially if it has hand motions, nice quite chants for her.

Monday, October 8, 2007

My I-Pod, its, its...

DEAD!!! *sob* I know it is not a big deal to most, and I could use this as a chance to learn detachment, but I NEED my little nano. It is not just for music, it is for lazy homeschooling. I keep our entire history book on my little i-pod. I keep the Rosary on it, so I can drive and not have to try to juggle beads while praying, I keep a book or two to entertain the wee little beasties while waiting for whomever we are picking up. I also keep two little playlists called "Loud Mama" and "Quiet Mama", to fit my mood, of which I only have room for two. And last but not least, I keep Mark Shea's Rock Solid Catholic Exchange podcast.

I've had it for two years, and It has worked like a charm, making me very happy and has been a useful tool for faith formation. I cannot run out and buy another, because we simply do not do that in this house, I mean, I got this one for free, actually my husband earned at as a bonus from his former employer. His current employer is not music related, so no new I-pods in my future. I'm sure life will go on, and maybe I'll run over to the Apple store and beg them to look at it, but just for a moment, mourn my little black nano, now I'm stuck listening to the radio.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Indie Rock, the Orchestra, and Some Rain.

So, Last evening I had the joy of two of my favorite genres merging into one. My Hubby and I (and I'm guessing 1000 others) got to see the Decemberists play with the Grant Park Orchestra in Millennium Park. It was all I expected. Chicago has some of the best Orchestras in the world, and alone would have been a joy, but add the Decemberists, and it was even better.

I've been listening to the Decemberists for about 3 years, so I'm no new to them, but they were so different with the "back-up" band. Even though I was back in the dregs, ie almost the Lawn, the sound was great, and the bit of the view I had was good, too. My only complaint was that I was easily distracted by the architecture of the Pritzker Pavilion. I need to look up who designed it, it reflected the lightening majestically.

It was a bit drizzly, but that was pleasant after the baking yet sunless heat that preceded the performance. The rain fall added to the atmosphere, and the booming thunder seemed to be in time with the mood of the music.

I usually feel old going to shows like this, the vast majority are college age, but I genuinely enjoy music still, and always have enjoyed College rock/indie/underground/whatever the label of the year is. Anyway, that is not what makes the evening, it is the fact that my husband and I got to spend the evening without the kids, and had a late night rain picnic together.

The rain did pour, but we were already on our way to the train. Needless to say, we got soaked, like not a single thing on us was dry, my coat is still dripping 20 hours after the fact. I think DH thought I lost my mind, i was laughing and could not stop as we walked to the train carrying useless umbrellas. I couldn't see, we were drenched, but I was laughing. I guess I was having to much fun to let a "little" rain get to me.