End of the year 6th grade choir concert

This is Jack's last year with his choir teacher. Because our elementary and middle and high school are so close together the 6th grade choir is still taught by the same teacher as the elementary. She has done a fabulous job. I feel so thankful that she has given our kids such a wonderful music education.
She has passed on her love of music to them as well.

The last song that the kids sang was the Hallelujah chorus. I love hearing it sung. I love it even more hearing a group of 6th graders sing it. I love that every time Jack sings it from now on he will sing his part instead of just the melody. I love when this song is sung that everyone rises to their feet. I love the chills it brings me. I love how I can hear those around me singing, and that I just can't help but join in too.

Anchor

Totally proud.

I am thankful my Mom came along to see Savanna perform in the middle school talent show. It was packed so we stood in the back. I had not planned to video it, just go and enjoy. But I am so glad my Mom thought to bring the video camera.

It gave me chills to hear her perform. I hear her practice at home all the time. She is always singing. But performing on stage is totally different.

Enjoy.

Music

Last Thursday was our official start to piano for this next school year. I am looking forward to hearing what our kids can do this year! It is at times, horrible to get them to practice. (They would agree with this statement!) BUT ... I feel extremely confident in their abilities to learn.

I have enjoyed the break for a little while this summer with a pause in lessons. The kids still had summer practice, but it was something a little more fun. Their teacher surprised them at the beginning of summer.

She held a recital right as school let out at the end of May.

I was impressed with how she had things all planned. The kids bios with their photos so personalized.

The kids did well. They were ready to perform. They had practiced standing and announcing their piece.

I love watching the kids hands.

How different they look.

I can hear how their fingers sound on the keys by looking at these photos.

Some of the fingers grace the keys and others pound.

The kids played great.

'

They concentrated.

Cute legs and feet that don't touch the floor.

'

After everyone performed and took their group bows, their teacher had sweet things to say about each one. I loved how she got to know each one of her students. She was able to share with us individual things about all of her students. Then she surprised them with gifts for summer practicing. Fun books suited to just their taste. I was amazed that she could pick out music to fit each of her students.

When all the music had been performed, praise and gifts given we were treated to
cupcakes that one of the Mom's made. She is seriously talented herself! A great end to the year and a great way to start the summer.

After last week's lesson- we had smiles from each kid.

New things are ahead for the kids. More student lead- they decide how long they need to practice. I hope that will make somewhat of a difference on getting them to practice. Maybe?

Reading the music

So today was supposed to be the end of the kids summer piano lessons.

After the lessons our poor teacher came out a little disappointed in one of our kids progress in the last two weeks.
She rescheduled another lesson later in the week for this one child. She wondered about his practicing.

Hmmm I wonder why?

I snapped this a few weeks ago hastily to avoid detection. After loading them I just couldn't delete it even though it was blurry. Glad I saved it for evidence.

Why I will look forward to Sunday's

After Jay and I were first married and we had moved to Utah, I was asked to help with the children's music on Sunday's in Primary. Primary is the organization in our church for kids ages 3-12. 

I was terrified. I cried every Sunday. I was always so so nervous. I would get up and quietly whisper what we were going to sing, and then timidly wave my arm, and try and get my voice above a squeak. I stood very still hoping that I would not be noticed.

Finally after a few weeks of this, the Primary president pulled me aside and said. "Alisa, you just need to smile, and the kids will smile back." I had been feeling so intimidated that I could not even look the kids in the eye and smile. Her comment kind of shook me out of my dreary state and I started to smile, and wouldn't you know I started to enjoy what I was doing. I was still nervous but I could get through a Sunday without crying. Then we decided to move. My last Sunday came and  I was saying goodbye and one of the kids came up with the most worried expression and said "but who will sing with us now?" It knocked me down! I felt like I had finally gotten comfortable in my calling- and now I was leaving. It was all over.

I hoped for the opportunity to do it again someday. In our church there are not paid positions. So it was not like I was going to go apply for the job. I tried to apply the same idea of smiling and just doing what needed to be done to other things I was asked to do. But I hoped, and hoped that I would get to do it again.

I was asked a couple of months ago to sub for our primary music leader. I did it for 2 Sundays and LOVED it. I could hardly wait to get to church to sing with these kids. I hinted loudly to anyone who would listen that I would love to do this if they ever needed help again.

Well I get my 2nd chance! I was asked to be the music leader.

One would think that I would not have any worries after having done it before, and wanting to do it so badly again. But I did get just a tiny bit nervous. I started thinking about how I really don't know how to lead music. And how would I come up with ways to keep the kids interested. I started having doubts.

As I was reading over the music book and some other information I came across this and I think it is what qualifies me to be able to do this: 

"You do not need to be a skilled musician to use music in your teaching. If you are well prepared and you enjoy singing, the children will enjoy and learn from the music you use."

I am not skilled, but I can prepare, and I do love to sing. I just have to remember to smile.

I am so excited!

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

We knew that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was coming. We did not purchase tickets.

One must understand that our "normal" meetings when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings, (during our bi annual church wide general conference) are not filled with applause, or shouts of praise. But quite reverence. We don't stand up and sway to the music. Our hands don't clap at the end of a song. It's not a perfomance. It's praise and song to combine a feeling, a prayer turning our thoughts to the Savior. So while my experience with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been enjoyable and spiritual, I would not put it into the category of entertainment.

I had spent the weekend away scrapbooking with my friend Kristie. I mentioned that Jay was going to go usher for the choir that night. She asked why I was not going, and don't you think you want to go? I gave an answer of sort of- but I hear them often and its alright. A while later I got a call from Kim saying she had extra tickets, would I like to go. Then again later on I got another call this time from Julie offering another couple of tickets. I took the opportunity and started making the calls to co-ordinate my mom to watch the boys, and arranging with Jay & my friends about transportation Between the 2 of them we took 3 tickets so that Jay and I would be able to sit together and Savanna could go too.

I was excited to go. I figured it would be a pleasant evening filled with song, and I would come home glad I had gone. The evening far exceeded my thoughts of what I would experience.
I had no idea that the orchestra would be accompanying them. I had no idea how awe-inspiring it would be to hear them in person.

To try and write what I felt- seems hard to re-create. I felt the music. Normally we watch/hear the choir 2-4 times a year. Over satellite broadcast, over the internet, and we listen to their music countless times. But nothing can compare with sitting in front of them live. The choir combined with the orchestra moved my body and my spirit together into one fantastic movement.

The music was broken down into 8 sections-

Hymns of Praise: Alleluia fanfare and Praise to the Lord the Almighty
Morning Has Broken
Hymn of Praise

Music of the Masters: Gloria in excelsis, from Mass in C Minor, KV 427
O Lord God, op. 15, no.11
Cum Sanco Spiritu

Music of the World: Ah, el novio no quere dinero!
Danny Boy
Betelehemu

Two American Fold Hymns: Amazing Grace
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

intermission

From the American Songbook

Songs of the Land: Saints Bound for Heaven
Homeward Bound
Cindy

Songs of Faith and Hope: I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
Organ solo: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Rock-a-My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham

Songs of Inspirations from the American Theater: Come to My Garden
You'll Never Walk Alone
God Bless America

Music and the Spoken Word (celebrating 80 years of broadcasting): Come, Come, Ye Saints
Battle Hymn of the Republic

with an encore of This Land is Your Land (conducted by "guest" director)
and God Be with You till We Meet Again

I was moved and astounded from the beginning and had several favorites and discoverd a favorite song of Jay's. I Loved hearing the section Songs of Faith and Hope. Reminded me of my Nana- and it brought happy loving memories. (especially the organ solo Swing Low, Sweet Chariot) Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing was a favorite before, and remains still.
We clapped and shouted after the song Betelehemu- and wanted to get up and move during many.

But one moment will stand out- that was totally unplaned, but a reminder and a blessing to me. Down on the floor a young girl twirled and spun and danced gracefully arms outstretched, uncarring of what anyone else around her thought. Her movements were so unhibited, reminding me of a little girl I used to know, who will be turning 12 this next week. Her dance along with the music gave me a fresh perspective into the changes and stages we experience with our children. How fleeting really, the time is. How unknowingly we wish the time away. How we need to enjoy each stage, find the good in each one. They will end. Sometimes quicker than we would like.


We tweeted a bit during the event:
(jay)At the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Lloyd Noble Center ~ woot

(alisa)In norman listening to mormon tab choir and orchestra. No one said anything about needing to bring tissues. So moving.

(jay) The motab is getting it's groove on #tribal Betelehemu

(jay) The choir was amazing. The little girl dancing off to the side of the stage on the floor in her party dress was unforgettable. Ahh youth !

(alisa) after the MOTAB concert Savanna and both exclaimed at the same time "wasn't that amazing?"

(savanna) MOTAB concert last night was amazing!! Makes me wish I could be up there on the risers singing with the choir!

I am extremely happy that we went. I am thankful for the shared tickets from friends. I am thankful that my mom watched the boys. I am thankful that Savanna got to go. I am just thankful. And to those who may have wondered why I did not offer to get them tickets. Please accept my sincerest apologies. I sat through the evening in awe and more than once I felt remiss at not purchasing a ticket for every single person that I knew.

front page news

Savanna made the front page!

We got a call Wednesday morning telling us to check out the paper- Savanna ran outside to grab it and squealed as she ran inside.

she is on the front row very last one on the left

Everyone that was part of the all state choir got to go sing at the Capitol to kick off Youth Art Month- on Tuesday.
It was amazing to hear them, once again- and I loved hearing them sing the very last song. As part of state choir the kids learned a piece of music that was written specifically for state. This performance the director that wrote the piece got up and directed them. I felt they really responded to her differently. The clapping seemed more in sync. I thought they sounded so much more energetic. They really sang it with feeling.

Sing for Joy

Last month Savanna got to participate in two choirs- she practiced, practiced and practied- then was able to enjoy the performances.

The first was Circle the state
She spent a saturday morning with other students from the area practicing for a performance that afternoon.

The second was state choir-I got to travel to with Savanna to Tulsa for a Wednesday Thursday and Friday-
State was right after our big Ice storm- school had been canceled on Tuesday and then again on Wednesday and we were concerned about not being able to make it up to Tulsa, but the turnpike was fine for traveling and we made it!
We all met at the school to load up- and have a prayer before traveling.
(have I said how grateful I am that our kids are at this school?)

There were many mixups of the rooms- I think one mom changed 3 or 4 times-

While the moms figured out the room arrangements, the kids started practicing.

It was a full day of practice- they practiced until 8 that night (with a break for dinner)


Every year its tradition to go eat at the same place and eat in the train car-

The kids inhaled their dinner so they would not be late for the next practice- (oops they were late anyway!)

Savanna with her friend and roomate Emily- they were the two 6th grade girls on the trip

After the evening practice the girls begged to go swimming- against my better judgment I went with them to the pool- it was packed- the kids looked like guppies in a fishbowl!

Thursday was a full day of practice again- by the night the kids were tired! They put their all into the practices- I was in and out through out the days rehersals and sat in during some of the evening one. I was so impressed with the director and what she was teaching these kids. I felt so excited to hear them practice, and to hear what the kids were learning.
The director talked about her love of music- she said she could not think of a more joyful word than "sing"- that she felt the most alive when she was singing, that she could feel herself come alive, that she could feel it in her blood, that it gave her a joyous spirit. She told the choir that they would never forget this experience of singing in the state choir.
She taught so visually to the kids what they would need to sing for someone else to hear.
She talked of 4th of july fireworks, and hand bells, and the way a painter paints across a canvas. She explained that they needed to use their instrument- their voice- to portray those visual things.
I was inpsired! ( it made me want to join the choir and sing too!)
Friday morning was the concert- Savanna was so excited to finally perform, and she was equally excited to soon see her dad and brothers!

The perfromance was amazing to hear- I had only listened to them practice from behind- such a difference sitting in front of them as they sang. They had been practicing this music for a while and then all day for the last two days- the work payed off. They were beautiful.

Savanna had to wait to see all the boys. I got to see them first- we all missed each other- this was the longest I have ever been away from Tucker!

When Savanna was all finished- she ran down to see her brothers and Dad! Lots of hugs and squeezes!
One last pose for a group shot- It was a great experience to travel to Tulsa and for Savanna to get to be a part of this state choir-

A big thank-you to Mrs. Adams for her hard work and instruction. Savanna has learned much from being in choir in school. I am so thankful that music is still a part of her classes!

Playlist of my life-Singing with angels

I get to drive the kids to school every morning. I get to share the final moments before they start the day. Almost always we are listening to music. I take requests, but I try and put something on that will be positive. Often this last song that they hear as they get out of the car is what they are humming for the rest of the day. As they come home and are unloading lunch boxes and backpacks, they are singing bits and pieces of that song.


This Christmas I found a new song that I love. While listening to pandora radio (James Taylor holiday) this song would come on and I would race to the computer to listen, and sing along. It made my heart soar, and fill me with love. Finally after four days of this, and only being able to hear the song twice a day, and then only if I happened to be in the room (several times I would hear it just at the end of the song)- I got the idea to look it up and download the album for myself.
Every time I play this song I am moved. I love it. I can not say it strong enough. I Love It.



So we have listened to it often at home over the Christmas break. We know it. It has become a part of us. Yesterday as we drove to school it is what we listened to. The kids were humming it after school and Jack commented on how he likes it and he caught himself several times humming it during the day.
Once again I put it on this morning on the way to school. It felt like there were more than just our 4 kids singing along with me. As Savanna and I broke off into our own parts and I could hear the boys singing (yes, loudly -even Tucker) I felt so blessed to hear and sing with the angels.


"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" (D&C 25:12).

tuck singing

One of our family gifts for Christmas was a music stand. It was a joint gift to our family from my sister and from me. I saw it about a month ago, and she knew how much I loved it so we went in together for it for Christmas. I was mostly thinking of Savanna, and that she would finally have something to put her music on when she was practicing, viola or her choir music.
But the one who has used it the most by far is Tucker. He is a little possessive of it. He sings so loud. And he does it so seriously.




We will see how well he shares it once Savanna starts using it.

MAMMA MIA! 1,2,3,4,5,6,7!

Yep-7 times.
I am obsessed. Just a little bit.

First time I went to see MAMMA MIA! was a last minute late night movie (11:20 PM) the night before leaving for Jay's Grandmothers funeral.
It was so freeing to go and sing, and dance in my seat.
Every song (but 2) brought back so many fun memories.
The music just made me happy. It reminded me of drives back and forth from UT-CO.
We love road trips as a family. We love singing in the car together.
We have loved ABBA music for so long, and it reminds us of way back when.
When we fit into a car not a minivan.
When Savanna was in a car seat.
When we just had 1 child and were pregnant with #2.
And then having #2 and #3 come along.
Around that time the tape (yes tape) got put under the seat to make way for our cd player, then that made way for our ipods. We never bought the ABBA gold CD or loaded it onto our Ipods.
This night, after seeing it, I reached under the front seat of the van and pulled out the bag of tapes.
Found ABBA gold and put it in then danced and sang my way home.

We then sung and danced our way to Colorado for the funeral.
After the funeral we got things settled and I got to go see it again with Jay's mom Carolyn and my sister-in-law Mary.

Once again, it was wonderful. I loved getting to see it again, and had fun going with family.
I saw things I did not see the first time.
Paid attention to details that I had missed.
Cried a little more than I did the first time.
It was a nice relief after the busy weekend with the funeral.

Then move forward 2 weeks the 16th of August and I rounded up my girlfriends for a late night show.

I wondered if everyone would love it as much as I did. (I think they did!)

Allyson, me & Kim

Kim, Allyson, Julie, me & Leslie

This time was fun to have the energy of girlfriends getting together late at night and leaving our "normal" life behind for a bit.
Each of these girls friendships I treasure.
Kim, Allyson, Julie, & Leslie.
This night also made me want to go with all of my other girlfriends from different places that I have lived. Rebecca, Donna, Pepper, Meghan, Holly, Layne, Kaleen. My list could go on and on.
There were a few more details that I noticed this night. And I still cried.

Then just 2 days later my sister called and wanted to go see it with my mom. I jumped at the chance and frantically started trying to find someone to watch the kids. It all worked out, and I got to see it for the 4th time!
I was so glad to see it with my mom and sister. I had wondered if it would work out timing wise to go and see it with my mom. She helps take care of my grandmother every other day-and I really wanted to see it with my mom and sister before it left the theater.
It was so fun (again) and felt a little funny to go see a movie in the middle of the day. I felt like I was getting away with something. This time I had the whole thing just about memorized, and I cried again. The part where Donna is singing to Sophie. I was feeling a little sad about school starting in a few days and having Savanna start middle school, and Luke in Kindergarden. I thought about the time we had spent during the summer, and how time just goes by so fast. And even though we did so much, there was still so many things that we didn't do.

So now, I had just one more person that I wanted to see it with now.
Jay.
The next Saturday after the kids were all nestled in bed, I talked Jay into going with me. I really wanted him to see what I was making such a big deal about. And for the record, he liked it. (But not as much as I did, his fun was seeing me have such a great time, and feel so happy!)


The next Monday I was feeling so sad. School had started. I did not want summer to be over. I wanted to just play and have fun. I told Jay- "I want to go see MAMMA MIA! again!" and that is when it hit me.
I loved the movie for how I felt, and where it took me. It was a total escape.


My sister called a few days later and announced that she was taking me, my sister and my mom to go see the play on stage at the civic center on Friday the 5th of September.

Hooray for something to look forward to!

We all met and had dinner at our house with Jay and the kids. Savanna and Luke did such a good job decorating for the dinner. She suggested going by the library and picking up the MAMMA MIA! pamphlets. Then we brought them home and she cut them apart and hung up the pictures on the wall, the cabinets and the fridge. Luke made "money" and taped it up on the wall.
(to go with the song Money Money Money which is his favorite and he sings it with such gusto!)
We toasted to us, and to our night, and to Grandaddy (this was the year mark of his death) and talked about how happy he would be for us to go, and if he were here, he would slip someone a $20 and tell us to go get a treat, "just between us girls!"



We sang and listend to the music the whole way down, and were so excited and pumped up.

We sat down in our seats and I leaned to the guy next to me and apologized in advance for my soon to be singing. He laughed.
At the intermission he said he did not mind my singing, but "you didn't tell me you would be dancing too" with a loud chuckle. He said he could see why I got so into it and that he was having just as much fun.
My sisters and my mom had a great time.
Seeing it live, and with the energy of a live full audience was exciting.
I was feeling so sad when it was over, but then so thrilled when they kept on singing and dancing. We all jumped up and joined in, just like a concert!
SO MUCH FUN! SO SO HAPPY!!

We danced our way to our car, and had to stop by the trailers and get photos.
Thank you so much Janelle for a wonderful night- we all have a fun memory together because of you!


Then to top the weekend off- I saw it again on Saturday! The kids were shocked that I was going again, and Jay just smiled and shook his head with a little chuckle. Allyson picked me up and off we went.
I was talking with the woman next to me who came with her mother and sister and niece. We talked about how I had wished that my daughter was a little older to see it. At one point during a particular scene the woman leaned over and said, "I can see why you did not want to bring your daughter- she has plenty of time ahead for this kind of stuff!"

Allyson felt just like me, Giddy right before it started, sad when it was ending, and excited when they kept on singing and dancing!
I loved it just as much the 7th time. There were a couple of songs that were not in the movie, but I really enjoyed. And a few things that were not in the movie that were explained a little bit better on stage.
A few of the musical number I liked better in the movie, but then a few were better on stage.
I liked them both equally.
I still missed 2 parts the second time seeing it on stage that I didnt see what everyone was chuckling about. It was like I did not get the joke. I missed it.

I got home, and Jay asked if I was sad it was all over. I emphatically said "NO- I am going to go to the sing-a- along!" And then, there is the DVD when it comes out, and the music I will listen to over and over again!

The end of the summer 2008 will forever be etched in my mind as MAMMA MIA!

Last week Jay and I had a lunch date with the littles, while the big ones were in school.
(Luke was so excited that he got to go!)
I laughed out loud when I read my fortune from my cookie.
It said something about music being an important part of my life, and that it would bring me joy.
So true, so true.