3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

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Day 137/365: Choir Performance Wins Top Score at District Music Contest

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I never get tired of bragging about the students at Elmwood-Murdock High School, especially when my son and daughter are involved. Here our choir performs at the district music contest the song “Things That Never Die”. They received “1’s”  from all three judges receiving the highest score of a 1+ for the second year in a row.   Twelve schools competed and only two schools received the high score.

HIgh School Choir, Things that Never Die
Elmwood-Murdock Choir

For your listening pleasure here is the video from my YouTube Channel.

If you have followed previous articles you know we are a small rural school district from a community of less than a thousand people in Eastern Nebraska. Our high school has a student body population of less than 120 students. That’s approximately thirty students in each graduating class. To have this many students (almost 50%) in choir is simply amazing and the credit has to go to Mrs. Betty Colbert our choir director.

She has made choir “cool” and coaches the students to find their voice. Many students sang solos at districts (including my son) and the girls sang Italian Sonatas earning top scores. The students participate in honor choirs and learn from top vocal practitioners in the field. In 2009 they even were invited and sang at Carnegie Hall, an experience I’ll never forget.

Glee Has Made High School Music Cool

The television show Glee and movie High School Musical and  Pitch Perfect has helped make high school choir and singing cool again. That and American Idol. It doesn’t matter why, but I’m glad. Many people have made fun of Glee and don’t like the mashup covers of popular songs but it has elevated music programs around the country. Glee style show choirs are extremely popular

Glee – The Complete SeriesPitch PerfectPitch PerfectAugust RushHigh School Musical 2High School Musical 1-3

Music in Our Schools

 

Mon Valley schools honored for commitment to music education

“Ensuring that every child has access to music in schools is central to the NAMM Foundation’s work, but a commitment from the entire community, including local music industry leaders, keeps music in schools,” foundation executive director Mary Luehrsen …
CMCSS makes list for Best Community for Music Education

Ensuring that every child has access to music in schools requires commitment by students, teachers, and those who determine school budgets,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM Foundation. “We commend the districts and schools that …
Why cut music programs that help children with their learning?

However, we know that is shortsighted, as educational research supports music in schools. In performance groups, if not many students are being served or if the quality of performance is lacking, music becomes a target. This is too bad, because music …
Music education helps mould well-rounded students

Music educators from across New York state came to Albany to spend the day meeting with their legislators to advocate for continued support for music in schools and to discuss the current challenges that face education. Music educators from NYSSMA Zone …
Harmony Project Mentors Youth Through the Power Of Music

Unfortunately, many school districts are quick to cut the music programs whenever budget issues arise, but the statistics show that there’s value in keeping music in schools. According to the Arete Music Academy, children who take music lessons are …

 

 

 

 

 

Day 113/365: Joe and the Jungle, The Band

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Rockin' the Philson Basement (SOOC)

Meet Joe and the Jungle as they gave a free concert in the Philsons’ basement. Beth lives across the street and her family’s philosophy should be  “Life is an adventure, explore and experience”. They have traveled to all over the United States, Europe, and have hosted multiple international exchange students. They are registered Couch Surfers and the Los Angeles California band, Joe and the Jungle, were their latest guests as their tour brought them to the Midwest.

The band has been compared to a cross between Guns n Roses, Cheap Trick and The Beatles with a splash of the Sex Pistols for flavor. If that doesn’t make you curious nothing will.  They are the best of both coasts starting in New York City and moving to the LA Strip and selling out venues on a regular basis.

Knickerbockers in Omaha canceled on them at the last minute so Joe and his band rocked away in the Philson basement in Elmwood Nebraska this week. Although the band drives a stereotypical van and couch surfs across the country, they have never stayed in a house with it’s own amps, woofers, drum set and extra bass. Papa Philson is a closet musician and has all the toys.

The band signs were hung, blue and red bulbs went into shop lights and the atmosphere was created. Didn’t matter that the acoustics were a tad off, the rock and roll beat was alive and a Joe and the Jungle rocked the Philson house. Those in Omaha missed out. Check out their music in the video below.

 

Day 106/365: First Encounter With a Marine Drill Instructor

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USMC Recruit Family Night

In just a little under four months I will have two sons in the United States Marines. My youngest, a high school senior, is in the delayed entry program and got a little taste of Marine boot camp during last week during Family night for the Lincoln Nebraska recruiting station. A visiting drill instructor from San Diego put them through their paces and had them sounding off like grunts in no time.

My youngest son  leaves for boot camp in July. He’s the one on the far right with red tape on his arm (gave blood at school earlier in the day, his 7th pint) For a better understanding of what they went through in ten minutes here is a short video below, might want to turn your volume down for this.

Veterans Day 2010

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As a new Mother of a Marine, my thoughts take a different turn on Veterans Day.  I think it’s because it’s now close to home and I find myself worrying in advance of what lies ahead. The potential of the biggest sacrifice that can be made for our country is now personal. It’s my sons. Yes, plural. My youngest son, still in high school decided that the United States Marine Corps is his calling.

Memories of my Father are particularly strong now. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korea Conflict. He never spoke of  war, not that I can remember, and his service papers were lost when we arrived home on New Years at Times Square.  So, I have sent to the National Personnel Records Center for his service records to share with his grandchildren. 

I’m also thankful for living in small town community with Midwestern traditions. Unlike other parts of the country, our schools take time to honor our veterans by inviting them to the school and honoring them with celebrations. I attended two such programs today, one at the high school and the other at the elementary.

Lieutenant Colonel Rick Gray was the speaker from the Nebraska National Guard. The choir and band sang and played in honor of those who bravely served in the armed forces past and present. It was very moving to listen to over 125 elementary children sing “Bless Our Troops”.  It’s something I won’t forget anytime soon.

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Memorial Day Parade, Washington DC

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The students from Elmwood-Murdock High School march down Constitution Avenue in Washington DC for a once in a lifetime event they will never forget. They received the invitation because of the numerous awards they had won in marching band competitions such as Harvest of Harmony.

Record temperatures were recorded in Washington DC that weekend, and the black uniforms made it a challenge for the kids, but they endured over an hour of marching like troopers. Again, congratulations to everyone. For more information and pictures visit my original post on the Washington DC trip.