I really need to, as a follow up, post a vid of the boys choir rehearsal. It is so amazing. I always bring a book or something and it is so fascinating watching the director work with the boys that I don't ever read.
He seems to be teaching them things that I didn't even know could be taught, like pitch memory and guessing the starting note and stuff like that. I pretty much assumed that if you could do that you could do it and if you couldn't too bad. But they learn amazing things every time, and their ability is growing exponentially. I think they are learning more from being in the choir than they would even if they were taking private voice lessons, because as I know from singing myself, what I did learn I taught myself from listening to records and trying to merge my voice kind of automatically to the singers' voices. Remember that, Jape?
But in terms of me finding them opportunities, actually I have been feeling like I don't do nearly enough, but it is interesting that since I haven't been feeling well the last few years I have cut other things out of my schedule, like adios to taking classes or trying to work even a little bit, so I have had time for all of this, and I think it is pretty worthwhile. It helps keep me from feeling guilty that I don't work on the house or anything, because in ten years when these boys are gone I won't feel sorry that I didn't drive them to choir because I was busy rennovating. What's the point of feathering a nest when the fledglings are going to be gone too soon to have it matter?
I actually started the Boychoir thing because I thought that what the heck, auditions are really good for them, but I didn't really think that they would make the choir. I didn't think that they would get two out of ten of the spots in the premiere performing boy choir in the Portland area. In fact, in a way they are PROFESSIONAL singers, even though they don't get paid. People pay 25 dollars a ticket to listen to this choir! And then when they got on, I didn't know if I would do it, because it is going to be so much work to take them, but after the first rehearsal I was sold, this guy is amazing and my guess is by Christmas these kids will be amazing singers. They get noticably better after every practice.
And next year is going to be pretty busy because it will be Drake's first year in high school, when it really starts to count gradewise. I fully expect him to get all A's and be valedictorian like his dad was, because there is not a CHANCE that he isn't as smart as his dad. Sorry, dad, but Drake whomps on you. Slade is smart, but he isn't a THINKER like Drake is. Drake actually likes to learn stuff, and Slade pretty much only did school as a means to an end.
Our biggest struggle is that they still aren't exactly sold on the singing thing. They are so incredibly gender stereotyped that they still resent not playing basketball or hanging with their homies every spare minute. I am about 45% bullying them into doing this, and they certainly wouldn't do it on their own, not that they could, anyway I guess.
It is really sad, because always said to myself that if I had boys I would get them into singing because supply and demand indicates that boys/men who can sing are valuable. Even if they aren't THAT GREAT.
Like all of the boys that auditioned for parts in the high school play or places in the choir that pretty much got to walk right on even if they were halfway tonedeaf, and the girls would be stepping over dozens of other girls for the two bit girl parts in the musical. It isn't fair, but I guess the reason that is is exactly what I am dealing with, boys just don't want to do music, and girls do.
That is why I was so shocked when Sadie got a part in the community play. There were tons of girls that want to sing and dance onstage, and I have pretty much been preparing her for the eventuality that she won't get that much opportunity because of it.
But if Slade and I can at least get on the same page (he is rather gender stereotyped like his sons) then I think we will at least be able to induce enough bribes to keep it afloat long enough that at least they will get to the point that they can choose for themselves. Drake has the best voice of all three of them, and he has pretty much broken me to the point that I don't even try, but with the twins they are at least going along with it, so I have reason to be somewhat optimistic.
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By the way, thanks very much to all of you that make encouraging comments to the kids here on the blog.
I show them to the kids and I really think it helps for them to know that what they are doing is appreciated by all of you.
So I know that everybody's busy, but it is really nice that a lot of you take the time to do that, it really does help to get squirly, unruly kids under control when they sense that there is support for their parents' efforts.
Especially when they know (having seen the example of how I caved to Drake) that it is possible to break me because I always feel unequal to the task of standing firm against three prepubsecent boys! Anyway, it is very helpful and very nice.
What a great experience.
My high-school choir was a total joke. (Fun, yes. Educational, nope.) It wasn't until college that I started learning how to actually sing in a chorus – which is a very different thing than singing solo/duet/quartet/etc.
Dr. Wilberg used to teach us all sorts of tricks for learning pitch and harmonization. We would spend no more than one or two rehearsals learning the actual music, then the remaining 20 would be spent blending the sound correctly.
Sometimes he would hear a section that was off pitch and he would walk over and put his ear a few inches from people’s mouths. It was pretty obvious when he found the guilty party/parties.
Good memories.
Cool,
The music program in the Forest Grove School district is really good. There are a lot of kids that are into it and a lot of specia/supplementary problems. And even if the choir isn't that great, I figure there is always room for a kid that is really good to do solos in stuff, in fact for a weak director, a solo quality kid is probably really a blessing.
Jape,
When I said 'remember' I was referring to how we used to listen to records over and over so we could sound like Kenny Rogers, John Denver and later Les Mis. I figure that was good training because kids are kind of malleable that way, and it was certainly better than nothing.
I think that one of the best aspects of choir for young boys, especially when the choirmates are good and some of those kids are REALLY good, they will have a chance to learn how to sound more like them just by listening and singing with them.
Wow, Carol. I am so happy for both the boys and YOU. It is so rewarding as a parent to see your kids doing good things. Sort of parental pay day.
Someone more eloquent than me once said that being a parent is the only thing in life that allows you to truly experience joy vicariously - you are just as joyful when your kids do things as you are when YOU do them. You experince them the same way that your children do.
I'm so happy for you and, incidentally, your boys. Can't wiat to hear them in person again! I loved it when the VonMorgan family singers sang happy birthday to the Kelly men in August!!!! So great!
Yeah I have created a VonMorgan family singers of sorts, I do good with everything except providing the getaway car, I am a little unreliable on that score.
Because they are doing better and better at the four part harmony I am going to have them work up some Christmas Carols and have them sing in downtown Portland and sing for tips. That will probably be better money than they will see doing anything else.
And, we'd love to have CD's as Christmas presents!!!
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