Solo & Ensemble

Spring entered 4 events for Solo and Ensemble this year.  She played a trumpet solo, cello solo, trumpet trio, and cello trio.  She has worked really hard for quite a few months preparing for these events.  It was an exciting day for her.  She did amazing on her cello solo and then moved on for her trumpet solo.  Nerves got to her a bit and she had trouble at some points getting the sounds out...the buzzing just stopped.  She persevered and finished the piece but I could tell she was disappointed, frustrated, and worried as the song progressed.

As soon as she finished she picked up her music, covered her face with it, and tears began streaming. She took off out of the room and I tried to follow. Man, can she ever walk fast. She was just trying to find the closest exit.  When we were finally  outside we talked some.  She was frustrated because it was the worse she felt she had ever played.  She was disappointed and angry with herself, and a bit embarrassed. She was worried Mr. Newman would be disappointed in her.  I tried to assure that all great musicians have performances like this.  I told her this is where her grit and character come through...could she move on and perform in her next 2 events?  We talked about what she could learn from it and so forth.

She finally felt she was ready to go back inside.  As we got inside each of the directors put their arms around her and encouraged her.  They could encourage her and give her feedback in ways that I could not because I don't speak "music" like they do.  She really is surrounded by amazing mentors and teachers.

As it all turned out, she received Superior ratings on ALL 4 performances!  The adjudicator for the trumpet solo noted that she was obviously prepared, she had great tone (which she has been really working on for the last year or so), fingering was perfect...nerves caused her to press her lips too tightly which makes it impossible to buzz.  The directors were very pleased that the adjudicator saw beyond the nerves and rated her accordingly.  

More than anything I am grateful for the lessons she learned today. She learned that we all make mistakes and the test of character is what we do when we make mistakes. She could have easily quit halfway through her piece but she didn't.  In talking to her she even said that thought never crossed her mind.  She learned that there is more to a performance than what meets the eye. She learned she has great friends that buoyed her up when she was feeling down.  She learned she can be that friend to others as well.  She was reminded how much her directors love her. She learned that her intense work on her tone has paid off as she has improved leaps and bounds in that area this last year.  She learned that at the end of the day all that really matters is if you did your very best in all you do.

And I learned, once again, that my mom heart can be torn and broken time and time again as I watch our children go through painful experiences in life.  It would be easier to shield them from such experiences, but once again I learned how grateful I am that I can be by their side to listen to them and love them as they learn these life lessons on their way to becoming who our Father in Heaven knows they will become.

Learning to Decorate Cakes

Spring wanted to learn how to decorate cakes for a Genius Project at school.  Sister Ulrich, a YW leader in the ward, decorates cakes and has made cakes for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Studio C, and many others.  Spring asked her if she would teach her to decorate cakes in exchange for free babysitting.  Sister Ulrich gladly agreed and the two of them had a wonderful time working together.

They got together once a week for about 3 weeks to learn a new skill each week.  It was so fun to see the progress each week.  Spring loved spending time with Sister Ulrich as much as she did learning the new skill.  In fact, when her final project was over she was really sad because she wasn't going  to have the opportunities to hang out with Sister Ulrich as much.

Spring wanted her final project to reflect her life.  I think her design was absolutely perfect!  The bottom layer is Stow colors with Bulldog footprints to represent the city and schools she attends.  The middle layer is all about her love of music.  She even piped the notes from the High School fight song.  The BYU layer represents her college of choice, and the Goofy hat on top represents her love of Disney movies.

She loves designing and decorating cakes.  The funny thing is...she isn't too fond of eating cake!  She has volunteered to make all her siblings their birthday cakes this year and she is beginning to be asked to make cakes for people.  I have a feeling this new talent will become very profitable for her!

Pinewood Derby & Piano Guys

Josh is loving all things cub scouting.  For one requirement he needed to write to a famous person that he admired.  He chose to write a letter to the Piano Guys.  A few weeks after he mailed his letter off, he received a large envelope in the mail.  It was a signed photo of the Piano Guys.  He thought it was pretty cool. Spring did too!  She was a bit green with envy but tried to play it cool.  She told Josh how awesome it was that he received this.  A while later I quietly went to Spring and suggested that she could write them a letter as well and there is a good chance she would be mailed a pictures also.  She wrote them a letter that afternoon.  Within a couple weeks there was a similar envelope in the mailbox for her.  I took a picture of it and texted it to her at school.  To say it made her day, would be an understatement!  I am so grateful that our children look up these men as role models.  They bring the spirit with them whenever they perform.  It's amazing to watch the influence of the Piano Guys as they share their talents.  Our children love introducing friends to the Piano Guys.

  

Another great thing about Cub Scouts that Josh has been anxiously awaiting is the Pinewood Derby!  He designed his car and had a great time helping Dad make it.  It was awesome to watch the fun he had the evening of the race.

Concert Season

December is synonymous with concerts in our household!  Although it makes for some crazy and hectic afternoons and evenings as we juggle getting homework finished, mouths fed, baths, scriptures, and heading out to concerts; it is one of my favorite times.  I love sitting back and watching our children perform with these amazing musical groups.  Their hard work, the hard work of all the students, and the efforts of the directors all culminate into evenings of musical enjoyment.  I know I say this so often, but I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity we have to live in Stow, Ohio.  The music department is top notch.  Our kids have made some of their very best friends in these groups and they have some wonderful mentors as directors.

Mary performed in her choir's Christmas musical.  Even though we were seated high in the auditorium you could see her smiling face beaming throughout the entire performance.

Sam performed in his first ever band concert this month!  He has come so far with the saxophone, as has the entire 5th grade band in just under 3 months.  There are close to 200 5th graders in the band this year!  Surprisingly, Sam said he was a little nervous before the concert but once it got going he said it was no big deal!

Spring performed in both the orchestra and band concerts as an 8th grader.  She is 1st chair in both groups, playing cello and trumpet.

Thomas performed in the band and orchestra concert as a Sophomore.  He also participated in the Choir concert as the accompanist.  He also sings in the Men's Choir and Concert Choir on acapella pieces.  He was also part of a small percussion ensemble that performed for the 5th/6th grade band during their concert.  Thomas and his good friend, Thomas also arranged a series of Marimba pieces to perform for some elderly people at the apartment complex of one of the women Thomas home teaches.  

Thomas also had the opportunity to participate in the OBTC (Ohio Band Teachers Conference) at the University of Akron.  He had to audition for this opportunity and was chosen.  He spent 2 days working with guest directors and then performed a concert with some of the best high school musicians in the area.

Transiberian Orchestra Concert with Grandpa

 Grandpa Powell LOVES the Transiberian Orchestra Christmas concerts.  Grandma doesn't love them so much but she goes with him because she knows how much he loves them.  Last year Grandpa asked if he could take Thomas, Spring, and Sam to a concert this year for their birthday and Christmas presents.  Of course, the kiddos were beyond excited for that!  And, that meant they got to come and spend Thanksgiving with us as well.

Grandpa got amazing seats for the concert...I think they were about 10 rows from the stage.  The kids absolutely loved the experience, as did Joel who also got to go with them.  They talked about it a lot then and they still talk about it now.  The other day I overheard them talking together and they said the best presents they have ever gotten are experiences and times spent with each other.  I am so grateful our children value time spent together more than accumulating things.  Grandma and Grandpa-you touched their hearts and created memories for them that will last forever!

 After the concert they stopped at Quaker Steak and Lube for dinner.  This was another fun treat for them and they had so much fun.

1st Chair

Spring has been working really hard to improve her chair placement in band.  During 7th grade she was 3rd chair all year.  At the end of the year the top 3 trumpet players all tied for chair placement so there was no change.  She worked hard all summer and throughout the beginning of the school year.  When chair placement came this year she was nervous but prepared.  She scored 117/120 points.  FIRST CHAIR!!!!

I'm so proud of her hard work and her dedication.  Even though there were moments of disappointment and frustration she never gave up.  She pushed harder and kept working at it.  I was even more impressed with the grace she handled the situation.  She was so kind and understanding to the others in the section and actually felt bad for the two others that she had surpassed.

It's going to be a great year in band!

Kimpton Night

For Homecoming Festivities the Junior High Band joins the High School Band for the parade and the football game.  They practice for 2 evenings together prior to the festivities.  I love this part of the program.  This year there were nearly 400 students in this combined band!  Spring was SO excited to be a part of this and was not ready for the night to end.  She kept saying, "I can't wait until next year when I get to do this every week!"  Thomas loved working with his buddy, Mason Marquette.  Spring's buddy, Julia Moxley, requested to have her again this year as well which made Spring's day!

Mary marched in the parade as well with her school's Student Council.  The rest of us were spectators...well the kids were candy hoarders!  They come home from this parade with more candy than we know what to do with.  The last few years I end up using what is left from this parade as candy for Halloween trick-or-treaters!

A wonderful night and Stow crushed the other team in the football game as well!  Go BULLDOGS!

Updated Pics

Jacob...2 years old

 Rebekah...3 months old

 Spring...13 years old