Family gig

Zach was asked at work (Chick-fil-A) Monday afternoon if he would like to play some Christmas music (on saxophone) the next evening to entertain the customers. He said he would, then sort of volunteered the whole family! He did call me first to make sure it was ok.

It was actually really fun. Zach played a few songs. Jonathan accompanied him on bongos on a couple of those and also played a few songs on the bells. Zach and I played one duet and I played a few on flute. Benjamin also played a few of his Christmas songs on our pitiful little keyboard. I wasn't sure he would do it as he hates to play in front of people, but we bribed him with a trip to Krispy Kreme and he did it! I was so proud of all my boys.



And then Chick-fil-A fed us dinner for our effort!

My Musical Boys

Here's some videos of what the boys have been up to musically.

Benjamin's teacher and I bribed him to learn this piece. Now it's his favorite!



Zach and Jon loved Tuesday night's community band rehearsal. Big Band music! This was just the first rehearsal, so I'm assuming these will be much better by the October concert.

Here's Zach playing along with one of his favorites.



And finally, Jon got his first chance to play set with a group.




I love seeing my boys using the gifts God has blessed them with.

Christmas concert theif

Zachary, Jonathan, and I played in the Rio Rancho Symphonic Band Christmas concert last night. The concert went great and everyone thought the little percussionist (Jonathan) was adorable. Playing in this band has been a great experience for us. I'm so enjoying playing again and the boys are learning a lot by playing challenging music with experienced musicians.

However, a big damper was placed on the whole evening by a thief. My purse (wallet, iPhone, keys) was stolen from a classroom while we rehearsed in the sanctuary (concert was at a church). I discovered it was gone about 10 minutes before the concert started. We had calls from the credit card companies before the concert ended. The thief apparently had a big time at Wal-mart and Target while we were playing beautiful music.

Now I have to deal with all the aftermath - changing the house and mailbox locks, getting new cards, getting a new phone, disputing the credit card charges, getting a new driver's licence, etc.

I really liked that purse. Stupid criminals.

But I guess I should be thankful it wasn't my brand new flute that was stolen.

New instuments

Zachary got his Christmas present a little early. A brand new (to him) tenor saxophone.

He switched from alto to tenor back in January and has been playing on an old one owned by the homeschool band. We've been researching saxes for a few weeks and finally decided on a Kessler. This one was a year old, but in perfect condition, and saved us a few hundred dollars over a new one. Zachary loves it and it sounds so much better than the old one.

Jonathan has been waiting for this day for over 6 months. The homeschool band purchased a marimba. He was even sick, but begged to go to band yesterday so he could play it.

Hopefully he'll be able to enjoy it more next week when he's feeling better.

The music in me...

I have been involved in music in some form or other since I was 8 years old. I took piano lessons for 5 years, then started playing the flute in band in 7th grade. I was playing flute at church as well by 9th grade. In college I took piano again and was in the choir. I also took a few voice lessons from my great aunt.

I wasn't involved in music for a couple years after I married and really missed it. When we joined a new church in 1993, I started playing my flute again and sang in the choir. I was very involved in the music department there for nearly 16 years.

And then there was that brief attempt at the violin last year - that didn't last long.

But we left that church last year and I haven't sung or played in public in a year - until last week.

I joined a community concert band and I joined the choir at our new church.

Going to the first band rehearsal was a little intimidating. I hadn't read band music in 21 years! (But I have helped my boys with theirs.) Some of it I can't quite play yet, but I figure as long as I don't play in the rests no one will know! It was fun to play in a band again.

Then I sang with the choir for the first time this weekend. It's just a worship choir that sings with the regular praise and worship team. And it's only once a month, which is a good thing because we have to sing for 5 services in one weekend. But I loved it!

I have really missed using my musical gifts. It feels good to be making music again.