Skip to main content

Ms. Sandie has the best 'job' on Earth





Not many people can say they love what they do.  99.9% of the time I cannot wait to get to the studio.  That other .1% is usually stressful days such as pre recital, pre Rock N Bows, creating a program list.  Not bad odds of having a great day.

In the past week (August 11-15) I hosted my seventh annual Rock N Bows Intensive.  16 violins, 2 cellos, 1 viola, 5 guitars, 1 bass, drummer and keyboardist.  Special flute member and a vocalist too!

I don't do this alone mind you.   The bass player and two guitarists are teachers and pro musicians.  RNB has progressed to the level it has become because of all of their input and expertise.

We had a planned set list for months.  I started to give some of the students the sheet music about four weeks prior as this music was harder than previous years.  Enter Sandman, Don't Fear the Reaper, I Love Rock N Roll, Wonderwall, The Big Bang, Satisfaction, Applause, The Fox.

We had to make changes, add solos, do improvisation when something didn't work.  This wasn't just 20 hours of us 'practicing'.  We were CREATING.  I was going home exhausted and falling asleep on the couch all but the last day.  Some of the adults and children were telling me they were doing the same thing.  Not only were they working hard with me, but then they had to go home and practice all the changes we made, so that the performance was perfect.  And it was.  Again, I have the best 'job' on Earth.

I Love Rock N Roll was just rhythmically out of whack for us to make work.  Remember, we are trying to apply pop/rock/heavy metal to bowed strings.    So, "Clutch" our Bass player, and his daughter "Clutch Jr." reworked the lyrics to the song, and our guitar/bass/drum section played and the group sang.  Here is their poetic change.  I hope Joan Jett and the Blackhearts would agree:

I Love Rock 'N Bows

We all spend a week in August at Keys and Strings.
Playing our violins among other things.
Guitars are going strong
When playing our favorite songs.
And a week don’t seem that long when you rock like me,
yeah me.
And a week don’t seem that long when you rock like me,
yeah me.

Singing, I love Rock ‘N Bows!
So get another pick and your rosin, baby
I love Rock ‘N Bows!
We play a mean lick and drop this beat.
Ow!

We smile and we play our music cuz we’re the best,
As long as we pay attention and count our rests.
We ROCK what’s on our stands
When Miss Sandie waves her hands.
And the concert's moving on, now clap with me, yeah me
And the picnic's come along, now clap with me, yeah me

Singing, I love Rock ‘N Bows
So get another pick and your rosin, baby
I love Rock ‘N Bows
We play a mean lick and drop this beat.
Ow!


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Back to School Limited Time Deals at Amazon

 I don't know if it's the teacher in me, but I always like to see what's new in back to school shopping.  I loved being a student, so that may be part of it too.  So I was looking at all the back to school deals, and here are some I would like to share with you.  I am an Amazon Associate, so if you were to purchase through one of my links (at no cost to you) I would get a small percentage.   What teacher doesn't need a box of  Pre-Sharpened pencils ?  Limited time deal 150 pencils for just $12.00! Every class subject needs their own  color folder Get prepared for the next decade with 100 folders just $16.00!  Limited Time Deal Pre School Teachers Alert! A 36 pack o f playdoh  just $19.99! Limited Time Deal Got to have more erasers, those tiny pencil erasers do not last long.  Limited Time Deal,  12 Eraser  box for just $5.54 What teacher, student or musician doesn't need s heet protectors ?  Limited Time Deal, 20...

Holiday Stroll Was a Success

Every year the town of Wallingford kicks of the Holiday Shopping Season the first Friday of December.  Restaurants and Business give samples or discounts, Santa and Mrs. Claus are available for photos (The Grinch and Krampus too!) Live Musicians and Chestnuts Roasting by the Christmas Tree in the center of town.  This Year we performed at the Body and Soul Day Spa M enjoyed playing her pieces by memory at her first Stroll Event Sean was bringing the joy  Danica Lead the String Ensemble           Mira had a Sax solo Eli dressed the part!  

More Snow! January 12, 2011

Oh boy, can you believe this? Three major storms hitting us every few days. So, we aren't opening the studio. Surprise! Since I had three days already marked in the month of March for makeups only (no regularly scheduled lessons) I already have made March 9th our full makeup day. Your regular lesson time. So, stay warm, stay safe and I'll sing with you soon! Ms. Sandie