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

Post a Comment

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

What recital means to me.........

Today's the big day. I never sleep well on 'Recital Eve'. Where'd the stands go, who took the pedal? We forgot to get the programs done? (Promise, they are done, and they are bigger than ever!) Recital to me is so many different things. I always have flashbacks to four years ago when I was so afraid it was my last recital with my 'kids'. Or the triumph of three years ago (I'm still here!). I remember Jay M's first recital, with his crouch like bow and huge smile. Jillian's realization that she did a GREAT job and then how it was even better for me when she invited me to her Christmas Pagent and she played the organ just a few short months later. Or the time Rachel stopped half way through....the entire time I was thinking that has the phrasing but doesn't sound exactly right............and she FLIPPED THE PAPER from top to bottom. Oh how we all laughed on that one. In my mind, there are 130 different stories just like this one. I have been blesse...
1 comment
Read more

Commitment

Learning an instrument takes commitment. Commitment from the student (to apply their newly taught techniques at home)  It takes 10,000 hours to master any new skill.  That's a lot of music making. Commitment from the parent.  Bringing the student to their lesson weekly, on time.  Giving their student a comfortable, well lit place to practice.  Helping their young musician be patient, learn time management, apply reading of pitch and addition/subtraction of rhythm counting. Just as importantly, commitment from their teacher.  Commitment to be there, waiting with a smile.  Commitment to be prepared, and attentive.  Commitment to CONTINUITY.   To be a good teacher takes talent, knowledge and skill.  To be a GREAT teacher, you must always make it about your students first. Commitment to the students, is what Ms. Sandie, Ms. Joanna, Ms. Doreen and Ms. Stacey are all about.
1 comment
Read more