Wow! I remember a time my in High School career. I was always in the Choir - from the 7th grade on. When it came to tryouts for the a cappella choir (top choir in the school) I knew I was not a good enough singer to make the grade. My best friend tried out for it successfully. I was happy for her and I had already learned the leasons you mention - the one where sometimes you are not the best at something and you do not always "get in". She and her boyfriend both shared the fun they had with me and others. Our school a cappella choir was one of the best in the area. Also they made a sad mark in history when their bus went over a guard rail in 1976 killing 28 students and 1 teacher. This is where I learned the life is not always fair part.
It is obvious that many young people today expect the American Dream rather than work towards attainment. We seem to live in a society where children are not taught to succeed and try try again but to cry cry cry again cause it is somehow a right to suceed without effort.
It must be tuff to be a parent and not understand that fact that not everyone has every talent. Your kid may or may not be musically talented. Your kid just might discover a new particle or cure cancer - if they learn how to apply themselves and not expect a freebee feel good warm and fuzzy everytime they try something.
karoli
· 3 years ago
Kmilyun,
I was in the class of 76 and also in A Cappella Choir -- and I remember that accident. It scared the devil out of all of us for a long while.
I was in choir for three years. For 2 of the 3 I didn't make the chamber choir -- just not quite good enough. I worked hard and did make it as a senior. My best friend was also a choir member and made chamber choir easily. I can't remember resenting her for it -- she and I are still best friends to this day.
There is actually an upbeat ending to this story -- the instructors are committed enough that they have fought for this independent group and evidently been successful. I gave them a check for Sticks' fees tonight and signed the contracts. It may happen after all, provided that we distance ourselves completely from the school district.
K
kmilyun
· 3 years ago
That is a good thing! The distance from the school district - emm remember when the schools - oh never mind LOL.
My best friend unfortunatly did not survive the wreck :(. I do not remember ever being jealous of her. I just really really have a not so good vocal ability! I can play anything with strings - well not since my stokes - but I have a crummy voice LOL!
It is pleasant to read about Stick's an his willingness to put the effort in to use his talents - cheers to Stick's and the drumline. Wow contracts? I just remember you signed up put in the effort and if you were good enough you advanced. What are the contracts for and what do the fees cover. Man I am so out of this new school stuff. When the kids we helped out lived with us I rememeber going nuts over the fact that they did not have text books that they could bring home! How the heck do you teach a child to outline his study chapter with out the book!
I hope you make a video of the drumline and post it. Nothing beats the precision of a well tuned drumline!
karoli
· 3 years ago
Oh gosh, I'm so sorry your friend was one of the victims! How horrible is that?
After Prop 13, everything extracurricular has to be funded with outside money because there is no money -- none whatsoever -- to fund anything. Our band gets $700 per year to buy music, fund trips and travel to performances. That's not even enough for one bus. So everything is covered by parents paying fees and the kids raising money -- the next time you see a group of kids doing a carwash for the band, stop and let 'em wash your car, because it's those fundraisers that enable them to do just about every activity they do, sadly enough.
and you're in luck -- as part of my argument for why I haven't raised an overly ambitious win-at-all-costs kid, I found my 2005 video where they won 4th in championships. These kids worked their butts off for this show, and it was great. Sticks plays snare -- he's the shorter of the two.
Of all the years of our drumline, this one is one that I think someday someone will write and say they found this piece of video and can hardly believe that Sticks and the other snare drummer were on the same line. The other guy is a year older and making a huge name for himself at Musician's Institute in LA...there will be a time where they play together again, I think...this time professionally. I'll put the video in a new post.
K
kmilyun
· 3 years ago
I can not wait to see the video!
I suspected the finacial setup was such but just checking rather than assuming.
All Comments
It is obvious that many young people today expect the American Dream rather than work towards attainment. We seem to live in a society where children are not taught to succeed and try try again but to cry cry cry again cause it is somehow a right to suceed without effort.
It must be tuff to be a parent and not understand that fact that not everyone has every talent. Your kid may or may not be musically talented. Your kid just might discover a new particle or cure cancer - if they learn how to apply themselves and not expect a freebee feel good warm and fuzzy everytime they try something.
I was in the class of 76 and also in A Cappella Choir -- and I remember that accident. It scared the devil out of all of us for a long while.
I was in choir for three years. For 2 of the 3 I didn't make the chamber choir -- just not quite good enough. I worked hard and did make it as a senior. My best friend was also a choir member and made chamber choir easily. I can't remember resenting her for it -- she and I are still best friends to this day.
There is actually an upbeat ending to this story -- the instructors are committed enough that they have fought for this independent group and evidently been successful. I gave them a check for Sticks' fees tonight and signed the contracts. It may happen after all, provided that we distance ourselves completely from the school district.
K
My best friend unfortunatly did not survive the wreck :(. I do not remember ever being jealous of her. I just really really have a not so good vocal ability! I can play anything with strings - well not since my stokes - but I have a crummy voice LOL!
It is pleasant to read about Stick's an his willingness to put the effort in to use his talents - cheers to Stick's and the drumline.
Wow contracts? I just remember you signed up put in the effort and if you were good enough you advanced. What are the contracts for and what do the fees cover. Man I am so out of this new school stuff. When the kids we helped out lived with us I rememeber going nuts over the fact that they did not have text books that they could bring home! How the heck do you teach a child to outline his study chapter with out the book!
I hope you make a video of the drumline and post it. Nothing beats the precision of a well tuned drumline!
After Prop 13, everything extracurricular has to be funded with outside money because there is no money -- none whatsoever -- to fund anything. Our band gets $700 per year to buy music, fund trips and travel to performances. That's not even enough for one bus. So everything is covered by parents paying fees and the kids raising money -- the next time you see a group of kids doing a carwash for the band, stop and let 'em wash your car, because it's those fundraisers that enable them to do just about every activity they do, sadly enough.
and you're in luck -- as part of my argument for why I haven't raised an overly ambitious win-at-all-costs kid, I found my 2005 video where they won 4th in championships. These kids worked their butts off for this show, and it was great. Sticks plays snare -- he's the shorter of the two.
Of all the years of our drumline, this one is one that I think someday someone will write and say they found this piece of video and can hardly believe that Sticks and the other snare drummer were on the same line. The other guy is a year older and making a huge name for himself at Musician's Institute in LA...there will be a time where they play together again, I think...this time professionally. I'll put the video in a new post.
K
I suspected the finacial setup was such but just checking rather than assuming.