Saturday, October 31, 2009

Fall Concert, Round 2

Since I teach at two different schools, I get to direct twice as many concerts. The first one was for the giant choir program where I'm assisting. For the most recent one, I was on my own. The entire choir program is my responsibility.

We had the concert in the choir room, which is big for a classroom, but it's lots smaller than the cafeteria and gym. The acoustics were great. I didn't have to move the baby grand piano or risers, which are on a small stage the end of the room opposite the door. It was really quite a nice venue. I swept the floor before setting out chairs. I got the first 45 or so chairs set out by myself before the after school rehearsal, and then Mom helped me afterward. She came over to accompany the rehearsal, and then she helped with the last minute setting up. She saved me at least a half hour, which insured that I got to eat dinner! YAY!

The concert went very well. The room looked great. The girls filed into the room in line and straight onto the risers. They sang pretty well. I was quite pleased. You could distinctly hear two parts throughout the whole thing (where there were two parts, of course). Seventeen girls performed, which is remarkable because I only have thirteen students in the class. There's one boy in class, and one in the after school club, but neither of them showed up for the concert.

One of the fine arts department administrators was there. Her comment afterward in an e-mail to me was that we "kicked it up a notch" with the choir program. What more could I ask for? My principal seemed impressed also. It was a success.

The struggle does make success a little sweeter. I don't think I'll ever forget that night, from the sweeping of the floor, to the last minute purchase of cookies for a little reception afterward... Someday it will be a, "remember that time I had to sweep the floor and set up all the chairs?" kind of thing. For now, that was just this week, and I'm planning to do it again in December. I set out about 65-70 chairs, and the audience was pretty full. Not every chair was occupied, but it was comfortably full. I think that until we get to standing room only, I'll keep using the choir room.

I'm rambling because I'm tired... sorry. I should go...

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