Matt’s jazz band plays at the talent show November 15, 2009
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Matt was really psyched last Friday that the newly formed jazz band got to play at the talent show. I really wanted to go to the talent show but I couldn’t convince the other kids to go and I didn’t want to leave them home. So, Matt was ok with running in, playing his song (since they were on first) and running out. We waited in the car, opened the windows and listened to music. Matt came out quickly and the whole thing was easy. He was really pleased and is really enjoying being in the jazz band.
Matt makes jazz band! October 11, 2009
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Matt decided to audition for jazz band and he was selected!! He is so happy. He has to go practice a couple days/week before school and then at the recital, I believe the jazz band does additional pieces at recital. Go Matt!!
Matt is trying out for Jazz Band September 23, 2009
Posted by irisia in matt, Matthew's arts.Tags: middle school band
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Matt’s really excited that they are allowing clarinets into the jazz band this year. He’s looking forward to trying out. They would have to have practice before school a couple days/week – ug – but what a great experience. His new band teacher (this year and last) has made a huge difference. In 6th grade, he never seemed to make much progress growing as a musician and the bi-annual shows didn’t seem very good at all – just not finished or polished. But as of last year, he has a new teacher and she seems to be doing such a great job with the kids.
Matt is my pied piper September 20, 2009
Posted by irisia in matt, Matthew's arts.Tags: 8th grade band night, band
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Matt was able to play with the high school band for 8th grade night. He had so much fun and really wants to be in high school band. Every time I look at this video, I can’t stop smiling.
A night at the symphony October 26, 2008
Posted by irisia in matt, Matthew's arts, mom.Tags: clarinet, diana searle, mozart, symphony
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Matthew and I went to the symphony together last night for the first time. A young lady named Diana Searle was being featured at an all Mozart symphony at the Union Symphony Orchestra – and she was a clarinetist. The symphony had done a great job advertising with flyers of Diana holding a clarinet. Since Matthew plays, it got my attention. I asked him if he’d like to attend and he said yes. Trying to make sure he wasn’t just being congenial and saying yes for my sake, I walked him through what a symphony experience would be like. I told him about how long it would be. I told him about how far away, what we’d have to wear and all the vital information. And, he seemed to want to go more.
He and I dressed up a little – to a step above business casual. It is Union County NC after all. We went out to a fabulous little Mexican restaurant – Tequiera La Unica in Monroe.
The symphony had 8 pieces; 4 before intermission and 4 after. Diana came out for the 2nd piece through the 4th piece and she was lovely. I didn’t realize that she was just a senior in high school. She stood while she played and she moved the clarinet around while she played. You could really tell it was an extension of her body and that the music played through her. The music she was able to make on the clarinet was far better than I could ever have imagined the instrument could achieve. The range of notes were amazing. She played them so quickly and with such ease. Watching the fingers of all the artists was amazing. How do they make their fingers go so quickly doing that many different things that quickly without making any mistakes. The only disappointment is that she didn’t come back for the 2nd act. I kept waiting for her to return but she did not. It would have been even more of a treat.
The symphony itself was lovely and the orchestra seemed wonderful. I’ve been to the city as a child but I was too young to appreciate it. I will say that everything sounded very string heavy. The violin is my absolute favorite instrument and I could listen to it until I turn blue but I must have been turning blue last night because I though the strings really overshadowed the other instruments. That being said, I only saw a couple brass instruments so perhaps the arrangements were tailored to a clarinet soloist with the lovely hum of strings in support.
I would certainly go again. Kudos the the Union Symphony Orchestra.
Matthew’s awesome clarinet rendition of Pomp & Circumstance October 18, 2008
Posted by irisia in matt, Matthew's arts.Tags: Matthew's arts; clarinet pomp & circumstance; middle school clarinet
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Matthew’s clarinet playing has gotten so much better this year. Last year I was so disappointed with the Christmas concert. The kids were not playing in tune, they were not playing to a beat and they were not playing together. They were making mistakes and generally seemed as if they were in band practice and talking with their instruments but all telling a different story.
This year he has a new band instructor and I was so happy because she HAD to be better than his instructor last year. Matthew came home early on and was SO upset that the band instructor was being so elemental with making them clap together to see if they could clap at the same time. She was harping about timing and making the biggest fuss over it. Well, it’s on October and here he is.
