Strike Up The Band

I went to Savannah's band concert last night. Both the 5th grade band and the 8th grade band played at this concert. We first listened to the 5th grade band play 18 songs. That was fun. You know, if you like hearing Hot Cross Buns played by, well, by 5th graders who have had their instruments for 4 months. The contrast between the bands is really amazing though. I remember when Austin (and later Savannah) was in the 5th grade band. I remembering listening to the 8th grade band and thinking, "Thank God! There IS hope! The older kids sound so much better! In fact, when the older kids play, I don't feel my fillings vibrate at all."

When the 5th grade band began to play, Brooklyn covered her ears and kept crying, "It's loud! Mama, it's loud! It's loud, Mama!" This wasn't a problem while they were playing because they were indeed loud and no one could hear Brooklyn's complaining. Unfortunately, she kept talking at the same volume in the silence between songs. Yeah. Fun.

At some point, both Brooklyn and Clayton realized their big sister was down there playing in the band and they started shouting, "Nana! NANA! SA-VANN-AH!!!!" Poor Savannah wanted to crawl under her chair as half the band turned to see where the commotion was coming from. I think this is about the time Brooklyn found a Lego in her pocket and decided it would make a good snack.

Clay was intrigued by the band playing and he watched the director intently. He warned Brooklyn, "It's going to get loud now," or "Don't worry Oata, it's going to be quiet now."

I asked him, "How do you know when the music is going to get loud or quiet?"

"When that guy raises his stick up high, the music gets loud and when he puts the stick down low, it gets quiet," he informed me. Duh, everyone knows this, Mom!

"Where did you learn that, Clay?" I inquired. I wondered if he'd picked that up simply from his observations. Wow, this kid is a genius, I thought to myself!

He answered me. "Curious George."

"Curious George taught you when the music would get quieter and louder?"

"Yep."

And there you have it. The monkey knows.

Jackson had brought his PSP and popped in the movie Daddy Day Care. He handed Brooklyn his ear phones. She took them, rubbed the ear buds together like defibrillator paddles and proceeded to "shock" her knee. So Jackson put the ear phones on Brooklyn and started the movie for her. Not realizing just how loudly she was talking, she laughed out loud and, indicating the movie, squealed, "He pooped!!! Mom, he pooped!" Good times, good times, oh yeah, another half an hour to go...

As we were leaving the concert, I asked Jackson, "You don't want to be in band next year, do you?"