Random Christmas Music Memory

Here's the thing: I hate Christmas music.
It's just an annoyance to me.
I do have favorite Christmas and Holiday pieces that stand alone.
One of those pieces is "O Holy Night." Thought I do have a random memory that is kind of messed up with this piece.
When I was younger, my parents always took me every where with them about 85% of the time. Even places that may have not been that appropriate places. My parents were older, so, a lot of their friends/ acquaintances have passed over the years. My parents always took me to their funerals.
One of these people passed and my parents took me along for the funeral. At the funeral, a woman said, "This is *his* favorite piece of music, and proceeded to try to sing "O Holy Night." She kept having to stop to cry. She barely made it through the piece at all. Mind you, this was in the middle of Summer and wasn't even close to the Holiday season!!!
Now, I know that sometimes I can be an emotionless crazy person when it comes to things like death, but in  my mind, I just wanted to laugh at her. I held it together! (Giggle loop, anyone?)
I still LOVE the piece "O Holy Night," but cannot sing it or hear it without this experience being in mind!

The Sadness...

Do you ever feel the sadness that is happening in the World today? All of the horrible things that have happened in the last couple months are starting to affect me!
I'm usually a happy go lucky person! I don't watch things that are downers. I don't listen to sad music very often. I can usually read or watch the news without feeling it too deeply.
Lately, things have been extremely harsh.
We went to see "Into the Woods" on Saturday, and one of the previews before hand was for "Selma." Selma is a city in Alabama that had an extremely rough transition when it came to equality for black human beings. During the preview, I instantly started tearing up! Why?! I AM NOT A CRIER! I mean, EVER! I rarely cry at anything. I only got emotional once at my entire wedding. I didn't cry at my father's funeral. I am not an outwardly emotional person. So, why is this happening?!?
Also, there's the song "The Hanging Tree" from the movie "Hunger Games: Mocking Jay- Part 1." They play this song that Jennifer Lawrence sings when the people start protesting the the Capitol and the Guards, and they start getting killed. They keep playing a techno version on the radio, and I start getting emotional. The only time I listen to the radio is when I'm driving, so, that creates a dangerous situation!
I always joke that my sympathy/empathy button is broken. I'm almost always "faking it" which makes me sound like a terrible person.
 In fact, when people try to empathize with me, I almost find it laughable that they would even come close to understanding what I'm going through. I know that sounds really horrible!
I've been battling a little bit of depression for a few months. It's possibly seasonal disorder related. This year's seasonal disorder has been extremely bad for me.

A "Halloween" Memory

I have this memory of elementary music class with Mrs. Troste at Klondike Elementary School. Every year, we would sing "H-A- Double L-O-W- Double E-N Spells Halloween!" to "Danse Macabre. We could also watch a video of Skeletons dancing to it.
I think it may have been this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CHqhsMP80E

I'm trying to figure out if this was something that she made up, or if it was related to an old music text book.

In doing my research, using the search terms "Skeleton Dance," I also found these two videos, also classics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03QBNVwX8Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXkQSiJG7fk
Competing companies with close to the same idea. The Disney Silly Symphony came out first.

Then, there's this newer one, basically, an updated version of the PBS 80's Video. This may be close to breaking the Copyright of the first video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0glOYQBlSA

I actually think about this memory a lot. I thought I would get it out on my blog. 

UPDATE: A little more research, and I found it!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDQB297DgQ0

A little pet peeve...

I'm glad that your grandchild/child/niece/nephew/godchild has shown an interest in music, and you've decided to teach them yourself to "save some money."
My issue is, when I show you a beginning level book for that instrument in his/her age level, because you asked what book to use, and you don't even understand the first lesson, maybe you shouldn't be the one teaching said child!
Pay for the lessons!
End of rant.
*I would say this about teaching any subject!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 25

Day 25:  I'm thankful for great singing divas of the 80's and 90's.  They probably saved my life more than once.  I have this memory of buying Mariah Carey's debut album in 1990.  I listened to that album on repeat until I had every single word, note, and run memorized!  I'm pretty sure it drove my parents crazy!  In 1989, Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation: 1814" was the album I listened to on repeat. 
These albums and artists came into my life when Grunge music was becoming the thing to listen too.  I hated grunge music.  I love to be able to sing along to the music!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 19

Day 19: I am thankful for the movie "Sister Act."  This movie may have saved my life!  I had seen it many times before, but one day, I saw this movie in a double feature package with "Sister Act 2" in the five dollar been at Walmart.  I picked it up and bought it.  I went home and watched this movie.  Every time the nuns started singing with Whoopi as their director, I started tearing up and crying.  I knew that I enjoyed music and directing a choir.  I had been directing the choir off and on in my church branch.  But this music, pop music, was the kind of music I wanted to direct.  I knew I wanted to direct a group that needed music in their lives.  Not that church friends don't need music, but I do think some of them take the opportunity for granted.
The rest is history!  I started the Indy Adult Show Choir, with help from some friends, and my life has been changed for the better.
I love all of the friends I have made through my community choir!  Through my choir, I have a life I enjoy living!
Watching "Sister Act" changed my life and made me realize what I really needed to be doing!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 6

Day 6 of Thankfulness: I'm thankful to have a job.  I'm glad to work for the company I do.  I get to help people plan out music.  I really love doing that!  I love finding that piece of sheet music that customer was afraid they would never be able to locate.  I love being a specialist in my company for show choir of all things.  I enjoy traveling with my company and meeting the people I get to meet. Most days, I love my job!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 2

I am thankful for my show choir!  For a long time, I wanted to perform, direct, choreograph, and use my music talents in this way.
I'm thankful for all of the members, past and present, that have been a part of this amazing experience. You can't have a choir with just one person!  I love them all.
The Indy Adult Show Choir has been one awesome wild ride!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 1

I'm going to try to remember to blog something every day of November that I am thankful for.  I can't promise these won't be material things, because let's face it, some material things are worth being thankful for! But I will try my best to not do too many material things!
Day 1: I am thankful for music.
Music has saved my life on numerous occasions!  It's the reason I function as an adult on a lot of days.  I have a very eclectic taste in music, and  love and appreciate every single on of those styles.
It's the reason I go to work everyday.  I love helping people find the music they love!
It's the reason my mind works and runs the way it does.  I always have a song running through my head. This probably saves me from obsessing about other things that are worth the time obsessing over.

Would you go back to school?

After seeing my friend, Trevor's Graduate Conducting Recital last week, it makes me think, maybe I should go back to school.  He has such an awesome passion for what he's studying!
I never really felt like I had that passion when I was in music school.  I was there just to get a job.  I was a horrible student!
There were a lot of factors behind that, like being told, "Don't do music! You have to get a job with insurance!"  It was actually a bit heart breaking.  So, why even try?  My entire time in college, I was there to just get by, not study something with passion. 
Could I go back to school now with as much passion as Trevor has? He is amazing at directing a choir!
I still don't think I could do it.  Even if I went back to school to study something completely different, like to become a hair stylist or get into cosmetology, I still don't think it would be a possibility.  Some days, I feel like having a passion for something is just gone from me!  This is a bit sad!
Don't get me wrong, I love directing choir's.  It's just, I could never go back to school for music, and feel like I was accomplishing something.  
Maybe this is just part of having that mid-thirties slump in my life. It's not that I'm not generally happy.  I am.  I'm just going through the motions a lot of days.

My Love, Ben Folds

My love for Ben Folds started when I was the wee age of 19.  I had heard the song "Brick," but honestly, it did nothing for me. The song that made me fall in love was, the Ben Folds Five's "Battle of Who Could Care Less!"  The harmonies were amazing!  I ran out and bought the album, and from there, all is history.
As I sit here at my desk in the anticipation of the new Ben Folds Five CD, that is going to be delivered at any second by the UPS person, I reminisce on all of the years I've had with Ben and the love of his music. I've lost count how many concerts I've been to.  It's probably around 15-20, which is low in some people's eyes.
The first time I met Ben, I announced to every one at work that day, I wasn't leaving the concert venue until I met him!

Ben and I at Purdue, May 2, 2005

Well, I did. I stood for an hour in the rain... blah, blah, blah, but it happened!  All of my co-workers at the time, started calling him my husband!  

Every year, I try to see him at least once live.  It usually happens in the fall, so, I've started associating Fall with seeing Ben at some point. (Which is funny, because all of the pics I've posted on here are from Spring concerts!)

This year is different!  I've never seen him with the actual Ben Folds Five.  This is going to be so awesome!  I'm waiting for that CD to come today, so, I can start memorizing all of their new songs!  

There's something about Ben and BFF that moves me from deep in my soul.  I love every song, every harmony, every lyric! 

Indianapolis, Murat March 21st, 2009

Purdue March 1, 2008

E. and I with Sam, Ben's Drummer

October 3rd will be here soon!  I've spent way too much money on tickets, but I have them.  See ya then, Ben! 

9/11/01: Where was I?

I, of all people, woke up early.  I had nowhere to be.  I turned on the Television.  I soon realized, something terrible was happening.  There was smoke billowing out of one building, and the news anchors were describing that a plane had hit the building.  I sat there watching the events unfold.  At some point, my roommate Justin came in and said, he was going to class.  I told him what had happened, and he just looked at me like I was overreacting, said, "OK," and left.  About that time, the second plane hit the second tower, and every second of it was shown on television!  I sat there as long as I could, watching things unfold.  This is when, the news anchors started announcing, the United States is under attack! Reports started coming in of other planes that were having issues. Then, all flights were grounded.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the music department had blocked at time for convocations and recitals at 11:00am. I walked into the recital hall that day just a little before 11am. It was really quiet. No one was talking. Finally, Dr. Todd Sullivan came out and stated something.  I don't really remember what he was trying to say, because I was in my own head at the time.  I'm sure all of my fellow students were, also.  His statement was something about staying calm.  We were all going to be just fine.  It all seems so trite now. I have no clue what the recital was that day.  I know I sat through it.  It may have even been a vocal recital, now that I think about it.
Afterward, the men of Phi Mu Alpha were having one of their cookout fundraisers out in the back of the Center for Performing and Fine Arts, the CPFA.  We all went out back to eat, and finally started talking to each other.  Some people were scared. Some people were angry. Most of us were just confused.  Why?  Why would someone do this?  Why would they attack buildings in New York City?  Why the Pentagon?  Why kill so many innocent people?  The questions just go on and on.
I'll be honest. Seeing all of these people saying, "NEVER FORGET!" really annoys me.  This is why. How could I ever forget?  All of us that were alive on that day, and over the age of 5, will always remember.  We will never forget the friends, the family, the coworkers, the firefighters, the EMT's, all of those people that died.
Then, there was the war that came from it.  All of the men and women that have died to fight for our freedom.  The freedoms to be religious or not. The freedoms to love who we want to love.  The freedoms to vote how we want to vote.
How would I ever forget?
The problem is not forgetting.  It's teaching the next generation about that day.  As soon as the generations that were alive die out, then, the forgetting begins. Teach the children about freedom. Teach the children love.
It shouldn't be, "NEVER FORGET!!!"
It should be, "Teach the children!"  
 

A New Opportunity, and it involves music!

I'm going to be the new choir director at Crooked Creek Baptist Church!  I'm really excited to take on this position!  The people at this church are amazingly kind and generous.  They do so many things to try to help out their community. They have breakfasts and lunches where they make sure that people in the community have enough to eat. They let community groups meet in their building, which is where my choir meets on Thursday nights!
I visited their music library, and it's actually in pretty good shape!  I can't wait to meet the people and get started!
If you'd like to sing in a choir on Sunday mornings in the Indy area, contact me!  I know a great place to do that!