Another Adventure

Yesterday I went with Brandon's class to the West Michigan Symphony in the Frauenthal theater.  We are really starting to like that place!  I would guess its about the size of Calvary church's main auditorium.
Anyway, when you hear that there will be over 1000 recorder wielding third and fourth graders in a large theater, most people would run in the opposite direction. I however, braved the elements and walked IN. I even PAID for my ticket. And I was greatly rewarded.

Imagine the whole bottom level and the sides of the upper level filled with a third of fourth grade students holding a recorder.  They were instructed to keep their recorders in their cases until told otherwise - they even unzipped the cases all together at the count of three.
The classes have been working for MONTHS on this. The orchestra played nine songs (or parts of them).  One song had Can-Can dancers on stage, one song had a ballet dancer on stage, one song the kids had practiced a sitting dance routine, two of the songs the kids had been taught the words to sing along, and two of the songs they played their recorders, all from their seats. It was so cool and it sounded great - no ear plugs necessary and no ringing of the ears when you left!
This trip was progress in many ways.
-I knew by face all of the other chaperones - and I knew 2 of their names; one I even shared an 'inside joke sort of look' with that made me laugh inside (and yes I know she is reading this)
-I knew two of three teachers - my kids are still helping me with that one, I can't keep straight who is who and who is music and art and pe and who is married and who is not.....
-the music was amazing - especially the french horn player, but I'm probably a bit biased; one of my sadnesses of leaving MN was my fear of loss of good music to expose my kids to at a cheap price; there are so many free concerts to get a hold of there;  These tickets were $5, Maria got in free;  My aunt assures me that they have these in Grand Rapids as well, so I am hopeful we will experience more concerts in the future!

Today Maria is off to Meijer gardens with her class - we hope to go back with all the kids on Saturday.  I have been printing a few resumes and sending them off.  We'll see what happens!