We are in the midst of my favorite music season.
Christmas music has always been my favorite and there never seems to be enough time to listen, sing or play it all.
But, I have a rule: Christmas music will not begin in my home until the day after Thanksgiving. And I usually play it until our tree comes down in January. Come to think of it, I’ve broken my rule as I pick out Christmas songs for the church choir in the summertime…oh, well!
I have such fond memories of singing solos and duets at Christmas programs.
My first boy-girl duet was in my elementary days. I sang Silent Night in my hometown church with Nathan, a boy that practically every girl had a crush on at one time or another. I don’t know if I was more nervous standing in front of a packed church or standing next to a cute boy!
In sixth grade, my classmate, Heather and I, sang Mary’s Boy Child at the school program. It was almost a solo for myself as her parent’s car got stuck on the way in to town, but Heather and her younger sister walked through the cold, dark, snowy night in their Sunday best (most likely dresses, tights and dress shoes) until someone saw them and gave them a ride the rest of the way. I remember she was pretty much a human icicle when she arrived, but I was so happy to see her! The teachers warmed her up as best they could.
Whether I was singing with Nathan, Heather, Heidi, Andrea or listening to the adults, the music at Christmastime always seems extra special. Dean would raise the roof and send tingles down my spine every time he sang O Holy Night; I dreamt of one day singing duets like Shelley and Steve; but these days I miss hearing my Grandma Hilda singing Silent Night during the candle light portion of the Christmas Eve service as her German voice slid from one note to another…it’s been over 25 years since I’ve heard her voice.
I love having the opportunity to listen to our local youth perform. My son is part of the new elementary choir, Ovations Select, under the direction of Lauren Holder. Not only did they do an amazing job singing with the Bowman Community Choir, but they traveled to Rhame to be part of their elementary Christmas concert last week and blew my socks off.
But it just wasn’t the Ovations Choir I was impressed with. I couldn’t help but smile throughout Rhame’s whole program. Who knew that there were only three sixth grade band members or six fifth grade band members? I leaned over to Brian Holder and asked how on earth Charm Martian finds music for three instruments, to which he said she rewrites a lot of it. (Brian has experience with small class sizes in the Harding County School District were he also teaches music.)
And sure enough, Charm said she rewrites the music and has to keep it within however many notes the kids have learned so far (just a handful or slightly more).
As I sat in the Rhame gym for the first time ever (the size reminds me of my hometown gym in Clifford), I was in awe because there’s no hiding or blending in for these kids. You hear exactly what they are doing and that takes a lot of confidence.
Then this week, we attended the Bowman Elementary Christmas Concert. It was the first time my fifth grader played publicly in band. Yes, he was nervous, but he did great! I told him he now has one concert under his belt and the next time will be easier. He looked down to his waist and said, “I don’t see anything under my belt” and laughed. Oh, my sweet boy.
The whole evening was another great night of music full of smiles, pretty girls, handsome boys, a few heels that were too high even for me, and good cheer. We definitely have a music program to be proud of.
