WHY STUDY MUSIC?

I. Music is a Science.
It is exact, specific, and demands exact acoustics. A Conductor's score is a chart or graph, which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody, and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time.
II. Music is Mathematical.
Rhythmically, it is based on divisions of time into precise fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.
III. Music is a Foreign Language.
Most of the terms are in Italian, German, or French. The notation is certainly not English but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. Music itself is the most complete and universal language.
IV. Music is History.
Music reflects the environment and time of its creation, including its national and racial sources.
V. Music is Physical Education.
It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lip cheek, and facial muscles, and extraordinary control of the back, stomach, and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.
VI. Music Develops Insight and Demands Research.
Organized, independent thought is required.
VII. Music is all of these things, but most of all, Music Is Art.
It allows a human being to take all these technical terms, facts, and techniques and use them to create emotion. That is one thing science cannot duplicate: feeling, emotion, call it what you will.

YOU SHOULD STUDY MUSIC...
Not so you can major in music,
Not so you can play or sing all your life,
Not so you can relax,
Not so you can have fun,

BUT . . .
So you will be human,
So you will recognize beauty,
So you will be sensitive,
So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world,
So you will have something to cling to,
So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good - in short, more life. For of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live!

THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD STUDY MUSIC!

TUESDAY

Our car wash went really well. From now on all car washes will be held 10:00-12:30. A 4 hour car wash is just TOOOOOO long.

We're meeting tomorrow in the THS Choir room at 10:00 to try on dresses and review music for next year. It's amazing to me just how many singers are available at the same time what with working and vacations. I'm looking forward to tomorrow...I just hope those dresses fit!

I got Marquise's phone number from who else but our "retired" Soprano Section Leader. The only problem is....it's a long distance number so if you HAPPEN to read this, Marquise, meet us tomorrow. Is there some other way to get ahold of you???

That's about it for today. Oh...this is REALLY random, but a couple of weeks ago my odometer read 33333. I just had to take a picture of it.

MORE SUMMER UPDATES...

MUSIC TEACHER OF THE YEAR!! Yes, I was dubbed "Music Teacher of the Year" for District 3 this past school year. I was voted for by my peers (44 other choir/band directors in District 3) so that makes it a very special honor to me. So guess what????...that makes all of my students "Music Students of the Year"!!! Congratulations, everyone!!

Bonnie, Stephanie, Nathan, McKinley and Mr. Coughlin (aka Uncle John??) are back on US Soil. Word has it they had a fantastic time and they took a whole lot of pictures. I'll try and download some here when I get them.

The Vocal Ensemble dresses are here. Ladies, you need to call me and set up a time to try on your dress. Oh...and does anyone know Marquise's phone number? Call me and let me know.

Later. --Mrs. H

SUMMER TIME!

Just a note to let everyone know I've been having a wonderful summer and hope you all are, too. The next Vocal Ensemble Car Wash is scheduled for Tuesday, July 24th. I'll contact the VE when the date gets closer. We made around $97.00 at the last Car Wash.

Stephanie Thurman, Bonnie Hastings, Nathan Casteel and McKinley Dickson are touring Europe as I write this. I believe they're in Switzerland on this date. They've already spent 3 days in Paris and are headed for Venice. What a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! I'll make them give us a slide show of some kind at the beginning of the next school year.

Everyone keep safe and have a productive summer. Keep singing!