DERBY DAY & RANDOM THOUGHTS 2

I just read an interesting question on a friend's music blog:  What key is today in?  I had to think about that.  Today is overcast and yet sunny and warm.  There is a definite chance for some rain, but it should be a beautiful day for Derby.  (In Kentucky, Derby Day is a holiday.)  So I decided that today is a C minor with a modulation to A Major kind of day!  :-)   The C minor is for the clouds (but it isn't as depressing as other minors....)  The A Major is a shout out to the sun and the flowers near my front door.  I have more pics....  :-)  (The Baroque musicians regarded certain keys as standing for definite emotions or ideas:  G minor for tragic consummation, F# minor for transcendent suffering, B minor for human pain, E minor for crucifixion, D Major for worldly power and glory, and G Major for blessedness.)

I'm making rainbow wands for Primary music.  The kids can wave them as we sing "I Like to Look for Rainbows."  I made them using rainbow yarn and old recorder cleaning sticks I had held onto from my teaching days....  I think they are fun!

We went to the Fielding's annual Derby Party.  We had a blast!  They really threw a great celebration!  We swam, barbecued and visited with friends!

Scott, Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy

Jan, Me and Amy - AWESOME friends!

Apple Pie and Key Lime Pie

Marmalade and Kotten Kandy

1 -2 -3 JUMP!  The men create waves!  The bishop is the second from the left... Scott is the third!

I'll Have Another (yes, that is the name of the horse) won.  It was really, really close.  Bodemeister was ahead the entire race until the very end.  It was truly an exciting 2 minutes.  (For those of you who don't keep up with the Kentucky Derby - all the horses have very unusual names.  In fact, you can't race unless your horse's name is completely original.  There is a database of all the names used in the race for the past 138 years to make sure no name is repeated.)

#6 was the Bodemeister

Isn't it lovely?  I want to go visit Church Hill Downs....

And here is the winner!  I'll Have Another, #19

BROADWAY RECITAL

Last week I had my music studio's spring recital.  The theme was "Broadway, Here We Come!"  If you know me at all... you know I am crazy enamored with anything having to do with musicals!  So I gave each of my student Broadway tunes to learn and perform!  (I searched and searched for Broadway tunes for my beginners but I ended up having to create my own arrangements for primary levels!)  My students performed songs from Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver, Annie, and Wicked (just to name a few of the shows).  It was a fun evening and they all did a beautiful job!  I love these kids!  And I enjoy teaching music!  My student count is now up to twenty!  I'm busy but I love sharing my joy of music with these great pupils.

Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy also performed.  Key Lime Pie played the piano and her violin.  It was also wonderful to watch her help her three violin students perform.  I think she found such joy in watching and helping them to learn, just like I do with my pianists and vocalists.  Kotten Kandy sang and played the piano.  Her voice and performance ability is really incredible.   She and Applesauce sang a duet, "For Good" from Wicked, at the end of the concert.  It was so beautiful that I cried.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I have a weird confession to make:  I blog incessantly in my head.  Sometimes I wish my brain were plugged in to a word processor so I could keep track of all the posts and articles that I write in my head.  (Of course, most of my head compositions are spectacular and masterpieces.... and of course, they are "written" while sleep deprived and TRYING to drift off to sleep....)

Our baby birds are growing daily.  It has been fun to watch these miniature robins grow.  Our dog loves barking at them. We love listening to them chirp.  They have feathers now and sleep often.

These unusual flowers are blooming outside my front door.  They are so beautiful and almost look fake.  I LOVE them!

I love The Piano Guys!  If you get a chance check them out on You Tube.  I even have a Piano Guys radio station on Pandora Radio.  The Piano Guys help soothe crying babies and even keep my big girls entertained!  They really do a lot of good with their talents!  Here is their newest piece:
 

HOME SCHOOL CONFERENCE

I'm sorry that I have been missing in action for the past two weeks.  I have been anxiously engaged in good causes but my blogging has suffered.

I was blessed to be able to attend a home school conference last weekend in Cincinnati.  It was amazing!  I had fun with my roommates; Michelle, Lori and Tina.  And I learned so much from all the classes I was able to attend.

Amanda Bennett was one of my favorite presenters.  She has been married for over 32 years to the same guy and has 18 years of homeschooling experience.  She is the author of more than 90 books and teaches a lot about unit studies.  (Which is a method I love using with my daughters.)  She is very down to earth, and uses both humor and candor to share her messages of encouragement as well as practical help for homeschooling parents.  I loved her classes.

Andrew Pudewa was another of my favorite speakers.  Andrew developed the Institute for Excellence in Writing.  He addresses issues relating to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight and practical experience.  (He also is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan [Suzuki Method].  He actually studied under Mr. Suzuki, himself.)

There was also TONS of shopping for curriculum and school "goodies".  I had to show a lot of self-restraint not to spend millions of dollars.  :-)  I think I did good.  I spent under $50.

It was a fun trip.  And an educational one.  I'll share my notes later....

PHYSICS PHRIDAY AT THE SCIENCE CLUB

Learning about physics was TONS of fun! We created pin-wheels and marshmallow catapults! :-)

BABY BIRDS

About three weeks ago we discovered this in our gas grill:

The birds created a nest....

And laid 4 eggs....

Today we saw this:

Heavenly Father's creations are truly magnificent!

ART IS FUN!

Wow! Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy are extremely talented. I already knew that... but today I have proof. First they created an incredible landscape with our friend, Stacey LaRue, out of pastels. Aren't they spectacular?

Then we created miniature corn-hole games with Applesauce. It was a fun day of learning!