AnneOnParenting

The New Graduate!

Frankie had her final band concert of her high school years last week.  It was cool that she and Lulu played together in symphonic band and for the all-district concert band last winter.  Both had solos in the first song and I could not be more proud of both of them.  Of course, they should be proud of themselves.  I learned this at a work-related seminar a few years back.  Parents tend to extend praise to their children causing the children to need this outward praise to feel good about their accomplishments.  By changing our words we can teach our children to feel fulfilled from within.   Instead of saying “I am proud of you”, why not say “You should be proud”.  I am not saying you should not express pride in your children, but teach them to find it themselves without external need.  Food for thought.

Yesterday Frankie’s band director called about a performance he would like her to attend.  It requires a few piccolo solos and is a Memorial Day-type of event.  It is not held on Memorial Day, but in June.  And, it pays $25.  Not a windfall, but not too shabby for doing something you love.  Frankie should be proud of herself!  

Boy, has it really been over a month since I posted here?  Amazing how time flies.  March was a busy month in our household.  Lulu turned 16 in March.  My little girl is growing up so fast.  She will be eligible for her driver’s license in June.  Then I will need to make a decision on which vehicle she will get to use.  Benny is officially a teenager.  He turned 13 in late March.  Three teenagers under one roof!  DH also celebrated a birthday in March.  And yes, we have three cakes between the 12th and the 21st every year.  All are ice cream and none last very long in our house.

Frankie has gotten accepted into every college she applied; she was worried she would not be accepted into any.  JMU is her first choice, but she did not get accepted into their music program.  Disappointing, yes, but there is always next year.  She did get accepted into Radford’s music program and their honor’s program.  She is leaning this way.  She auditions for Radford this coming Monday.  I know, how did she get into the music program without auditioning?  I asked the same thing.  They looked at her music experience.  Frankie has been in marching band 4 years, IDL 2 years, Jazz band 1 year, made the high school All-District band 1 year (7th chair concert), and takes private lessons - flute 2 years, piano 2 years.  

Next week Lulu and I will be going to Washington D.C. with the History Club.  This is exciting.  We will get to take a tour of the White House and one day will be spent at Six Flags.  Not sure which is more exciting.  We do love a good roller coaster!  Then there is Easter and I may do our famous egg hunt.  Our house sits on 3 acres and it makes for a fun hunt.   We shall see.  Money is tight and we like to put money in the eggs.  I may do it anyway.

Now I will leave you with the IDLers practicing on the bus without their instruments.  Enjoy!

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If you have never experienced IDL (Indoor Drumline) you should.  This is a unique musical feast to the ears.  All percussion, IDL uses all manner of drums, including a brake drum.  Yes, a brake drum from an automobile!  Additionally, you will experience keyboards, guitar, xylophones, bells, chimes, cymbals, and others I am surely forgetting.

Frankie is a member of IDL at her high school.  This is her second year.  Last year Frankie was the dancer in the show and I attended one competition and a special family of IDLers performance of their show.  This year Frankie plays the bells.  To me this looks like a small double xylophone.  As you know, if you are a follower of my blog, Frankie primarily plays flute and piccolo.  She does play piano and this is proving to be helpful in her learning to play bells for IDL.

Valentine’s Day is a day for love and what better way to celebrate than to watch the beating of many, drums!  I was in charge of the door.  This is very important to the flow of the performances.  Timing is critical.  We were, ahead of schedule?  Really, we were.  The first group was a middle school group.  They played for about 30 seconds, if that.  There was to be a five minute break before starting with the next division, but the next school was ready and the judges allowed them to start early.  From then on we were ahead of schedule by nine minutes, or the time the performers have to set up, play, and leave the floor.  This made for a very relaxing day.  Lulu was a band guide.  So this turned out to be a girl’s only day.

Our school came in six of seven.  The show is tricky and they are scheduling more practice time to be better prepared for their next competition.  They have competitions every Saturday until the end of March.  I plan to attend them all.  These can be great fun and I get to spend time with Frankie.   This is important since she plans to go away to school in the Fall, if finances allow.

See if your local high school, or college, has an IDL group.  If so, then support the school and attend a show.  And, for those still curious about IDL, check out this video: