Music Strikes a Chord

Today was band day for the jr. high. Since a jr. high girl lives in our house and plays the clarinet, you know where I spent a portion of my day.

Typically, it is something I don't look forward to.

Today I was pleasantly surprised at what I heard at their performance.

The music moved me. Nearly to tears.

Yes, I kid you not.

Their first number was a rendition of a childhood hymn ~ Jesus Loves Me.

I couldn't believe the reaction I had to their music. It was lovely.

I've been known to have damp eyes during our worship services while we are singing. I don't know what it is about the words of certain songs that chokes me up so. My girls don't understand it. Nor do I always. I do know it's about my relationship with Him. Something that I can't always put into words. A more accurate statement might be that my words don't begin to do justice.

As I was listening to today's music, it reminded me of a poem I read yesterday. I leave you with a portion of that poem. If you'd like to read the poem in it's entirety, go here.

Why is it that music

At its most beautiful

Opens a wound in us

An ache a desolation

Deep as a homesickness

For some far-off

And half-forgotten country

Surprises

Once-in-a-while I am surprised by my oldest daughter. Highlights from Wednesday --

She popped a new CD in the car for our listening pleasure; Adele19. Very artsy. A nice change of pace from the top 40 hits.

Admitting that she didn't really need anything but supplies for back-to-school.

A revision to that statement followed only moments later. "Ok, maybe a complete outfit for the first day." She is 15 you know.

Reading again. This girl used to read the back of the cereal box at breakfast. She took a book with her when we went grocery shopping. She read 5 books during the month of July, none of which had fewer than 400 pages.

Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do

Saturday was the annual junior high band contest. Blonde 3 plays the clarinet in the 6th grade band. She'd tell you she doesn't like it but that's just because she doesn't want to admit it. She also plays the piano and she'd tell you the same thing about that. However, she never has to be told to practice. There are many mornings that we are given a concert before we ever get out of the house for school. See, she likes it that much.

For the contest she played with the entire band and also did a solo. Yes, that's right. She got up her nerve and performed on her own. In front of a judge. Brave soul, that girl. (I'd post a photo of her performing her solo except that my camera battery went dead!).

I'm happy to report that she did very well. She received a I-Superior Rating for her solo and the 6th grade band also received the same score. Play it again B3.