Oh, Those Summer Nights

This isn't a very good picture at all.  I'm sitting in my car in the dark listening to Rachel's band rehearse, so that is my view.  My view may be a bit better, but this is the best the camera is going to capture.

I don't like being out so close to bedtime, but I love watching the kids rehearse.  They are such a fantastic group of young people!!  I'm a bit disappointed that Aaron and Hannah aren't in band because I think I will miss this when Rachel graduates.

Holiday Concert

Aaron had his first band concert in Virginia tonight.  He doesn't like band here as much as he did in Georgia.  His band director here is not very kind and the band directors in Georgia were just phenomenal.  He has continued in spite of her.

 

This is Aaron's cousin, Noelle, who plays in the same band.

 

They both did a fabulous job and we were thrilled to listen to them play!



Holiday Concert

Traditionally the sixth grade and eighth grade bands play for the Holiday Concert.  It is designed to allow parents to hear how their sixth grade student should improve in two years and to allow eighth grade parents to hear how much their students have improved.

This year Rachel is in eighth and Aaron is in sixth so we had a student in each band.  They were both fabulous.  The sixth grade band this year has worked very hard and is playing music ahead of where they should be.  Rachel and Aaron are both becoming quite good on their instruments.  Rachel plays the trumpet and Aaron plays the French Horn.

 

Aaron and Rachel were in a hurry to get to the warm-up room, but with a lot of arm twisting  little gentle persuasion, they gave me a second to snap a shot or two.  The sixth graders do not yet have uniforms.  They purchase them in seventh grade.  So, they were allowed to dress nicely and wear a Santa hat.  Rachel is wearing her uniform. 

 

 

Hey!  Who is that sitting in the first chair in the trumpet section?  None other than Rachel Ray.



Band Geeks

The band from Rachel's school went to Six Flags and I was able to chaperone.  It was nice to get to know some of Rachel's friends better.  The kids were allowed to split into groups of four.  Rachel has been friends with one of the four since we moved here, but the other two are new friendships she has made in middle school. 

It was also nice to hear how much the band director cares about his students.  Safety was truly his number one priority.  Next year when Rachel is in eighth grade the band makes a trip to Orlando and goes to Disney World.  I don't think PK or I will be able to make that trip and I was really concerned about letting her go.  I still have reservations, but seeing the band director in action away from the school has lessened my fears.

One of her friends won this squid hat.  It was all the rage.

I can't believe that is the only picture I took.  I was trying my best to be reserved and not embarrass the living daylights out of her which isn't hard to do to a middle schooler.

Root-a-Toot-Toot

Rachel had a band concert to close out the school year. She started playing the trumpet this year and is doing very well. I was really surprised how much the entire 6th grade band has progressed this year.

Rachel is second from the left in the white headband.