In Concert

     Last night I attended the Ames Middle School band concert.  This was a first for me since grandson Nate added band to his extra-curricular list. He plays cello in the orchestra.
     I just realized what a broad spectrum there is between percussion and cello, but isn't that what's so wonderful about music? Each part can stand alone or in concert. (If you've ever wondered what the word concert means, now you know ... playing together in harmony. Oh, that we could live in concert.)
     I have been to tons of school concerts over the years, and I do believe this is the best band of sixth-graders I've ever heard. Their teacher/director is a young man, Peter Thompson, who gets a 10 from me based solely on the fact that he can keep 125 middle school kids under control long enough to teach them anything.
     I'm so glad Tim and Beth decided on the move to Ames. I've heard the Ames school district is one of the best in the nation. I don't know if it's true, but I've seen enough proof to believe it as truth.

     One of the pieces the band played, "Junk Funk", was written by Kevin Mixon to show one can make music even without the standard instruments. So, using buckets, 30-gallon drums, etc, the percussion section had permission to shine. And did they shine!
     The seventh-grade and eighth-grade bands performed well too. The director of the seventh-grade band, Deb Fritcher, is a tiny bird of a person, She allowed a student teacher, Brandon Weeks, to conduct one piece.
     The eighth-grade band under the direction of Ron Ferneau had as their finale "A Disney Celebration" As good as it was, it was the visual effects that was the showstopper. Mr Ferneau said this was his first ... and last ... LED project.
     Last week I went to Hannah's Drama Club performance of "Chemical Bonding." Monday night was Hannah's choral concert. This one of Nate's last night. Coming up: tomorrow night, Hannah's orchestra; Monday night, Hannah's band; Tuesday night, Nate's orchestra. This old biddy is
tired, but I will do whatever it takes to share these moments with them.

https://sites.google.com/a/ames.k12.ia.us/ams-bands/home/announcments/springconcertvideo


    

Peter Thompson 6th Grade Concert Band 515.268.2400 Ext 5078 Email - peter.thompson	Deb Fritcher 7th Grade Concert & Jazz Bands 515.268.2400 Ext. 5061 Email - deb.fritcher	Ron Ferneau 8th Grade Concert & Jazz Bands 515.268.2400 Ext. 5060 Email - ronald.ferneau

Nate is wearing a blue striped shirt and tan slacks.