2 year old dancing the jive

Why, you ask? Because who doesn't need a good laugh on a Wednesday?

Musical Theatre fix for your Friday!

I just ordered the Hal Leonard "Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology" for Mezzo Soprano/Belter Vol. 1, 3, and 5 (now I have all 5 volumes!), and I have discovered that Volume 3 is AMAZING. There are so many great little-known solos from far underrated shows... my new favourite is "Stars and the Moon" from Songs for a New World. I think I will probably sing this as my ballad solo for next year's Music Festival.

SO GOOD!

My golden retrievers were cute, but they weren't musicians!

I give them a 10 for pitch recognition, but their rhythm could use some work....

F Sharp

Alright you music people! Listen to this, have a good laugh, and try not to cry at the dissonance! Such a great find today - see you tomorrow!

I hope you all had a great weekend. My weekend was full of alphabet photography (stay tuned!), and a great experience of singing with a group of you lovely people at Sacred Heart for mass this morning. Thank you to those of you who were there to share the gift of music with everyone. Your service is very much appreciated!

Also, in mostly unrelated news (although still on the topic of music.... surprise, surprise!), check out this SUPER cool group that Brenna pointed out to me. Apparently when they got together they could only afford one guitar, and necessity is the mother of invention, after all!

525,600 minutes....

Dear Jazz Choir,

This song is fantastic. Please listen to it and fall in love with it, and its fantastic energy and interesting rhythms and harmonies. We are singing it at today's rehearsal, as my new set of music just came in!

With (seasons of) love,

Miss Campbell :o)

IP 10 blog video assignment

Hi IP 10 (those in the classroom today and those reading this post from a remote location!) :o)

So far your blog should be updated with one introductory post, an edited template with your choice of backgrounds, fonts, colours, etc. and at least one countdown ticker from www.mycountdown.org.

Your next blog assignment is to find a video on YouTube (it MUST be school appropriate - not of a bullying nature, no inappropriate language, suggestive actions, skimpy dress, etc.). Once you have found the video you wish to embed on your blog, click on "Share" underneath the video. Click on "Embed" and uncheck the box underneath that says "Show suggested videos when the video finishes." Once you have done that, copy the HTML code that pops up in the box (using Apple (Command) + C on your keyboard, if you remember your keyboard shortcuts unit from a couple years ago!). Once you have copied the HTML code, you can go back to your blog to insert it.

Your blog posting box has two tabs on the top right corner. One says "Edit Html" and the other one, which you default to when you create a new post, says "Compose." Click "Edit Html" and paste the code that you just copied from YouTube. Once you have copied the code, click back to the "Compose" tab and you should see your video, or at least the box that it will play in once it loads.

Write a post describing why you chose this particular video, or highlighting some interesting information about the content of the video. For example:

This video highlights the experience of Equinox at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. The Mayans who built the ancient city of Chichen Itza were brilliant architects, astronomers, and mathematicians. Those who have studied the great pyramid of Kukulcan ("El Castillo") have discovered many interesting formulas in the number of steps on all sides of the pyramid, the shapes of the steps, and most interestingly, the way the shadows fall on the Equinox. As the sun sets on the Equinox, shadows are cast on the steps of El Castillo, forming the image of the serpent Kukulcan.

I was able to see the pyramid of Kukulcan when I went to Mexico at Easter of 2011, and while of course I wasn't able to see the shadows cast on El Castillo, I found the experience absolutely fascinating. There was also a lot of neat shopping at Chichen Itza as well. As you walked down a long dusty path to the palapa that sold water (which we needed often!) there were many tables set up and Mexican people selling clothing, jewelry, carvings, and other items.

I am planning to go back to Mexico at Easter of 2013, and another visit to Chichen Itza is on my itinerary!

Christmas caption fail

So fantastic! Please let's do this sometime, choir and jazz choir ladies!

Saxophone fun for all!

This is what happens when somebody sends me a video link and I get distracted:

Exhibit A: Emma sends me a video of the contrabass saxophone:

Exhibit B: I respond with an "Oh yeah? Well take THIS!" video of a SUBcontrabass saxophone:

For variety, I find Exhibit C: The sopranino saxophone. I've never played one, but they're pretty cool. Every time I see a curved soprano or a sopranino I expect it to start blowing bubbles because it reminds me of a bath toy I had when I was a kid.

Then, the beauty of YouTube brings us Exhibit D: A "related video" on the sidebar that brought me to this festive video of a holiday nose flute performance:

(Anyone up for a nose flute quartet at our spring concert?)

Jazz for Cows

MY MIND HAS BEEN BLOWN!!!! This is the best video I have seen in AGES! If you can watch this without smiling, you need a hug. LOVE IT!!!!

Mono Chant/Morning Hymn (Rex Admirabilis)/Alleluia

Here is the nun's chorus from the opening of The Sound of Music. Yes, ladies, this will be you in only a few months! Check it out:

In no time you'll be singing Latin like legit Sisters! ;o)

If you read this post and watch the video, please leave me a comment below. Thanks for checking in!

Come on, it can't be that hard....

Somebody, please do this. I dare you. Don't forget to turn up your speakers when you watch the video! (PS - I LOVE "The Nightmare Before Christmas"!!!)

Calling all percussionists

This will be your next playing test:

Just kidding.

Needing a bit of a boost?

If you need some encouragement as we enter the crunch time of band/choir/orchestra concerts, school projects, deadlines, final exams, etc. just take this little boy's advice. Inspirational and adorable!

Calling all musicians

Hi girls! If any of you would like to join the Senior Choir in a mass choir for the 11:00am mass on Sunday, May 29th at Sacred Heart, please sign up on my door this week. All singers and instrumentalists are welcome.

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship for International Music Camp, please pick up an application form from me and have it back to me by this Friday. For more information on the camp, its programs, location, dates, etc. check out www.internationalmusiccamp.com.

Finally, if you would like to perform at the Good Sam's International RV event on Friday, June 10th at the Exhibition Centre, please sign up on my door. All acts are welcome - dancers, singers, instrumentalists, etc. Think of this as a Variety Night type event when deciding what you could perform.

For example, if you and a friend can do something this super cool (or even a fraction of its coolness), then you're in!:

Silent Monks "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah

As promised to the jazz choir girls, here they are! The silent monks "singing" Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. Hilarious!

Science 7 lava flowing video

This video shows the consistency of the lava that flows out of an erupting volcano. Note how it has a bit of thickness to it, as the mantle does not flow as quickly as the outer core (to answer a question asked in class today).

The..... clarrotnet?

Check out this cool video I found on YouTube. Perhaps a future band project? :o)

As promised...

... here is a video of Stefani Germanotta (aka Lady Gaga) before she was famous. We had a discussion today about her music today in Senior Band, and I said I would post a video on my blog if I could find the one I was looking for. So, here she is, apparently at 20 years old, and pre-Gaga stardom.

Enjoy!

An update on my (sister's) little beaners! And boys singing like cats!

I usually use this blog for homework related topics, but every once in a while it calls for an unrelated post. Today it is for an update on my favourite little beans!

Voila, here's Miss Avery! Around 8 pounds and 8 weeks old. What a little lady!

And her adorable twin sister, Miss Emily! Around the same weight, and only 25 minutes younger than her sister:

And for your random musical entertainment for the day, here is a duet entitled "Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti (2 Cats)" by Giacomi Puccini. It is ridiculous (and yet, sung SO well!). Enjoy!