This evening I sat in on the rehearsal for the Winchester Octets. The name is misleading - there are about 20 of them. They are the WHS a cappella group (unlike Lexington High School, which now has something like 9 a cappella groups, WHS has only one) and definitely the cool kids of the music department. They run their own rehearsals, but since they rehearse in the high school, a faculty member has to be present, and I was asked to be there tonight.
So I sat in the office and did work and listened to them rehearse "Circle of Life" from the Lion King in the next room, but at the end they asked me to listen to them sing through the song and make some comments, which I did. Afterwards, one of the members came up to me and thanked me for my input, said that it was really helpful to hear constructive criticism from someone who knew what they were doing and whose opinion he respected, and said that he hoped that I and perhaps the other choral teacher would consider giving some more helpful comments in the future.
Well. I spend all my days tearing my hair out trying to get these kids to listen to me. Let me tell you, nothing makes you feel as cool as having a high school kid tell you he respects your opinion.
So what you're saying is, kissing ass works? =P
ReplyDeleteTo Adrian:
ReplyDeleteYep. If my students were smarter, they would totally give me way more presents. Like a new car.
This is awesome. Go you!
ReplyDelete1) Neat... I gather high school kids are pretty hard to impress.
ReplyDelete2) Because I'm too lazy to look up your email... my singing group is going to do A Birthday in our concert this spring, and my director was interested in a short bio for you, and a short blurb with anything you'd like to say about the piece that isn't already in the octavo. These would go in the concert program, and probably on the website (flwcithaca.org).
Email me at this account (@gmail) -- I'm Katy M. if you hadn't already figured that out.