This was a super busy day to end a super busy week!  First things first – we got to meet Kieran and be overwhelmed by all of the cheeks. I don’t have too many pictures with Shannon using her camera, I just didn’t pull mine out enough. And Kayla was still coughing a bunch, so we kept her away from Kieran some.

The next big thing was Kayla’s Honors Band event today. Honors Band is an organized event sponsored by Music Education Services, the group that comes in and does the band program in Kayla’s school. All of the directors choose their best students to invite to this event. Kayla was one of 6 who attended today from her school. There were over 200 kids there from as far away as Rockford (3+ hour drive). The kids spend HOURS in sectional rehearsals and whole group rehearsals throughout the day, breaking only for lunch and a quick snack. They are working to perfect pieces that they have only ever practiced alone at home. At the end of the event, the kids perform the pieces in a concert. It is so cool to hear how great the kids sound performing pieces they had not ever played together until today. I am not posting all of the songs, just a few.

Here are some pictures of Kayla in morning group rehearsal (pink shirt), attacking her Jimmy John’s slim 6 at our picnic lunch in front of the hosting church, and in afternoon rehearsal/concert  (concert dress).

The first video is of all of the band teachers performing for the kids. They did a John Williams medley in honor of Star Wars Appreciation Day (May the 4th). I missed the very beginning, but here is the rest.

Kayla began her concert playing the national anthem. Remember, these are 6th-8th grade students…..

This next piece is called “After Burn”. Kayla hates this piece because her part is to play middle C 260 times. It’s a very boring repetitious part, but necessary to the overall song. It is supposed to be the musical story of the Air Force F-22 Raptors performing maneuvers.

This was Kayla’s last piece, “Picture at an Exhibition”. It’s a musical version of strolling through an art museum. Dad was able to come for the concert, and he knew this one right away because he played the same piece on the clarinet when he was Kayla’s age. Too weird!

Kayla is exhausted! She played her clarinet for hours today with kids just like her and guest conductors that treated them like serious musicians. She enjoyed the whole thing, and we are so glad she was healthy enough to go!

Next week: Music part 2 – Ashley edition!