When a particular concert of yours is a HUGE hit...to the
point where they say it was the best one they've seen in
years...that you can NEVER live up to it?
It's so lame that I have these fears. I worry since I
totally played to the kids and audience's tastes this year,
that it will always be the benchmark.
Is this silly? It's so frustrating. The kids always want to
sing what's familiar...and the audience prefers that too.
What's the point in that? Isn't it our job to teach them
something new? Why should it be boring or less satisfying
if its not pop music?
I am proud of this concert, though. I really validated the
rock and roll theme...it all tied in with "Sir Duke"
(Stevie Wonder, from Share the Music Grade 4). My 4th
graders were obsessed with that song, so I thought,
hmmm...make the concept of that song the theme. He talks
about his influences, so I thought, let's talk about how
rock and roll came to be...starting with spirituals, blues,
jazz, etc...and then end with how rock & roll even changed
the Broadway sound. This was my program:
Sir Duke Oh Won't You Sit Down (with orff arrangement) Good
Morning Blues (orff arrangement with original lyrics by 5th
graders) Jazz Round Yakety Yak (with kazoos!) With a Little
Help From My Friends You Can't Stop the Beat (from
Hairspray)
The sad thing was, the first 4 songs were...eh. Probably
because they were two 4th grade songs, and two 5th. Once I
combined 4th and 5th from Yakety Yak on, the energy was out
of this world.
I just get nervous with expectations...I know, so silly. I
wish I could get over it. I just put so much pressure to
top myself...and I doubt it's possible. Unless I did an all
Beatles program or something ha ha ha!! Next year I'm
thinking Broadway, but I can't imagine which Broadway song
would go with the Orff instruments...I want the kids to be
able to accompany themselves on a number or two!
Any words from the wise? Thanks for listening! :)
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