You Can’t Hurry Love – tap duet 2010-11

I really enjoy watching my girls dance together. Last year was their second year doing a tap duet together for competition. As they moved up another tap level, we chose to work with the new tap teacher, Nicole Ridenour, this year. They chose the song “Can’t Hurry Love” by The Dixie Chicks from the movie “Runaway Bride.” It was traditional enough for Beth, with just enough country twang in it to satisfy Carissa.

You can't take video yourself at these competitions, which forces you to buy their copy. So, to make this I played the DVD on my TV and recorded it with my video camera. I'm learning that the video camera doesn't like low ambience lighting with bright stage lights- it just doesn't compensate very well and the people tend to be a bit blown out. oh well. Also, the tap mikes at the competition weren't working very well that day so you can hardly hear the taps on the video- boo! especially since I only bought tap routines for the 3 girls that day :P It will give you the idea of it though. Beth and Carissa earned an Elite Gold medal at Legacy this year- good job girls! Carissa had sprained her left ankle pretty severely shortly after DEA in March, and we weren’t sure it was going to be healed in time for her to dance well at this competition at the end of April. It was still a bit sore, but she pushed through it and did well.

They didn’t have their own photographer at Legacy this year, which was a bummer since I was hoping to buy their photos, as I didn’t think the photographer at DEA got very good ones and didn’t buy them. My camera had started acting funny with the flash going off constantly which caused shutter delays and other weird things and I didn’t know what was going on. I kept taking pictures though hoping to get at least a few good ones in the smaller school auditorium this time, and luckily did get a few.

 
journaling: Beth and Carissa did their second tap duet with Nicole Ridenour as the choreographer since they moved up another level in tap technique. It was a more traditional style of tap dance this year to “Can’t Hurry Love” by the Dixie Chicks.They danced well at DEA but we were disappointed with the silver medal they were awarded. Carissa twisted her ankle the week after DEA, and even dancing at the next competition wasn’t certain. She was doing better though by the end of April and they were thrilled with earning an Elite Gold medal at this second competition.
credits: Studio Mix 7- Charleston Avenue by Tangie Baxter, Christina Renee, Berna Datema and Rebecca McMeen; B-sides: Swanky Extras, Almost Solids, Splatter Graffiti, Dolled Up Alphas; Layered templates by Dutchie (retired)
font: TXT Monique, TXT Romanesque

Brenna aka Dot, the Ladybug

Last spring after the first grade did their musical, Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, Brenna told me that she wanted to have a part next year and not just be in the choir. She didn’t hesitate this year to tell Ms. Champlin when the time came and she was assigned the part of Dot the Ladybug in this year’s musical, Bugz. Not only did she get to sing a solo, but she got to dance too- her favorite 2 things in the world.

and here are a few photos of that extra special ‘Lady’ too.

 

I’m slowly figuring out how to edit and share the videos I take with the new digital video camera. The software is fairly easy to use, but it seems to be proprietary and not compatible with the videos I have taken with my iPod. I suppose I’ll figure out if that is truly case one of these days- when I have a bit more time to read the manual (yeah, right! LOL).

More January School Happenings- Honor Choir and a Penguin Project

I showed you Bryce performing in the District Honor Band a week ago, and now I have some things to show off for Beth & Carissa and Brenna.

Beth and Carissa have been participating in Honor Choir before school since nearly the beginning of the year. Twice a week they have rehearsals starting at 7:15A. Most of the kids in the Honor Choir are also in the regular choir, but there are a few who aren’t for various reasons. Beth & Carissa aren’t able to take the regular choir class during the school day since they are taking band this year as their art elective. It’s been a good opportunity for them to learn more about music in general, singing as part of a choir, and they have begun learning to sing parts. Some of the kids were selected to learn the Star Spangled Banner as part of a smaller group, and they have had a few opportunities to sing the song as the opening to basketball games at UCCS. We missed the first time (not sure why), but another chance came up Saturday evening Jan 23. It was a small group that showed up- only 7 girls- but they all knew their parts and sang very well together. Beth and Carissa were the two girls singing the second soprano part. They did a great job. The first video is them actually singing in the gym. They weren’t miked, so be warned that you will need to turn your volume up once they start singing (and be prepared to quickly turn it down at the end of the song when the crowd starts clapping and cheering LOL). Beth is right behind Ms. Depew in my line of sight unfortunately. I’m also including a recording of them going through the song during their warmup beforehand. You can see both of our girls in this video and since it was a much smaller area the sound is a bit better.

direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEjQ0ltIrwQ

direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj37ubiPdTI

Brenna has been learning about the arctic and the animals that live there in their science unit. She was assigned a project on penguins; she had to pick a penguin- she chose the macaroni penguin- write a small report about it and then make a diorama. The macaroni penguin is the one with the bright yellow feathers on their heads, which is where they get their name from as they resemble the large feathers that young men in the 18th century wore on their hats- they were known as ‘macaronis.’ Most people are familiar with the song Yankee Doodle Dandy: Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony, stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni….. I know you were singing along with me! We made penguins out of Crayola Model Magic dough and then used bits of yellow pipe cleaners for the yellow feathers.

 
journaling: January’s big project in first grade was to pick a penguin to research and then build a diorama about it. Brenna chose the Macaroni penguin. The macaroni penguins are the largest of the plumed penguins. The bright yellow feathers on their heads are where they get their name from as they resemble the large feathers that young men in the 18th century wore on their hats- they were known as ‘macaronis.’ The live in the Antarctic, they eat krill, fish and squid. They need to stay away from seals, sea lions, Orca whales and shore birds such as gulls.
credits: Chilly Charm by FruitLoop Sally at catscrap; Scruffy Stitches by Amy Hutchinson at After5Designs; Grungy Month Brushes by Michelle Coleman at LittleDreamerDesigns; Date Stamps by Amber Clegg at Scrapartist; Cookies 4 Kids template by Sue Setiadji at SweetShoppeDesigns;
fonts: Tom's New Roman

District 49 Middle School Honor Concert, with videos!

Bryce was invited to participate in our district’s honor band this year. Their concert was Saturday evening. After snapping a couple of pictures when the band started playing the first song I remembered that I had thrown my new iPod Nano in my bag of sewing stuff I was working on; Bryce had to be there an hour early, and with the concert all the way out in Falcon the rest of the family got to be there early too so I figured it would be good to have to entertain someone while we waited ;) One of the things that I thought would be cool when I was picking out my Christmas present (yes, I bought my own present in 2009! LOL) was that it came with the option of a built-in video camera. So, I dug it out of my bag and started recording so that I could share the band pieces with distant family members who don’t get to attend these sorts of things. I was very impressed with the kids’ playing- they were pretty darn good for 2nd and 3rd year band students! We talked with Mr. Lawrence after the concert for a few minutes and he said they did very well- the best he had heard from our honor bands in several years.

I’ll start with a picture or two, and then I’ll put in the videos I made. Please pardon any shaking, tilting and such- the nano is tiny and I was hand-holding it for about 15 minutes (thank goodness the chairs had arms! LOL). I have to say that I’m quite impressed with the audio on the recordings for such a tiny little microphone.  The director of the honor band this year was Linda Shea.

The band coming on stage; Bryce is in the middle looking towards the left. He plays the Cornet (or trumpet, as he has one of each LOL). The kids standing in this picture below are the ones from Horizon. I pointed Bryce out way in the back with the red arrow for you.

In case anyone has problems with the embedded videos, here are the direct links:
Dorian Rhapsody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpjWdyj4MiA (I only recorded the second half of the song)
Bell Tower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF2aJF5bOUQ
Medieval Legend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUYgpii8MTo
Fire Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GcnNx_E04w

and just to be fair, I took a couple of pictures of the honor choir too even though we didn’t have anyone from our family in it (6th graders weren’t eligible). Our choir teacher, Ms. Depew is doing the introductions over there on the far left in this photo. Beth and Carissa have really enjoyed going to the choir practices with her, even if it does mean having to go to school an hour early two days a week.

Let me know how you like the videos, and enjoy the music!