Sunday, 22 January 2006

Music conferences, snowstorms, and hockey games, OH MY!
Music geeks of Michigan, UNITE YOURSELVES! We're gonna have a convention, it's gonna be a real good time, and this year, it's in Grand Rapids! *FANFARE*
Thousands of music teachers, ministers, professors, students, and vendors related to music answered that call and converged on the DeVos Place for the largest gathering of musicians in the entire state. There for two days they engaged in a frenzy of exchanging music, business cards, rehearsal/teaching tips, nifty toys, free food samples and lots of free music.
This massive population included students from the Hope College chapter of MENC. We discovered the East GR High School Symphony Orchestra reproducing the sound of a helicopter, the MSU Wind Symphony, the high school State Honors Choirs, some of the coolest metronomes/tuners in the world (they look like remote detonators and they were WAY on sale), and free doughnuts & coffee! The Major General Music took advantage of the generous offer on the metronome, doughnuts, free cheesecake samples, and the nearby Starbucks. Friday evening included a reception only for Hope College faculty, students & alumni, where we enjoyed free food, drinks (ahem), and conversations including sticking one's butt inside a dryer-it's best to use the delicates setting, shortest time, with a hole in the door, and DON'T forget the dryer sheet to avoid static cling!
The orchestra concert lived up to the standards of the conference (which are quite high). The Korean War piece was especially imaginative. The MSU Wind Symphony was impressive (who clapped in the middle of a piece?!), and the Major General Music's comments to his colleagues ruffled a few feathers. Apparently the director of bands at Michigan State, Dr. John Whitwell, is a highly-respected conductor in the world of wind symphonic music. However, the constant standing ovations and all the accolades diluted the experience for the Major General Music, who is much less familiar with who's who in that area of music. Thus, he was met with an angry response from two of his colleagues when he voiced his slight displeasure in the focus on the director and how great he is, warranted or not. One of the Major General Music's other colleagues in the realm of vocal music, however, agreed with his statement/question, "Shouldn't this be about the students? Isn't that what music education is about?"
The Major General Music was also slightly annoyed with the keynote speaker, James Jordan. While Prof. Jordan is worthy of respect in the field of choral music, the Major General Music questioned the practicality of the overwhelming number of suggestions and attention to detail in applying the knowledge gleaned into the classroom. Plus, the man had a definite aura of arrogance so tragically common with musicians.
Following his return to Hope College with new music, ideas, and toys, the Major General Music put on a warm scarf, gloves, and a white printed towel and cheered on the Hope College hockey team with Ben, Autumn, Kyle, Goetz, & Mandy. Here are some pictures from the game.

I think Ben's outfit here is official hockey-watching garb. That's the same gray fleece and orange & blue shirt he wore when we got caught in the drenching thunderstorm last October. But he wasn't wearing the gloves.

Yes, that is a menacing look. Fear the Hope hockey team because they will destroy you!

The picture is fuzzy because I took it without the flash on. However, it adds a nice *whoosh* effect. Our hockey hero, Pete, is farthest on the left.

Currently Listening Chanticleer: A Portrait By Gregorian Chant, Tomas Luis de Victoria Shenandoah see related

Comments(3)

When do I get to go to a hockey game?
I think Ben looks like Ryan Stiles in that picture.
chickenlittle27

You may come whenever you like. I am not stopping you. I can get tickets to any of them.
I don't agree that Ben looks like Ryan Stiles.
Major_General_Music
You don't have to agree; but I think that he does, in that particular photo, share a striking resemblance.
chickenlittle27