This Running Blog Is Interupted By A Middle School Concert

I'm trying to fend off a migraine. It started last night..maybe it was the middle school concert that pushed me over the edge ;-)

I just love those concerts..not because the music is outstanding, but because I like to people watch. And, let me tell you..there's a LOT going on both on stage and in the audience.

First of all, there were NO seats. Oh goody. There we were in the back standing with the other late arrivers (aka chorus parents). Our son is in the chorus and since the chorus goes last, we don't have to arrive at school until 6:45..that's why there are no seats. On a side note, I don't even know why my son is still in chorus. He always hates going to the concerts and tries to get out of going every. single. time. I think it's because he has been in chorus since elementary school and doesn't want to hurt the teacher's feelings by quitting so he just continues. But who really knows..he's in middle school. He doesn't talk.

The bright side to not having seats is we knew how it would play out..the orchestra plays first and those who have kids that are only in orchestra would get up and leave when their kids were finished. Let's face it, people are there to see their own kids. They really don't care about everyone else's kids. That used to annoy me, but last night it didn't. I knew once the orchestra parents left that would free up some seats and we could finally unprop ourselves off the wall and have a seat. Thank you orchestra parents.

Don't hate me for saying this, but the orchestra is usually the worst part of the concert..I'm assuming because the instruments are the hardest to play?? I have to say though, these kids really improved this year..it was actually enjoyable to listen to. (Other than the music teacher giving a too long history on each piece played).

Disbursed throughout the audience are the camera people (and normally I am one of them but I've learned that it's a really hard place to get decent pictures so I've given up). We have the regular people with their disposable cameras that they bought on their way to the school..those are usually the grandparents..very cute. Then, we have the next step up which are the wanna-be professional photographers with their big zoom lenses and flashes..my daughter noticed one guy in front of us zooming in on a girl's chest! Classy, real classy. Plus, it's MIDDLE SCHOOL! Hello. That is someone's daughter or granddaughter..could you be more inappropriate?

Then there are the "videographers." They don't bother me because they just sit there quietly and do their thing. I just want to know do they ever really plan on watching these videos? I wonder if someday I'll regret not documenting my childrens' every concert, soccer game, etc. I hope not. I think even if I DID record the stuff and DID want to sit down and watch them, I probably wouldn't even be able to find the things. Maybe it's just me..(P.S. I do have videos from when our kids were babies/toddlers, etc..so I'm not totally heartless.)

There are always the crying babies, the people getting up and roaming up and down the aisle 800 times during the concert (where do they keep going?), people who yell random "shout outs" to the kids on stage (what??), and don't forget the loud talkers.

And that is just the audience. The kids on stage have their own set of antics..what in the world is going on with the percussion section anyway? They're always crammed in the back and there seems to be a LOT of commotion going on..I love them.

I already mentioned the music teachers giving great big long explanations about every piece they play..sometimes it's just a tad too much. Just a tad. I have to remind myself that they really love what they do (they must) & just want to share it with the rest of us. I think there's definitely a special place in heaven for music teachers :)

Finally...after the orchestra, band, jazz band, special chorus and other special numbers, we get to see the chorus..by then, many in the audience have left and are already at the local ice cream store eating sundaes.

For this concert, they gave the kids those leather folders to hold their lyrics..I'm not sure why. The kids hardly even glanced at them, but okay. Most of them didn't know how to hold them or weren't sure what they were supposed to do with them which also provided some funny moments. Some of the kids weren't even singing which made them even more fun to watch. One girl who was supposed to be singing was laughing hysterically. I wish I knew at what. Others were fidgeting with their ties, their hair, their gum, you name it.

It was a long concert..90 fun-filled minutes. As always, the kids did not disappoint. I always love going and seeing that particular slice of life. I know someday I will miss this and I do remind myself of that while we're standing in the back of the hot auditorium. These are the good times :)

Of course, we went out for ice cream afterward. But, lucky for us the crowds were gone :)