Confession time: My name is Laura and I love to sing. This will come as a huge surprise to many because it is a well known truth that I couldn't carry a tune if I had a whole bunch of buckets. And so you will never see me part of a choir unless absolutely forced to.
But I have always loved music ... all kinds! I am also a huge believer that music is important to well-being and learning. You can lecture on the same concept until you are blue in the face and a child might never "get it". But teach that principle by way of a catchy tune and your point gets across and is remembered.
Show tunes have always been a favorite genre of mine. This started in the fifth grade when my teacher, Mrs. Hawthorn, taught us the entire score to the musical Oklahoma. I can't pass a cornfield (which is often where I live this time of year) and not sing in my head the line from Oh, What A Beautiful Morning: "The corn is as high as an elephant's eye and it looks like it's climbing right up to the sky".
I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. I enjoy everything from Lynard Skynard to Barry Manilow. I like both the old and new Rod Stewart (Hot Legs and his take on the old standards). I love to listen to Frank Sinatra but you would just as easily find me singing along with Aerosmith.
I like big choirs ... nothing beats the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
The television phenomenon of "Glee" has made being a choir geek cool. I stumbled on another choir themed show that I also love. It's a quirky little program on BBC (hurrah for On Demend) that I found by accident. It's called "The Choir" and done in a documentary style. Choir director Gareth Malone goes into English schools and creates beautiful choirs from non-existent programs. The first season was about a mixed choir that he led to compete at the Choir Olympics (who knew) in China. Last season had him convincing young men at a boys school, known for its athletic programs, to join the choir program. Their performance of Stand By Me/Beautiful Girls was amazing.
Music ... it can make me smile, sing along, think, and sometimes cry. I found this great quote by the prolific Anonymous : "Music is what feelings sound like."
I hope your day is filled with music and if you happen to be sitting near me in church, please forgive my bad notes.
3 comments:
That is funny, I had no idea you liked to sing. I think I've got a pretty eclectic mix of music on my iPod and iPhone. I think being in band and watching musicals helped that. I appreciate so many forms and types of music. Sometimes there is nothing better then listening to some classical music in the car. You feel the stress kind of evaporate. Until the car behind you starts blaring rap with the bass up so much your own car is shaking.
"The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me." Thank goodness H.e didn't say the talented or there would be few of us. The combined choirs of BYU sang "Come thou font of every blessing" a few years ago (I think it might have been a Mack Wilberg arrangement when he still worked at BYU)absolutely gorgeous
Amen! I love to sing too but sound terrible. I love reading your little snips of wisdom...and I love you new layout on the blog too!
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