Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish all the the friends of family of the DHS Bands a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving! It's been very busy down here in R-Hall, and I think we are all looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Two weeks ago we put on a fine fall concert, and our future band members from Shepard, Caruso, Holy Cross, and Bannockburn joined us for one number as a foretaste of what I hope will be four great years to come. We had two straight Saturdays at the IMEA festivals. The band/choir/orchestra fest was at Glenbrook South (my alma mater), and Emma Martin (bassoon), Will Barkalow (clarinet), and Logan Bloom (trombone) represented DHS quite well. The jazz fest was at Lake Zurich, and we had five band members involved: Logan Bloom (trombone), Carter Griffin (trombone), and Kenny Thompson (guitar) all played in the bands, and Nathan Fertig and Rahm Silverglade sang in the choir. All five students were featured soloists during the concert. Way to go!

This morning, being the last day before break, meant another traditional front hall performance for the jazz band. We played three world premieres: "Rush Hour" by Tom Bonadies, "An Idea" by Aaron Gundersheimer, and "Hindsight" by Kenny Thompson. It was great to play for people as they came in to school. This afternoon will be the Grandparents Day Concert, so the Warrior Marching Band will serenade the crowd with the fight song, "Warrior Spirit," and music from our 50s Sock Hop show.

We've also been busy with chamber music, including the Symphonic Band's first ever chance to split into small groups. We've already heard the saxophone section performing a movement from a concerto grosso by Corelli, a percussion ensemble, and a brass choir playing a piece by Michael Haydn. The Wind Ensemble is in the process of choosing their chamber repertoire, and the freshmen did a body percussion composition project to study how meter is used in music. In addition, SB and WE have been studying klezmer music as part of a year-long exploration of Jewish music and musicians.

Like I said, we've been busy...

So in closing, I leave you with a fine song of Thanksgiving. No, it's not the Dutch hymn "We Gather Together." It's Sly and the Family Stone singing "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)." Enjoy!

Dissertation Update

My supervisor sent me an email today with the second reader's comments on Chapters 1-4. I knew I was in trouble when I read the first line: "You've got lots of work to do." My second reader really went through my paper with a fine-toothed comb; most pages have multiple comments and corrections. Some are easy enough, like changes in wording, but others require me to go back to sources I haven't looked at since the summer of 2008 to get more information. Still others challenge my methods and conclusions. It's pretty daunting, but she is trying to make sure I plug up any holes in my study so that it can stand up to the grilling of the defense committee. I do appreciate how hard she is making me work--really, I do! (Does it sound like I'm trying to convince myself?)

And so, the saga continues!

Penny Wars!

Kudos to the DHS Concert Band for raising over $300 in the Freshman Advisory drive to restock the Deerfield Township Food Pantry! This annual challenge began by dividing the band into three teams, each led by a senior advisor. Then the students brought in all of their loose change to fill their team jugs and earn points. They were also able to sabotage the other teams by adding paper money to their opponents' jugs, which counted as negative points. In the end, Team Logan (the trumpets and low brass) emerged victorious over Team Tracey and Team Maura. The real winners, however, are the needy people in our community who will benefit from the food pantry. Way to go freshmen!

Alas...

Well, we didn't make it to the finals of the 87.7 Smooth Jazz Battle of the High School Jazz Bands. Considering ours was a very last minute decision and entry, I'm not surprised, but congratulations to the four fine bands who will get to battle it out for the championship on November 17: the Wheeling High School Jazz Band 1, the Oak Park and River Forest High School Jazz Ensemble, the Chicago Academy for the Arts Jazz Combo and the Warren Township High School Jazz Ensemble. Best of luck to them all!

In any event, we will be performing our entry, "Contemplation," at the fall band concert this coming Monday night at 7:00PM. Come out and hear it in its final form!