High School Musical Redux
Okay, if you were around here this time last year, you probably heard all about how all of my girls are just like me…complete Broadway babies who love to perform.
Middle daughter’s play was this past weekend, and, of course, I have to let her shine in the spotlight again.
The girl can SING.
And what a very cute show! It was called Beehive and is all music from girl-groups and solists from the 60’s. From Leslie Gore (that’s who she’s playing) to the Supremes, the Chirelles, Patti Labelle & the Bluebells, Arethra Franklin, Cher, Tina Turner, etc. It was just such a fun time, I only wish there was more support for the arts in this area. The audiences were pretty good–probably the best I’ve seen in the shows that she’s done up here. But this was one show that I bet a lot of people who had no kids in that school would still have loved just because the music was so great, the costumes were so adorable, and it was so energetic. There were literally people dancing in the aisles–the cute little dancers went out into the audience and grabbed people to get up and join them in the Mashed Potato and the Twist. What a ball!
I find it really sad that, as I’ve watched my kids go through the public school system, the arts have gotten shoved further and further down the list of important things. I am an absolute believer that experiencing art through literature, music, dance, theater, is a mind broadening experience. It’s not a “useless” activity that takes up time that could be better spent learning one more algebraic equation. The arts sharpen the mind, enhance creativity, expand mental horizons, broaden world perspective, teach new ways of communication and encourage self-expression. To hear this week that once again my daughter’s school is taking a major hit (the cutting of the only high school music teacher to just half the year next year!) really breaks my heart.
I cannot help but hope that somebody will figure out a way to keep all kids advancing– which was the reasoning behind No Child Left Behind–that does NOT completely devalue and undermine every artistic element of public education.
Off my soapbox…
Anyway, here’s to you Beehive gang… Mrs. S., Mr. C., Scooter, Nora, Karen, Shayna, Sara, Jenna, Elaine, and everyone else. You were absolutely wonderful and I’ve loved getting to know all of you over the past two years. Thanks for a thoroughly entertaining weekend.
I agree, I think the arts are truly underappreciated and undervalued. It’s hard work to perform - learning lines, vocal exercises, learning and playing an instrument, etc, not to mention the courage it takes to go in front of an audience or show someone a piece of art you’ve created - but the joy and confidence a child gets from something so creative and full of expression is priceless.
Many kids gravitate towards music, plays, art, for a variety of reasons, and we’ve seen how including this forum in a child’s curriculum makes them well-rounded and more completely educated. It’s so sad these programs get cut so significantly out of schools.
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 29, 2008 @ 6:31 am
I was an arts kid, too…spent most of my time singing and dancing my way through high school and college…really thought that was going to be my calling, until I took my first creative writing class and realized that’s really what I loved. So I’m with you on the importance of arts in the schools!
I’m enrolling my daughter in an arts summer camp this year. It’s put on by a local private school and is supposed to be a lot of fun. She loves to sing, but isn’t a huge lover of the spotlight. She’s more of a math and science kid, but she enjoys the arts. In fact, this morning, I dropped her off at school for her first day on the morning show staff. She’s training to do camera. She’s going to be behind the scenes, but I can see her being one of those kids who designs the cool sets (she’s artsy that way) or rigs up some cool special effect.
Your baby is fabulous, Les! I’m so glad you shared the video with us! And who doesn’t love Leslie Gore?!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 29, 2008 @ 8:11 am
Your daughter was wonderful, Leslie! That girl can really belt out a song. You must be bursting with pride.
I agree it’s such a shame that so many arts programs at schools are being cancelled. I think it’s important for kids to have a more rounded education in participating in music or drama or dance at their school. At my daughter’s school they have some great arts programs. Lilly has done dance, guitar, sculpture, photography…
Hope everyone has a great day,
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 29, 2008 @ 8:46 am
Leslie you have every right to be the proud mama! Middle has a wonderful voice.
It drives me crazy that the schools are pushing arts out. I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler, I played in band and did every play all through middle school and high school. Some of my best memories from growing up are with the plays and band trips. My brother is a stage actor, so without the arts, he might never have found his calling. I know that all the kids need math, science, history, and enlish, but without the arts, where will we find the artist, writers, and actors of the future?
Comment by Liza — April 29, 2008 @ 8:53 am
That was awesome, Leslie! You should be proud. I don’t know what else to say regarding the arts. I remember growing up in a district similar to our current district, where the arts were encouraged (and appreciated). I am a big believer in experiencing a variety of things to really figure out what you are interested in (even if you aren’t good at it). Some districts are expecting kids to ‘declare a major’ in high school (yes, a public school!). What’s up with that?
Comment by katie — April 29, 2008 @ 9:22 am
I can’t sing a note or play a tune, however, I spent every year in HS working backstage on all the spring musical and fall play. I used to climb the rafters and afix the lights like a monkey. The friends I made there are the ones I still stay in touch with from school- not my fellow math and spanish classmates.
Why don’t they cut the coaches to half a year instead?? Oh, yeah, those few special kids- mostly guys- have to be able to look good in front of the scouts and maybe make millions for their mommy and daddy’s. I have never understood why sports always wins over arts when they make cuts. It sure isn’t because sooo many of our overweight kids are playing them.
bitter?
I will need to watch the clip on my laptop- the cat managed to unplug the speaker cord on this one and I haven’t been up to pulling it apart and fixing it yet.
Comment by ev — April 29, 2008 @ 9:22 am
Comment by limecello — April 29, 2008 @ 10:22 am
She’s amazing, Les! Maybe we’ll see her on Broadway one day!
I always enjoy going to the high school musicals here in our area. It blows me away just how talented these young kids are!
Comment by Janelle — April 29, 2008 @ 10:32 am
You have an extremely talented daughter Leslie. Big congrats to you all.
Comment by Kelly H — April 29, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
Wow, she can sing. Beautiful. When I was a kid, I had physical education every day, art class and music class. My 9 year old gets P.E. twice a week. I never had homework in grade school. In the upper levels, you would have a project.
Kids get homework in the 1st grade. They don’t get enough physical activity and the arts are non-existent. A significant portion of the school year is preparing for standardized test.
Once during my daughter Amber’s violin lesson, I commented that she probably use more concentration during her violin class than she did all day at school. The teacher laughed. But it was true. There are huge academic payoffs for children who have a music education.
Depriving the youngest children of physical education is really harmful. There is a big connection between motor skills and reading. Plus remember how teachers used games to teach social skills?
Comment by flip — April 29, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
flip, you are so right about homework! My daughter has two hours worth some nights, even though they’re only supposed to get 30 minutes. I don’t think elementary kids need any…that from a former high school teacher. Even I didn’t assign homework every single night.
Comment by Julie Leto — April 29, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
When I was in school I usually was in some kind of music class that involved singing, chorus or something! I did participate in a couple of school plays. In High School I was in girls chorus & was good enough to sing small solos at different times. Now I sound like a frog with a problem! When my voice was properly exercised in class everyday I sounded quite good!! My daughters were active in school plays. The oldest was the good witch, Glenda, when her school did the Wizard of Oz and younger was a mouse in Wind in the Willows. My oldest was also in band all through middle school & high school, she played flute. In fact that is how she & her now husband got acquainted they were both in band in high school. My oldest grandson plays guitar, has had a bit of piano & is interested in learning other instruments, he likes music. The other two grandchildren have taken some music lessons also, private though, not connected to school. My youngest grandson played Pinocchio in the play last year at his school, he was so good! You may recall me bragging about it! Now his sister is going to be in The Jungle Book at the same school. She is going to be part of Kaa. Sadly I am not going to get to go see her!
Kudos to your daughter Leslie. I’m sure you & Bruce were proud parents. Thanks for sharing the video with us. 
I hate to see the arts or sports either one get slashed at the schools, both are needed so these kids are getting exposure to more than readin, writin & rithmetic! Sports & the arts give them more of an incentive to do well with their studies. It seems though that those two are always the first programs to be threatend & they are so important. If the schools don’t have those some of these kids would never be exposed to finding out if they enjoy music, art, sports. None of us is one dimensional!!
Comment by Donna M — April 29, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
Julie and flip…I totally agree. My middle boy (in kindergarten) has homework every night (not a biggie, usually lasts about 15 or 20 minutes). I once got homework from my youngest’s preschool teacher (okay, he is 3). I was a little shocked at that one.
Last year, my oldest had three P.E.s (two with the typical class and one with the special ed class) and that really helped his weight issues (he’s stocky) AND he has music twice a week.
Janelle…glad to hear you are safe (and everyone else down there), hugs to all of the Virginia folks…
Comment by katie — April 29, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
All four of our children and the children of friends were in the middle and high school band
programs. We all were there right along with our children for concerts, football games
with the marching band, and trips to competitions. The “powers that be” don’t realize
that they will be depriving families of a most important opportunity for a bonding and
closeness that is most important in family life. My husband and I were members of the
band parents group for 17 years and I was a volunteer in the schools that our children
attended for 25 years. Did we do this to get to free football games and concerts? No
way! We did this in support of our children, our family, the other band students and
their families! We have not lost any of these programs in our district, but have heard
rumbles from other districts. Let’s pray someone will get through to these people and
return the arts to the schools that have lost them!!!
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — April 29, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Ev! A fellow TECHIE!!! Techies rule!
Set construction, stage crew, lighting, stage managing. That was my thing. Then they lured me out onto the stage. But I’ll always be a techie at heart.
By the way, the first time I ever saw Leslie she was on stage in a musical. And she was 16. Someday she’ll have to tell you about how we met three years later…yep…in a play. And people wonder why we’re such a theater family.
Comment by Bruce — April 29, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
Your daughter was very good.
After seeing my first play last weekend I want to see more.
Comment by BadBarb — April 29, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Wow that was great! You must be so proud! I know I would be. Congrats to middle daughter!
Comment by Michelle J. — April 29, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
You must be soooo proud of her!
Comment by Estella — April 29, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
Aww, thanks everybody for letting me be a proud mama. I truly am.
And lots of interesting opinions on the arts issue. It really does seem that everything is getting shoved aside so our kids can be better test takers.
How, though, does that prepare them for real life?!?
Comment by Leslie — April 29, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
Patricia–funny that you mention the marching band. That’s what got cut at the school! The music teacher went to half time because they got rid of his marching band classes and divided his remaining ones between the two semesters, 2 classes each (so he’d work half time and lose his benefits!) He’s a great teacher, everybody is sure he’ll now leave, it’s just such a shame.
Meanwhile, they offered to allow him to continue teaching marching band, after school hours, very a very modest amount.
Comment by Leslie — April 29, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
Leslie, that clip was fabulous. Your daughter really does have a strong voice. It was a pleasure to watch and listen.
Having a fear of rejection, since all of the choir groups at my school required an audition, I never participated in any of them. However, I always enjoyed going to the school plays. I agree with everyone here that something needs to be done with the public education system to prevent the total loss of arts and phys. ed. in the schools. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them, even though I spent my last two years in high school in strictly academic classes (being a huge nerd).
Either way, the fact that my niece and nephews who are in first and second grade have homework every night is just mind boggling to me. Teaching to the test is not what is supposed to happen, but it’s what is happening since test scores are now determining funding to some districts where I live. Test scores are also affecting teacher salaries, which is prevents teachers from doing anything other than teach to the test. *sigh*
Comment by Karin — April 30, 2008 @ 1:39 pm