'Tis the Season...

...for school concerts.

We went to one last night. It was a band concert. Plant-crazy played the flute. A fine time was had by all. Imax may get to play clarinet with them next time, by special permission, as well as playing the recorder in a different class concert. But that will be in the spring.

Next week will be copper's concert. They'll be singing.

All of our friends are busy with the winter concert schedule, too. I include those who are performing in various ballets, ice-skating programs, etc., as well as those who are musicians.


There's something special about making music in a group. There's also something special about having an audience.

In our household, various family members have experience with the following instruments. Some of it is merely beginner/novice experience, self-teaching and noodling around. Some of us have had actual lessons and more serious experience on some of the instruments. Most of these are instruments we have around the house, available for impromptu music-making.

piano (and keyboard)
flute
clarinet
recorder
Irish tinwhistle (aka pennywhistle)
ukelele
baritone (tuba)
French horn
drums/percussion
autoharp
melodica
ocarina
harmonica

plus a few more.

We played a hammered dulcimer and a bowed psaltery at the most recent Renaissance Fair and liked them, too. Perhaps we'll add them to our household inventory.

We also have some interest in making our own instruments. It would be fun to play instruments we built ourselves. As usual with these kinds of things, the internet has much useful advice (no doubt along with plenty of useless advice). Our local library has some good references, too, especially through Inter-Library Loan.