Songs In The Key Of Regret posted 10/3/2009 1:43:54 AM | 1 kudo what's this?     report abuse tagged: choir, eagles, school

ABetterMan

(I don't know what this has to do with anything, but I said I was going to open my mind and write/post whatever came out. This is it.)

When I was in school, kids actually went to school. Now, attending school is a by-product of Teacher-in-service days; Science Camps; and choir tours.

I joined choir, not because I loved to sing, but because the choir room was next to the lunch room. And, choir was right before lunch. The bell would ring, and we'd be first in line for the 15 cent milkshakes! Then, came the news that we had to go on "Choir Tour". We journeyed by school bus to the southern part of the state, staying in some nasty hotel rooms. If I knew then what I know now... I would have teased the dog next door until he bit my leg off.

Today, choir tours involve international travel. England, France, Germany, anywhere where they have funny pants. Choirs are taken much more seriously today. They sing the same music, use the same risers, even use the same unisex gowns. Someone named "Mandy" wrote her name in felt marker on the inside of the one I had to wear.

After 2 years of singing in a choir, I had had enough. Singing in unison so we could sing in harmony seemed to defeat the whole purpose for me. I did find a certain joy in singing; just not singing like that. And, as my voice changed it took me decades to get to the point where I could control it again.

Nobody... NOBODY taught me more about singing harmony than the Eagles. A Southern California band that had members from Detroit; Dallas; Jacksonville; and somewhere in Nebraska. They MET in Southern California, so I guess they earned their moniker there.

I learned more listening to an Eagles album than in 2 years singing in a choir. How to find and sing a harmony line, how to match the phrasing and to meld my voice behind the lead vocal.

Back to my original thought; I'm not saying I don't think teachers deserve in-service days. They do. They deserve a whole helluva lot more. I also believe that the study of music would be more than helpful to a lot of kids. Especially in mathematics.

While parents bemoan the loss of athletic programs and art programs and music programs, maybe they should bemoan the loss of academic programs as well. Schools wouldn't run out of money due to having to close the school due to snow for a week, if the kids stayed in school long enough to get through the curriculum in the first place. Just my opinion.

I wish I'd have had the foresight to take more art and music classes. I took all the athletics I could handle. If I had taken more art classes, I might be able to make a stick drawing that actually looks like something now. If I had taken more music classes, without having to drag a tuba up and down the road, I might know the difference between a C flat and a B natural.

But I didn't, I don't, and it's not for me to say. So Miss Byrd, wherever you may be, your Playmate of the Month good looks got us to pay attention... but we were only there for the 15 cent milkshakes.

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