Kole's 5th grade band concert...and me without the camera...

I didn't even bring my phone, what a loser! A woman there took a picture of him for me and says she will email it but it might not get done until January! Oh well, Kole played really well! He is one of 4 alto saxophones in the band. This year Mr. Calabrese has the largest beginning band he has ever had...70 students!!! That is quite a huge feat to get that many kids who have never played an instrument to play anything , much less to get them to do it together and on different instruments and to do it well! I was sooooo impressed ! My Gratitude today is that I am grateful for the band director and his patience to work with all of those kids and give them this opportunity. I am so grateful that even with the economic times my kids get this chance to play music. Music is so key to the way a child's brain develops and learns! If I could give anyone advice on what to give their kids when they are growing up it would be MUSIC! THROW out your PlayStation and x-box 360's and get them an instrument(that works well or they will give it up) and give them MUSIC! My children have benefited greatly from playing the piano and their band instruments. Hey, I have a 14 year old girl that only listens to classical and instrumental or inspirational music to prove it! I also have 4 kids that excel in math and reading...all benefits from MUSIC! If they don't play it they should listen to it ...all of the time! My vote is for IPODS and instruments...kill text messaging and video games.