Ivi's band instructor and all-around good guy makes the front page today:

For this new school term -- along with calculus, chemistry, AP literature, and even more Spanish -- Nik is the teaching assistant for the C++ programming class.  Today he reported that the instructor was absent, filled in by a substitute who knew nothing of the subject, so he had to carry the day himself -- and seemed to love it.

(As most of you undoubtedly know, C++ is the modern object-oriented version of the C programming language and is the mainstay of languages behind many of today's software applications and operating systems, most notably UNIX.  C was derived from the B language that was originally developed to make UNIX, itself invented in 1969,  portable (readily runnable on a variety of hardeware) in the early 70s.  All this inspired the LINUX operating system, of which I am a strong proponent, btw, and run on three machines here at home.  The history of computing is SO fascinating ...)

The big news for Ivi is that she is joining both Jazz Band (the Evil Saxophone) and the regional Youth Orchestra (clarinet)  And planning and preparations for her European summer Music Ambassadors of Oregon tour are moving apace.  Other classes this term are non-fiction writing, earth dynamics, health & fitness and advanced algebra. As soon as I can interrupt her busy schedule, I will try to get a first-hand report on all of her activities.

Suddenly, dozens and dozens of these guys appeared to feast on fallen apples this morning.

Last night's LHS Winter Concert took an unexpected turn (to this writer) when a half dozen or so of the band members left their seats and came to the foreground to sing and dance.  In this group was our favorite clarinetist, Ivi!

Watch this spot for video clips, but in the meantime ...

Friday, January 23:
 9:00 am:        Load buses
 9:20 pm:        Depart LHS for University of Idaho, Moscow
 2:30 pm:        University of Idaho
 3:30 pm:        Jazz Choir I rehearsal – RECOMMENDED!
 4:30 pm:        Workshop with UI faculty
 6:00 pm:        Check in to University Inn, eat, swim, visit
10:00 pm:        Everyone in their own rooms for the night
11:00 pm:        Lights out!  (This means U)

Saturday, January 24:
 7:00 am:        $7 continental breakfast served
 8:45 am:        Load buses (Take EVERYTHING)
 8:55 am:        Depart for Auditorium (EAT FIRST, PLEASE)
 9:00 am:        Arrive Auditorium, store instruments
 9:20 am:        First music of the day
11:00 am:        Master Classes (required)
12:00 pm:        Lunch in Idaho Commons
 1:00 pm:        U of I Ensemble
 2:15 pm:        Warm-up
 2:50 pm:        LHS Wind Ensemble Performance
 4:00 pm:        UofI Wind Ensemble -REQUIRED
 5:00 pm:        Depart U of I for dinner
 6:00 pm:        Depart Moscow for LHS
11:00 pm:        Arrive LHS


After we perform and you change - BE AN AUDIENCE!  The purpose of this event is to share music with a large, informed and attentive audience.  Before and after we perform, - that's US - TAKE NOTES in preparation for the written assignment Lost/forgotten/illegible notes do not an excuse make...


You will need:
1.    Concert "Stuff" (clothes, instrument, music, attitude, sleep)White shirt/blouse, Black pants/long skirt, Black socks!!
2.    Money for dinner Friday, all food Saturday
3.    To know your music
4.    Good sense - Good behavior
5.    The Assignment

Please remember:
1.    We are here TO PERFORM AND TO LISTEN.
2.    Individuals who cannot follow our rules of travel (in rooms on time, for the night, courtesy to chaperons and other bands and everyone) WILL NOT PERFORM WITH US.
3.    Be a quality audience for the musicians who have worked at least as hard as you.  
4.    Make it a personal goal to learn some things through listening,watching and writing!!!



1.    One paragraph about our performance (musical specifics) from your perspective.
2.    Review THREE of the other high school bands performing this day.  Review EACH song which they perform.  The expectation is for musical SPECIFICS regarding what you see, hear, AND how you feel about it.  Examples are:

    NOT specific:    "balance was good"
    SPECIFIC:    "Good balance between upper reeds and horns in slow passages"
   VERY SPECIFIC:    "Good balance between upper reeds and horns in slow passages.  This was especially difficult because there were 20 flutes, 15 clarinets, and only 3 horns"

WRITING HINTS:

1.    Stay in the same tense (past, present) throughout each paragraph, and generally throughout your work.
2.    Use a spellcheck or dictionary.
3.    "too" is an adverb, used to compare things (too many, too loud, me too)
    "to"  is a preposition, generally directional (to the dance, to eat dinner,)
4.    Avoid starting sentences with conjunctions, which are used to join thoughts,  not to begin them.  
    Desirable:    It was too loud, but I enjoyed this very much.
    Less Desirable:  It was too loud.  But I enjoyed this very much.  
5.    NO SLANG - this is an exercise in formal writing.
6.    NO CONTRACTIONS - this is an exercise in formal writing.
7.    Adjectives turned adverbs take "ly" loud - loudly;  bad - badly
8.    Use good parallel construction.  (a la freshman English class)
9.    Know the proper uses and spellings for the following terms:
    cymbal  symbol  rhythm  basses  bases
10.    BUILD COMPLETE SENTENCES - A complete sentence must have a subject, a verb, and usually an object of the verb.
11.   Please, DO NOT use the word “overall”...
12.    Italicize musical titles
13.    Avoid using passive tense  (“this piece was played…”)
14.    Use discernable paragraph structure
15.    Know when “but” and “and” are appropriate (contrast vs agreement)
16.    Avoid semicolons, colons and parentheses – they are unnecessary if you organize your thoughts well.
17.    Avoid run-on sentences that need a conjunction

RECOMMENDATIONS:  WHEN YOU ARRIVE, PICK UP A PROGRAM OR TWO!!  Write your first draft as soon as possible after the trip while things are fresh in your mind.


“THE PROCESS”

Step 1: Write a first draft, proofread and revise.
        CLEARLY LABEL THIS “DRAFT #1”

Step 2:    Have a friend, teacher, parent read and edit.  (peer editing).  MAKE SURE TO GIVE THEM A COPY OF THE WRITING HINTS!
        Identify your editors for me!
        CLEARLY LABEL THIS “DRAFT #2”
    This is due no later than Monday, February 2nd!
    At this time you must show me:  
        - Your first draft (#1) with your editing  
        - Your second draft (#2) with peer editing

(If writing is not your strong suit, a second peer editing may be a wise decision – Label Draft #3)

Step 3: Make your revisions based upon peer editing, then have a trusted adult edit this. CLEARLY LABEL THIS “DRAFT #3” (OR #4 or #5 OR #6 OR).

Step 4:    Make your revisions based upon this trusted adult editing and hand in your most polished effort.  

    This final version is due no later than Wednesday, February 9.

READ THIS:

o Writing which disregards the above “Writing Hints” will be dealt with harshly.
o Late work will NOT BE ACCEPTED.
o Work without ALL accompanying drafts WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Reviews will be typed, in essay-paragraph form with correct grammar and spelling.  (Neatness counts)  

Invented by a student in a potting shed:



Read the complete story here.

By the way, 6C is roughly 42F.

And no sooner than I hear from Gabrielle (see the immediately preceding post), the next email message tonight is from her father, Dennis.  Quoting in part from his response to my birthday greeting to him ...

" ... In any case, I've tried my best to avoid any dwelling on matters of age and mortality, privately and especially publicly, except in a jocular, self-deprecating way, which may be totally transparent to anyone with a smattering of knowledge of psychology.  Mortality, however, raised its head in an abrupt way on a just-completed vacation on an island off the coast of Georgia.  Walking one day on a path through the swamp, I blundered upon an alligator of 12 feet or so lying just a few feet from the path.  I had my camera along, and just enough presence of mind to get a couple of shots before opting for an orderly but urgent retreat."

Niece Gabrielle sends along this link to a rather amazing video tonight:

http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=10248:

As you might guess, preparing for college is much on our minds these days in this household.

Last night, while en route home from work, I caught an interesting piece on NPR's All Things Considered about a college in Mass that enrolls students for full-time college while they are still in high school, bypassing what is seen as much of high school being just make-work.  Click the Listen Now link to hear the ~5 minute piece.  And read the accompanying listener comments.

Donning parka, gators, Stabilicers and the trusty iPod, I set out for work this morning during a fairly brisk snowfall, walking uncleared sidewalks for the most part through drifts up to knee height. Again in shuffle mode, I was accompanied by a suitable mix of sound, including Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones, Vivaldi's Four Seasons with Nigel Kennedy's violin and Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols doing Anarchy in the UK. Arriving at my destination about 40 minutes later, simultaneously wet and dry, hot and frozen, exhausted and exhilarated, I once again marveled at the ability of music to help get us through just about anything ...