Medicine of Immortality "It's a cold, and it's a broken, 'Hallelujah!'"

Some new musicPosted by Rick on March 24th, 2007

Every once in awhile, you’ll get friend requests from musical artists trying to advertise their music by having you add them as a friend. Usually they’re okay or not good at all. But I got one this morning from an independent Australian artist by the name of Selena Cross. She has incredible vocals. You should seriously go listen to some of her music on her page. I especially like “I’m not lost” and “Do as the Angels Do.”

Von Trapp ChildrenPosted by Rachel on March 17th, 2007

The Von Trapp Children came to town to perform with the Monroe Symphony orchestra. It was cool being able to accompany them; they’re amazingly talented. Their voices really are so great—it makes American Idol look even more crappy this year (as if it needed that). I am so glad the concert is over, though. I’ve been struggling with a cold and I feel like I’m getting a sinus infection. My teeth are throbbing. I’m staying home from church tomorrow because I’m just getting worse. It was kind of torturous to get through rehearsals and the concert, but the “boss” of the orchestra would’ve been extremely frustrated with me if I skipped out on another concert. I missed the last two. But anyway, I feel such huge relief now. I hope to get some sleep, maybe tomorrow morning while Rick and Kyrie are at church.

Sweet Christmas giftPosted by Rick on December 26th, 2006

14” Earth Remo Djembe

Concert TonightPosted by Rachel on October 14th, 2006

I’ve made it through three rehearsals and tonight’s the concert with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra. I love being a second violin. I don’t like first violins generally because I think they’re a little arrogant. Hehe. Second violins are fun. Plus we’re tucked in the middle of the orchestra, which makes me feel less exposed and thus more secure. I love most of the stuff we’re playing. I especially like the Gershwin Warsaw Concerto. Fun fun. But honestly, I get so totally bored with Bolero. It’s the same melody over and over for 13 pages, and for a good majority of that, the second violins are operating as a metronome. I do like the part where we get the melody, though.

I really like my stand partner. I think she’s like 16 and I’m pretty sure she’s more mature than me. We have lots of fun together. I’m the designated page-turner. We completely started cracking up when I turned the page to Bolero and for a minute, we stared at the next page like “what is this?” Then we realized the page was upside down. It’s like reading a book in English and then turning the page to find Spanish. It was so weird but we starting laughing once we realized what was going on.

I’ll be glad when the concert is over. This has been a crazy weekend. Things might slow down slightly after this.

Super Mario Brothers’ Theme Song on CarillonPosted by Rick on October 6th, 2006

Check it out.

Illegally downloading music? Think again.Posted by Rick on September 3rd, 2006

If you haven’t seen Weird Al’s new video, Don’t Download This Song, you really need to. It’s a serious warning to all those who think about illegally downloading music. You might also want to watch the video of what happened to some children who illegally downloaded some music in South Park, Colorado.

Renew Your WorshipPosted by Rachel on September 2nd, 2006

I finished the book. It’s really fantastic. It’s written with discussion questions at the end of each chapter which makes it ideal for a book study group at church. It would be particularly helpful for a worship committee or a group of people planting a church. I really liked his suggestions on getting the congregation involved in the sermon. He explained how the sermon has become clericalized, mostly due to the fact that as the Church in history grew, the individual churches were getting bigger and that wasn’t conducive to the type of sermon that allows feedback from the congregation or lay members adding their own thoughts. He still had great ideas on how to get larger congregations to feel more involved in the sermon (discussion time after the service, before the service, or even throughout the week before the sermon). I’ve always liked an atmosphere during the sermon that allows for congregants to add thoughts, as long as it’s done appropriately, with brevity, and all in good order. At least it keeps the people on their toes and encourages them to listen in.

I thought some of his best insights had to do with the worship music, which is something that so many churches need so much help with – especially smaller churches that seem to have shrunk not only in number but in enthusiasm. There’s really just nothing triumphant about worship if the people aren’t involving their entire selves to the worship and adoration of God in song.

I absolutely love liturgy, but I hate how some people misuse it by just reciting the same old words & singing the same old settings and being completely emotionally disconnected. Renew Your Worship would be a great book for open-minded congregants that feel that there is something missing in the spirit of their Sunday worship.

O.P.P.Posted by Rick on July 4th, 2006

Rather than save other people’s posts in my bloglines til I get home, I will go ahead and post them here to share them.

Rachel Wilhelm singing

Mark Driscoll on creation and Christian Music.

Emerging Church is NOT white middle-class males! by Andrew Jones

Back to the SymphonyPosted by Rachel on June 21st, 2006

I’m planning on returning to the Monroe Symphony Orchestra this fall. I enjoyed a full year of concerts from 2004-2005, but after Kyrie came (and she was born about 2 weeks before the 05-06 season), I decided that it’d be best to get settled into life with a baby and not worry about rehearsals and all that. But now that Kyrie is getting more independent and can definitely stay away from me for more than 2 hours without needing nursed, I feel ready to go back and play again. It’ll be a good time for Papa & Kyrie bonding, and for me to just get out once in a while. Plus, the extra money is nice. Rick is encouraging me to save up for a computer with my earnings, but I’m tempted to just let it sit in a savings account instead. I’m excited about having a reason to play my violin again & not let myself get all rusty.

I also kinda want to teach violin, even though I can only handle it in small amounts. And if I do it at all, I want to do it independently, where I can teach from my home and set my own hours, charge my own rate, etc. The problem is that not very many people in the Monroe area seem very interested in learning something like the violin, unless it’s fiddling, which I don’t teach. I think that if we ever were to end up back in Spokane, I could really get a good thing going (I actually had several students and taught two classes on top of that before I was married). Oh, and lastly, if I do decide to accept students again, I want to keep ‘em younger, so our attention spans match a little better. I seriously can’t teach more than a 30 minute lesson.

Just random thoughts for the day.

American IdolPosted by Rick on May 25th, 2006

Okay, so Taylor won last night. And he was pretty entertaining. Still, I’m not that impressed. I quit watching American Idol several weeks ago (the week before Mandisa was voted off), but I have been catching up through clips online.

Of course, Chris was my favorite. But Elliot has really been impressing me lately. I thought he was kind of boring on American Idol, but he sounds so much better than other contestants in clips on the computer and also when he’s performing in other places. It’s like he didn’t fit with the American Idol stage.

All the other contestants sound pretty bad when they go on other shows, but Elliot sounds great. Obviously we hear differently when watching at home, but I wonder if the orchestra obscures certain types of voices or what. Anyway, Elliot is gaining in my mind, and I was never a fan.