The Katywompus Journal Observing Life's Little Quirks by Diane Moody |
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Entry #33: Music to My Ears
Friday night my sister and I treated ourselves to a rare pleasure - a night at the Nashville Symphony. We dressed up, went out to dinner, then made our way to the newly-renovated Jackson Hall at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. And what an evening it was! We thoroughly enjoyed the guest soloist, but it was the talented musicians of the Nashville Symphony that brought us there. Living on the outskirts of Music City, we forget there's more to Nashville music than just country & western. We may be best known for the likes of Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, and the rich history of thousands of country stars before them, but Nashville's music comes in every flavor. We're also the home of the old gospel sound as well as today's contemporary Christian music. Last winter Sis and I sat in the nosebleed rafters of the Gaylord Entertainment Center to see the Michael W. Smith Christmas show. (I'm petitioning the GEC to offer oxygen to anyone sitting that close to the ceiling.) Still, the concert was unforgettable and the quality of the performance was unsurpassed. And then there's the Nashville Symphony. My sister and I grew up with an appreciation for classical music. Those seeds were first planted at the large metropolitan church we attended where we heard compositions like Handel's Messiah and Hayden's Seven Last Words of Christ. Later, we were both involved in the school band and orchestra programs. While I admit ducking into the marching band to get out of P.E., my sister was the real deal. She played clarinet then later became an accomplished bassoonist. She still regrets the day she packed away her reeds and returned her rented bassoon. In high school, we were introduced to a wide range of music. We were educated about the various styles of music, and we learned about the composers. I'm glad our local school system still values the study of the arts at a time when others have cut their budgets drastically, in some cases eliminating music and art programs entirely. I'm proud that the Nashville Symphony offers an extensive program of opportunities for children and young adults to learn about classical music. In their words, "nothing equals the arts in boosting a child's ability to learn. Research shows that studying music improves a student's academic performance, particularly in math and reading. Music education promotes self-confidence, teamwork, problem solving and leadership." What a gold mine! Remember Mr. Holland's Opus, starring Richard Dreyfuss? The 1996 movie chronicled 31 years in the life of a high school music teacher and his influence, teaching his students the love of music. I thought about that movie during the intermission the other night. I looked around the auditorium and was amazed that my sister and I (both barely into our fifties), were among the youngest in attendance. I couldn't help but wonder if this overall decline in music education has not taken its toll. Most teenagers today know every lyric of the latest rap song, but they're clueless about Mozart or Bach, Gershwin or Cole Porter. Will there come a day when the symphony audiences dwindle as the younger generations, never exposed to this particular "flavor" of music, simply let the flame die? What a tragedy that would be. Or maybe we're all too busy for luxuries like the symphony. Younger parents are rushing around, carting their kids to soccer games, little league, and karate practice. They struggle to balance careers with parental demands. Who has time for the symphony when there are groceries to buy, meals to cook, laundry to do, grass to mow, and all that homework to help the kids with? And so it goes. For my sister and me, perhaps our rediscovery of this forgotten treasure occurred because we're at a stage in life when our kids are just about grown. We have a little more time for indulgences like this. And while our guys opt for tickets to watch Vandy basketball or the Nashville Predators, or take a visit to the golf course, we justify our chosen "sport" and slip away for a night of music. And it won't be our last. Check out some of the great package deals at the Nashville Symphony. Whether it's the classics, pops, or the "Pied Piper Children's Series," there's something for everyone. I hope we'll see you there! Click HERE to send Diane an email. She welcomes your comments and suggestions. She's Flying the Coop Blessed are the poor... Back to School It All Started With Eve It's Almost Here! Forget About Weapons of Mass Destruction - let’s Talk Hormones The Other "W" "If only I could..." "Put Down That Remote and Step Away From the TV!" Take This Job and Love It! 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