An Interesting Arrangement of "Laura" coded on Noteflight

This is note-for-note from a book of new arrangements to some standard pieces.  It was good practice to learn how Noteflight works, and what it does and doesn't do.  I haven't added dynamics, although Noteflight allows it and claims to respect it during playback. Have a listen...

I intend to work on a set of hymns and carols next, I have a project in mind.

Blessed Assurance

In my copious spare time, I have kept my eyes out for software that meets the following conditions: allows a way to write music, provides playback, preferably with multiple instruments, works on a PC, and is free. This one may just be my speed. I consider it "not too shabby". Fairly easy to learn, and all WYSIWYG. A few aspects are still a little clunky, but it could be me or the fact that it is a relatively new website.

Guerilla Theatre, Corinne and Nate Duet "I Need You/I Run to You"

A little medley thrown together for a Guerilla Theatre performance.

I Need You / I Run To You

Knoebel Finale

This weekend was Corinne's last weekend at Knoebels, we went to see her on Saturday. 




Auditions at school start on Thursday.

Knoebel Cast

A couple shots of the High School Musical Cast at Knoebels.  Cast: the pictures should link to originals that have good high-resolution for printing.

From Knoebel HSM Cast

From Knoebel HSM Cast

Knoebels Catch Up

We've gone up to Knoebel's Grove Amusement park almost every weekend so far this summer, and we'll go several times more--that's my intention anyway.  Since the trip is almost 3 hours each way, I somehow find little time to update posts, or upload photos, although I've taken plenty.  Early performances had no stage yet. 

Knoebels Redux

Some photos from a little later, once they got a stage.  Lots of pictures in this group, I probably should have downselected more, but there are some gems in here.  (I really love this first one, Corinne had taken Marshall's nerd glasses at the top of the show).

KFD Downselect550

More photos from yet another trip...

K3 HSM Shows

The fun isn't over.  I skipped Fathers' Day, so for that, I just offer this album (includes some Legaluppi pics).

Fathers Day Mix

Whew.  This next album (different day, same Knoebels!) includes an action series of Chris on the Uncle Sam carousel horse grabbing the brass ring! (Brass Ring earns you a free ride, all other rings are steel).


Side note: Knoebels is "family friendly" and does not prohibit you from bringing your dogs, your own food, and doesn't limit smoking.  Modest attire is required, but I'd like to see that enforced a little tighter.  Anyway, smoking is allowed, so there's a fair amount of it.  Chris has taken to wearing his "Gram's Promise" T-shirt, which promotes the anti-smoking message "Hey kids, it's a no brainer" don't smoke.  I don't know that it will have a significant effect this season, but who knows.

Retro Band Regalia

Corinne came home, and scrounging for a T-shirt came up with a 25 year old band T-shirt of mine.  I referred to it as a tour T-shirt, maybe a little stretch.  Regalia?  The white T-shirts with blue design were reserved for band members only, the blue T-shirts were sold to the throngs of fans--$5/shirt if I recall.  (We made what, $20?) The only memory I dug up was jumping over the orchestra pit during our rendition of John Cougar's Hurts So Good and losing my sunglasses, during a battle of the bands at the high school.  My early stage work, I guess.

Summer Work Begins

Corinne will spend her Summer '09 entertaining at Knoebels Amusement Resort, a free-admission amusement park in Pennsylvania (free parking too!).  Much less commercial than a Disney or Hershey, it has loads of picnic space, and allows dogs on leashes. We made the 165 mile trek during the Memorial Day weekend. 

Lots of ways to have fun at Knoebels, but if you take to the roller coasters, watch your cell phone.  Laura lost control of hers and had to pick it up off the floor of the car after the ride came to a complete stop.  Caleb narrowly averted disaster, realizing a bit too late that his phone had come free on the same ride.  Unable to stop the ride before it took off with the next group, we waited for the car to come around again, and guess what: the Blackberry was no longer in the car!  With no particular help from the park officials (they tried), we managed to locate and retrieve the phone not far from the ride, in the hands of a slimy miscreant who couldn't believe he had found such a cool toy.  Said miscreant didn't seem to speak English, but the point was made, and the phone was returned without incident.

I really enjoyed the pool, more than I thought I would and we didn't even do the slides, just the pool and diving boards.  Turns out, you can see and hear the show from the pool area!  And don't miss the carousel--sit on one of the outside horses so you can reach for the brass ring.  It doesn't sound like much, but it's something I always look forward to (did it twice on this particular trip).

Go Dog Go

Corinne adds to her performing credits with a trumpet/baritone performance role in Go Dog Go, a Shenandoah Theatre for Youth production in two acts.  The book really was the book.  And it really stretched to two acts.  Good fun for the kids.

I Dreamed a Dream

This is a video of the "I Dreamed a Dream" number in last summer's Tidewater Teens' production of Les Mis. I added it in part to demonstrate to myself that I can get video onto my site without using YouTube. YouTube is easier, and offers a place to put the (large) video file., but also adds a bit of branding that I prefer to avoid, if possible.


The penalty to me of not using YouTube is that I will very quickly run out of storage space with my current hosting provider (lowesthosting.com). I may soon move my hosting to 1and1.com, as they offer good, low-budget plans with LOADS more storage space.

My Final Hershey Pics Summer 2008

This is my last Hershey trip before Corinne goes back to school. Weather forecast was for scattered thunderstorms throughout the morning, 70% chance; Thundershowers throughout the afternoon, 70% chance; Thundershowers in the evening, 80% chance. Not great odds, but we didn't have more than a sprinkle, and that didn't slow things down at all, let alone close any rides.

We caught up with Mom and Steph and Laurie and boys (T and J), who had been up for a three day trip. We brought along Andrew, a neighbor who has played travel basketball and football with Chris in recent years. Andrew did not go to C Milton Wright High School with Chris for their Freshman year, opting for John Carroll's superior baseball program. He will return to C Milton Wright High with Chris for their Sophomore year. Andrew would be a dominant force playing JV football with Chris, but will instead play a fall baseball league. We'll look forward to seeing him play for the high school in basketball season.



This is a very poor quality recording. It was recorded with a camera. Not a video camera, just a camera. There's not much to see, not much to hear. It was recorded to capture a defect in the audio system. It's there, but it's hard to tell because this is a poor quality recording. I just don't want you to think that either a) this is the best recording I can make, or b) this is how the group sounded. The group, if I haven't mentioned, is the Ice Breakers, performing at Hershey Park. They have an exceptional a capella mix and a wonderfully clean balance of tones. None of this comes through in the video. Oh well.

Just the audio: Hint: hit the power button to turn the player on :)

Ice Breakers on Fathers' Day

I added the video. We managed to get up to Hershey on Sunday to see the Ice Breakers at Hershey Park.

Some photos of the Ice Breakers performing for the crowd at the featured Fahrenheit roller coaster. There are five of them all together, although it's hard to get a picture of Rob who tends to hide in the tree. Corinne and Adrienne flank Geoff, and Kevin is bass of the group, base of the steps.



The video: A few things are noteworthy. The most disappointing thing is that the audio is, well, disappointing. It's my new camera, it's not my new video camera. The men's vocals are almost entirely lost, especially Kevin singing bass. Heard live, the group had a great balance, but you'll definitely miss the bass line and the Rob's beat. Oh, and listen close in the very beginning and you'll hear Corinne give a shout out to her daddy. That's me :)

Les Miserables

Wow, what a great show! Unbelievable that it was put together in two weeks. Bravo! I saw it four times, but only because I had conflicts on the other two performances. Laura saw it five times. I only took pictures once, but they're not too shabby if I do say so myself--no flash photography you know...



Just the death throes

Corinne in Les Miserables

Just a quick post... Corinne is doing Tidewater Teens this summer, as she has in previous summers (West Side Story, Footloose, Grease) and this summer is Les Miserables--actually it is Les Miserables, School Edition. This summer it is done as a "camp", so the cast goes M-F for two weeks and the show opens. Casting is done on day one, and by day 10 they are running the show! Corinne is Fantine, Brandon is Javert. I expect it to be an awesome show!

Les Mis shows at Tidewater two weekends: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday August 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12. It's coming up VERY quickly, and I couldn't say much about it before now, 'cause it just got started! Call Tidewater for tickets if you can make it. I as at the theatre today and it was cool, and they will have someone come for maintenance on the AC tomorrow, so the plan is to keep it that way. We can hope! Plan to bring tissue.

Fireworks weekend

We kicked off the weekend going to the Seussical Jr show at Tidewater. Good times, posted separately.

Then Cool Chris did a tournament this weekend. We split a pair of games in Upper Marlboro (Largo High School) on Saturday. Because of the lighting, I didn't think the pictures would turn out so well (they didn't), so I didn't take many. My best offering:



So besides going to Upper Marlboro (Largo High) for a pair of games, we joined up for a fireworks festival in Jacksonville. I know what you must be thinking. What would it look like to take pictures of fireworks? I wondered that very same thing, since the camera I use has a fireworks setting. Turns out the look something like this.



But the fun doesn't stop there. After church (it was my week for music, more on that later) we took off for day 2 of the tournament. The tournament in Upper Marlboro, you ask? Yes, and no. Day 2 of the tourney put the boys in Fairfax at Paul VI High School. We only had one game, maybe best to leave it at that. After the game, we put Chris and a pair of his teammates in the van and headed home. Somewhere along the way we got distracted, and found ourselves ordering cheesesteaks at Pats in Philadelphia. No, it really isn't on the way home, but sometimes you just need a good cheesesteak. Laura and I both got a cheese-wiz wit, and Chris got an American witout (that's wit(h) or witout onions...) Chris and I went back to split another Cheese Whiz without. Then we went home and played some doubles tennis. LB and I played Chris and Josh. Scoring 7-6 (CB), 6-3 (LB), 2-0 (CB) . By agreement, that meant Chris and Josh took the match. No pics of tournament day 2, Cheesesteaks, or tennis.

Tomorrow: orientation at Shenandoah...

April Church Music

This Sunday, I got to lead the music at church, but I gave up the Communion music to a young guy in the Communicants' class, who provided a beautiful classical piece. The selections (Italics are the piano solos of my choosing):

1. Hosanna, Loud Hosanna


2. I Will enter His Gates (He Has Made Me Glad)


3. Majesty


4. Hosanna


5. We Will Glorify


6. In The Garden*


7. (Doxology)


8. (Communion Music)


9. Alleluia


10. He Is Exalted


11. Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord


12. How Excellent Is Thy Name


13. I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

The choir asked to perform "In The Garden" as Special Music. They seemed to remember me telling them a story about how, growing up, Dad would oblige us to change the radio station, but not until after we heard In The Garden. This put me in an awkward position. For one, I didn't remember telling them that story (It was said I told the entire congregation when Corinne and I sang it a while back). For another, I didn't remember the story, I'm thinking maybe Steph told me just as Corinne and I were deciding on the music. Finally, the choir wanted to do it without any particular rehearsal, and I was of the opinion that the song isn't that easy to do well. Well, we did it, and it was fine. I just played, I didn't sing along.

I'd like to see if I can get them to do "Nearer, My God To Thee" on another Sunday, preferably with a few rehearsals. I think the choir is interested in doing special music every week, and always with no rehearsal. I'm not sure I know how best to discourage that.

March Church Music

I continue my monthly contribution at the piano during early service. This week's pieces for the contemporary service (Italics are the piano solos of my choosing):

1. O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
2. We Have Come Into His House
3. Praise the Name of Jesus
4. Almighty
5. Alleluia
6. Just As I Am*
7. (Doxology)
8. Am I A Soldier Of The Cross
9. The Church's One Foundation
10. The Family of God
11. His Name Is Wonderful
12. I Sing A Song Of The Saints Of God
13. Shine Jesus Shine

"Just As I Am" was used as the offeratory, and was played piano solo one verse and then sung in three parts with piano accompaniment for verse one only:

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

It was sung as a trio with less than a week's notice, and run through maybe a half dozen times. Brandon and I sang the bass clef, and Rinny took the melody, because if she sang the alto there'd be no one left for the melody. Thanks to both of you, well done, I appreciate the effort. The piece was special to me, although I don't know exactly why, and I was honored by your willingness to perform it on almost no notice. We may be able to do that again as a full(er?) choir and cover all the parts.

Still, I am not cool enough to post either the recorded performance or even the MIDI tunes, but I'm hoping one day...

Next service for me is Palm Sunday (and Grandma's birthday--April Fools). What can YOU suggest for favored Palm Sunday/Easter Season songs?

February Church Music

I have the honor of leading the "informal" church service (praise and worship, vs "traditional")on the first Sunday of the month on the piano, which means I get solo prelude/gathering music, offeratory, communion music, and postlude, as well as various group praise pieces, prayer response, doxology... I pick the solo pieces, the rest are assigned. This week's pieces (Italics are the solos):

1. These Things Are True of You
2. We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise
3. He Is Exalted
4. Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
5. Father, I Adore You
6. Pass Me Not
7. (Doxology)
8. I Need Thee Every Hour
9. Commune With Me
10. Be Thou My Vision
11. Make Me A Servant
12. Jesus, Name Above All Names
13. Safe In The Arms of Jesus

The Pass Me Not piece was kind of neat--it is played as a Blues Shuffle. (I am not yet sophisticated enough to post a recording.) It was well received I think. Anybody like or dislike any of these? I'd be very interested to hear your favorite Hymns, or Praise Music.