This morning has brought many changes, among the most obvious is the change in weather temperature. While Capt. SO and I walked this morning, we actually appreciated the sweatshirts and long pants we had earlier donned. Now as I sit at my desk, barefooted, I can gleefully report that my feet are cold. This pleasant sensation has not occurred for months now. I realize that some heat and humidity will surely return before the coolness of fall descends upon my area, but this is a momentary treat that I will relish. This may even call for socks on the feet!
When I turned on my computer today, I saw the Google Doodle and, curious, clicked on the picture. What, to my surprise, did I discover but the trivia that today would have been Freddie Mercury's sixty-fifth birthday. If you are not familiar with Freddie Mercury, he was the front-man and lead singer of the rock group, Queen. I was a big fan of Queen, in its heyday, and still am. Whatever your opinion of Freddie's life-style choice, his singing and showmanship talent was more blatantly obvious than his sexual orientation. Freddie could sing and Freddie knew how to entertain. I'm only sorry that I was never able to experience a live, Queen concert.
When I was teaching as a public, middle school band director, I came across an arranged medley of Queen tunes that laid perfectly within the skill range of a good middle school band. At that point in my career, I was a devotee of a concept called "Teaching Music Through Performance". The beauty of this idea is that by teaching what the music is about, as well as the technique, the result will be a higher level of performance skill and enjoyment for the musicians. Imagine my excitement when I found - and purchased - a DVD of a live, Queen concert. I just knew that watching Queen would inspire my young charges to bring the Queen medley to a whole new performance level! Fortunately - for my career, the school district, my principal, the students and their families, I previewed the DVD BEFORE I showed it in the band room. "Seedless to nay", as my good high school friends and I used to say, it was a providential save for me.
Freddie died the young and senseless death of demise by substance abuse and the world lost a great singer, musician, and showman. Happy Birthday, Freddie. The music world misses you.
Ancora imparo
