Woo hoo! He is fabulous!

He's a Star. I can see why he brought the house down. He is wonderful. I'm so glad you posted the video here. I don't use FB so I would have missed Will's performance.

Ann

Outstanding! Thank him for the Friday AM serenade.

That was pretty terrific! How did he decide to take up playing the sax? Congrats to Will and to his proud parents!

Thanks girls...I think he's pretty special - I think you knew that, though...;-)

Ellen, after taking the recorder in 4th grade (required), they are allowed to choose a "real" instrument starting in 5th. We listened to lots of music and most of the sounds that he liked listening to were saxophone...they wouldn't allow him to start on tenor due to its size, so he played alto for a year - then begged to switch to tenor. We had to rent one on our own - and actually had both instruments for awhile - and I've bought him lots of books with "fun" recognizable songs to keep his interest...:-) (Most concert band songs aren't too interesting for the tenor sax...)

Stacy, he's so good at that! Sax is my favorite sound in music. I could listen to it all day.

Move over Kenny G!

Your school has a music program? Wow, here in L.A. that's just a dream from a long time ago. Nothing was ever mandatory either. Bravo to them for inspiring musicians!

Yes, Ellen, even Will's cousins in PA don't have music or art in their school...and I was complaining that we only have concert band and no jazz band...sigh.

Now art? Will would be thrilled if he didn't have to take that - LOL (but I'd be super upset)and in 7th grade Will will have band practice 5 days per week plus a weekly lesson. The director said last night that they continue to believe that in order to learn music and appreciate it, it's important for children to have the opportunity at least once to perform in front of an audience. So the 4th grade recorder is mandatory, then in 5th, they choose EITHER band or chorus (or both)...and same thing in 6th. Then by 7th, after they've had that opportunity to perform, they can opt for a general music class.

It's scary because our budget was rejected a few weeks ago - our school district was hit hard this year and we were looking at a 13% tax increase and voters said no way. I was so worried that they were going to try to cut music and art, but the contingency budget at this point still includes them. phew.

Scott said last night - "not many 12 year olds get to see what it feels like for people to be cheering and applauding you and only you...Heck, I've never even felt that!"

So, Will was the only student to do a solo last night and it was just an amazing experience for a kid who sometimes feels down on himself because he isn't involved in team sports and so much emphasis is placed on that...

:-)

oh and Shaun, one of the dad's in the audience actually said that! that Will is the sixth grade's own Kenny G - LOL!!!

Congratulations to Will. It's so good that he has the opportunity to be involved in making music.

It's a unique experience and will stay with him for life!
Make sure he keeps it up.

SharonCb

You guys did good! (you too, mom!)

Yay for Will!!!! That is great and he did a wonderful job.
I was in band all through school and it was a great experience. I hope your schools can keep it going.

Nancy

I love sax music, too. Can't listen until I get home, but I bet I will be thrilled!

Linda

Stacy, I don't do Facebook either, so I'm so glad you posted that here. I especially liked at the end, when he got sent back out for his bow. good for Will, he was perfect.

Amanda played saxophone in high school, I've always liked it. She chose sax because I said I could actually probably stand to listen to her practice. (grin)

Music is not mandatory here, but it's available as an elective. Kids may take band or choir if they are fulfilling their mandatory educational requirements, but everyone must buy their own instruments.

I agree on the emphasis on team sports. Here sports very often take precedence over academics and when I say that schools should teach first and sports should be secondary, I'm always roundly voted down and told how important sports are in building teamwork, etc. Funny, our Quiz Bowl team has gone national every year for years, has won a couple of times in the small school division, but football is the sacred cow and I don't think we've won a dozen games in the last 10 years!

Anyway, Will was wonderful and I'm glad he got the instrument he wanted.

Annie

Stacy thanks for posting this. It brought tears to my eays, seriously. Can't believe how grown up he and such composure.

Tell Will I think he's a heck of a musician, great job!

Sharon

Annie, that's funny - I had this long rant about that very thing and then cut it out of my post! But I feel the exact same way. Will is one of the most compassionate people I've ever met and has so many friends - and is very driven to do well at things. Tell me what went wrong with him. He doesn't know about teamwork? bull. He will be going to all county and all state music festivals and competing in math counts instead of being a football star...oh well. I don't think Bill Gates or Steve Jobs were high school sports stars...:-) Oh, and he's a fit kid! He rides his bike and swims and plays basketball with the neighborhood kids...:-)
There, I'll stop now. :-)

Thanks Sharon, I spent the large part of yesterday with tears in my eyes! happy tears and proud tears...I told Will what you said and he said he'd like to see you and Clive again...:-) He can play his sax for you.

Stacy

My son is the same way, not into sports at all but he's a wiz on the computer and at math. I'm not going to "make" him play a sport if he doesnt want to. He's fantastic at what he does like.

Stacy, how beautiful that was! I love to listen to the tenor sax and he played it perfectly..Of course you're proud of him, as you should be. He is a fine young man. I'm proud of his mom too.

jude

thanks so much Jude...:-) and Shaun, isn't it a shame, though? The first thing people ask boys when they meet them is "what sport do you play?" kind of makes them feel like they should be....

I adore sax music. Will plays wonderfully! You must be just sooooo proud of him!
Sherry

oh Sherry, I am! Thank you.