My theme is Musical Memories: The Memories that music brings rushing back.
Intermediate school at the old O'Neil campus holds a bucket full of musical memories. This was 5th and 6th grade in a building I believe started it's life as the high school. The wooden steps up to the second floor had depressions worn into them from the millions of feet that had passed over them.
There was Mrs. Bowie's music class. My first and only music class. We sang "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" and "The Happy Wanderer". We danced to "Ballin' the Jack". I still remember how to do the dance.
At one point we put on a Christmas program. (Yes, Christmas with Christ in it, as it should be.) The group I was in sung "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella" We all had to have long white dresses with long sleeves. Mother made mine, and she sewed beautiful tatting around the neck, waist and cuffs.
Another time, the school had a talent contest. I remember the boys in our class sung "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn. I think they wanted to do it mainly so they could say "damn" in the last verse. A group of girls I was in, which included Sandra Hartley and Cheryl Self, among others, did a dance we choreographed ourselves to "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John.
I also, still remember this
dance and have taught it to Hannah Bug.
That old music room was hot and sticky in the warm months with no air conditioning and in the winter months you either froze or burned up, depending on how close or far you were from the radiator. Either way, it still holds a host of warm memories for me. I still can sing most of the songs she taught us and it was there I first learned that I love to dance.
What musical memories do you have from school?
Did you ever perform in an auditorium?
I also, still remember this
dance and have taught it to Hannah Bug.
That old music room was hot and sticky in the warm months with no air conditioning and in the winter months you either froze or burned up, depending on how close or far you were from the radiator. Either way, it still holds a host of warm memories for me. I still can sing most of the songs she taught us and it was there I first learned that I love to dance.
What musical memories do you have from school?
Did you ever perform in an auditorium?
I was an on and off theater/music geek. I have fond memories of music rooms and behind the stage of the auditorium. Behind the stage was always my favorite. It's so dirty in the back, but the stage is always beautiful for the performance.
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We had plays all through elementary school. I managed my parts in them. But I was all about the music. LOL Are we then different sides of the same coin?
DeleteHello Barbara.
ReplyDeleteI've just read all your challenge post and thoroughly enjoyed them. You bring back good memories to this crazy African guy who spent time listening to LP records on a turntable on the banks of lake Kariba in Zambia while talking to friends on the CB radio in the old Jeep. Sorry, had to put it like that for fun. Have a great challenge, your writing is awesome, Geoff.
I'm so glad you made it by Caneyhead, Geoff! Funny how things can be so similar half a world away. Thank you for the lovely complement!
DeleteWe did a lot of music both in primary and secondary school - me and my twin sister love singing and still do. I remember there was a local schools singing event that our primary school went to. We all had to learn all the songs, including Yellow Bird and Lord of all Hopefulness. We also used to watch a programme for schools which was about music, and I remember a song about smugglers, but only parts of it - it's maddening that I can't remember it all :)
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I love that you and your twin share a passion for singing! What memories the two of you must share. The only song I know about smugglers is the Smugglers Blues by Glenn Frey.
DeleteHere's a tip: Google search any line you can remember and 90% of the time you'll find your song.
A fun post with great music memories. Tony Orlando and Dawn...damn, they were good, and we Rocked Crocodile Rock, too. Musical Memories for me were all about being in BAND. I wanted to sing in church choir...I had a beautiful lip sync voice.
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Two of my best friends were in Band. I never wanted to do anything that required all that practice. LOL Funny, but I too lip sync beautifully! What are the odds?
DeleteI can remember my mom making a Japanese obi (well, a bathrobe sashed with a small pillow) for my kindergarten performance of "It's a Small World."
ReplyDeleteOh, how sweet!! I have always wanted on to those tight fitting silk dresses with the little stand-up collar.
DeleteI wonder if they ever put in air conditioning?
ReplyDeleteI was in many music classes over the years and band in high school. I remember the teacher really liked us, so my friends and I got away with all sorts of things.
I'm not sure that they ever did at that school. It was torn down and the sight has been a bank and a grocery store for the longest. But they did go back and air condition the old junior high and used it for years, Getting away with things, eh?
DeleteOh Tony Orlando and Dawn. How fun. Knock Three Times - arrghh. Now that's in my brain again. So many songs, so many memories. I always liked Elton's Bennie and the Jets.
ReplyDeleteIt's my job to stick old songs in your head. :)
DeleteAll the classic rock from the 70s. Records and 45s and cassette tapes.
ReplyDeleteThe 70's did have some good stuff! And it's share of stuff that embarrasses me.
DeleteYes, my elementary school and high school both had auditoriums. And we had concerts and performances there. Good times.
ReplyDeleteLiz A. from Laws of Gravity
I have to take daughter to one tonight! A one act play, "To See the Stars".
DeleteSchooling on SA where i live sounds a lot different to US schooling! Not so much dance but concerts plays
ReplyDeleteInteresting post thamk you!
Well, we really didn't have that much dance. That one year. And then in high school I had a gym teacher who taught square dancing one semester. I was a master at the Virginia Reel.
DeleteI started at #1 in the A to Z and finally made it to your blog. My school days are best forgotten, lol.
ReplyDeleteOh, Denise! Seriously? I would have thought you would have some awesome school memories.
DeleteThis brought back memories. We had something like this in sixth grade. All I remember is the boy I had a crush on sang "Elvira" with three other guys from our class. Every time I hear the song Elvira (which isn't very often), I think of that!
ReplyDeleteMy heart's on fire, for Elvira. I remember that one. But could your crush really sing?
DeleteI enjoyed reading this so much! I remember so many songs from my growing up years, and sometimes can remember what grade I was in when I first heard them on the radio.
ReplyDeleteI remember Tony Orlando and Dawn, and Elton John singing "crocodile Rock", but I was really young. Our middle school was for 6th and 7th graders. I started the 6th grade in the fall of 1978. I remember "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb, "Love Is Like Oxygen" by Sweet, "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty, "Turn To Stone" by ELO, and so many others. The 70's and 80's had so many great tunes. :)
Ah-ha! I graduated high school in 1979. So you are about the age of my youngest niece. I can remember music and associate memories with it just like that! I feel like we should say "Jinx!", hook our pinkies together and make a wish!
DeleteI really enjoyed performing in the Christmas concerts, and singing in the choir. Those were very good memories for me.
ReplyDeleteThe worst had to be learning the recorder in Grade Four. Man, how I hated that thing! I never got anything out of it that sounded remotely like music.
I would think that would be a hard instrument to master.
DeleteI remember presenting a patriotic program in the High School Auditorium when I was in elementary school. I think our class sang "America". I later played flute in the band for several years, and later sang in the choir one year. I always did enjoy performing on the stage with a large group. Doing a solo would have been terrifying!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd have been up to solo back then either. Now I'm bold enough, I just can't sing anymore.
DeleteI was in the Rhythm Band, does that count. Yes I preformed in the school auditorium in the Junior play and the senior play.
ReplyDeleteWell, of course that counts! If you've got rhythm, you've got it all!
DeleteI used to sing in the school choir but the musical memories come from the school dances. Crocodile Rock is an awesome song.Thanks so much for dropping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, school dances have a whole group of memories all their own.
DeleteI enjoy reading through all your theme's posts for the A to Z Challenge. Sadly I recognize almost none of artists and zero of the songs!
ReplyDeleteThe Capillary stopping by from the A to Z Challenge
Well, Christiana, my hope was that even if someone didn't know the artist/song, that the memories would still resonate with them and stir up their own. So, I'm tickled you commented and that it seems to be working!
DeleteSugar Sugar by the Archies!!! We had to learn a dance to that when I was in high school, for rhythmic dance in P.E. I still remember that dance, too and now that I thought of the song, I'll be singing it all day long!
ReplyDeleteWell, good Corina! It's a happy song and will lift your spirits!
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