Why I Teach Music

Today I want to share with you something that was given to me some time ago that I found the other day while organizing my things. I'm not sure who gave it to me, most likely my Uncle Andy. If anyone knows where this might have originally been posted, let me know!


Why Teach Music?

Music is a science
It is exact, specific; and it demands exact acoustics. A conductor's full score is a chart, a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time.

Music is mathematical
It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked ouit on paper.

Music is a foreign language
Most of the terms are in Italian, German, or French; and the notation is certainly not English--but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. The semantics of music is the most complete and universal language.

Music is history
Music usually reflects the environments and times of its creation, often even the country and.or racial feeling.

Music is a physical education
It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lips, cheek, and facial muscles, in addition to extraordinary control of the diaphragmatic, back, stomach and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.

Music is all these things, but most of all music is art
It allows a human being to take all these dry technically boring (but difficult) techniques and use them to create emotion. That is one thing that science cannot duplicate: humanism, feeling, emotion, call it what you will.

That is Why I Teach Music!
Not because we expect you to major in music
Not because we expect you to play or sing all your life
Not so you can relax
Not so you can have fun
Not so you can trot around the football field in uniform

BUT--
so you will be human
So you will recognize beauty
So you will be sensitive
So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world
So you will have something to cling to
So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good--in short, more life.

Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless we know how to live?

That is Why I Teach Music!

"Orange Is In" needs your help!

Orange Is In (official site)

help steve replace his stolen gear!

On Thursday night, June 28, some jerkwad broke into drummer Steve Salazar's van and lifted all of his gear including all his drums, cymbals, hardware...even his freaking stick bag.

Steve is a fantastic drummer, a hard working musician and an even finer person. If anyone did not deserve for this to happen, it's him. While his gear may not represent tens of thousands of dollars, being a working musician with a family to support makes it difficult to replace gear on the fly, so we are asking for your help.

First, if you have ANY information regarding the theft that took place at Steve's home in south Houston last Thursday, PLEASE email us as soon as possible. You can click here to see a full list of all of Steve's gear and information about where the theft took place and the HPD case number.

Second, you can click the button below and contribute through PayPal either by using your own PayPal account or by clicking the "continue checkout" link to pay with any credit card. Every little bit helps.

click now to contribute

For all you bloggers and MySpacers, we'd appreciate all the help you can give in passing this info around to others via links, email, etc.

Thank you very much for reading this and helping to support live, local music!

Local Houston band "Orange Is In" needs your help!

What's Up...
HELP! Steve's Drums STOLEN!!!
What a crappy thing it is to be a thief. Last Thursday night, some jerkoff broke into Steve's van and lifted ALL his drum gear - drums, cymbals, hardware, even his freaking STICK BAG!!!
We're trying to help him recover his equipment or raise money to buy new gear. Steve is a working musician, so you can imagine how tough it would be to lose your work tools!!!
For more information on how YOU can help Steve and his family, visit the special page on our website. THANK YOU!!!

We'll have more info later this week on our CD release party and much more on our new disc, Come and Take It. Have a great Fourth of July and thank you again for your help!

Fr. Jack Spaulding: Go To Church

This is a video from LIFE TEEN on the importance of going to church.

So many people have excuses as to why they do not go or why they can't go... Breaks my heart...
Let's see what Fr. Jack has to say...



For more videos from LIFE TEEN, please click here.

For LIFE TEEN videos on YouTube, click here.

Andy Hymel's School of Music

Here is a link to an article about my uncle, Andy Hymel and his current success as a musician in the New Orleans area.

The article was written by a good friend of his, Nathan B.F. Gurley who plays bass with my uncle on many occasions.

Enjoy!

http://nathangurley.com/2007/06/22/andyhymelschoolofmusic.aspx

I'm a reflection

I am a reflection...

Do I really need to elaborate?

The above image speaks for itself...

Steubenville South Pictures

People:

Immaculate Heart of Mary LIFE TEEN

Event:

Steubenville South 2007

Sponsors:
Francisican University of Steubenville, Ohio

Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana

Theme:

"All Access"

Verse:
"He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father." - Ephesians 2:17-18

Photo Documentation:

Click here to see for yourself!!!

The only album available for public view is the album I created for the conference. Enjoy! And God bless!

$$$ All Access $$$

Money...

There never seems to be enough...

It always seems like we're scraping the bottom of our income to pay our monthly bills, fix the car, or pay off last Christmas (and it's June!)

I ask a question in this post, and I want comments with answers!

Say you were given all the money you will ever need for everything. I mean money enough to pay all bills, make all purchases, and even a nice reserve for a luxury item now and then.

No, no games or catches... I mean ALL ACCESS to this money, FREE!

Would you take it knowing you would be locked into a life of security? Or would you reject it? Thinking that something given to you that freely isn't worth your time?

Think about it.

Remember, you have ALL ACCESS to this cash.

I GOT A JOB!

I should have posted this the day it happened, but the computer and me did not exactly spend time together...

I GOT A JOB!

I am now one of the assistant band directors at Arnold Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District!!!

As far as I know, I will be teaching beginning low brass and directing the Concert 2 ensemble.

Needless to say, I'm really excited about this chance to begin my career as a music educator and I am awaiting the moment I step into the Arnold MS band hall as their new band director for the first time.

On The Hunt

I'm on the hunt for a job.

Not just any job, a band directing job.

I have a few leads.

I have some wishes.

I am promoting myself.

If any potential employer stumbles upon this blog while doing a background check on me, I ask that you please take note that this blog serves two purposes.

1. Spread the Love of Jesus. (I am very active in youth ministry)
2. Spread a little joy and knowledge to anyone who visits.

I will most likely begin talking more about music education in addition to all of my Catholic things soon.

Stay tuned! I really hope to become more active soon!