Thank you for attending our Spring Concert! We hope you enjoyed the show! A production like this could not have come about without the hard work of our fine musicians, the commitment of our dedicated directors, and the steadfast support our loving friends and caring families – thank you! Thanks for keeping homeschool music a thriving and growing part of our local community.

A special thanks to DTE for their sponsorship. It’s never too early to register for the autumn semester! Reserve a spot now by enrolling at our website, nhme.org. Rehearsals and classes for our exciting, 22nd season will begin on Tuesday, September 14th, in Tecumseh, and on Wednesday, September 15th, in Ann Arbor. New music, fresh challenges, and familiar friends await! Enjoy summer, and see you this fall for more learning and fantastic fun!

National Homeschool Music Ensembles Presents

A 21st Annual Spring Concert

The Tecumseh Center for the Arts May 19, 2021

7:00 pm

Spring Concert 2021

Please rise for the playing of our National Anthem

The Star Spangled Banner arr. V. Nelhybel

Beginning Strings:

May Time Mozart Swallowtail Jig arr. J. Higgins Simple Gifts Shaker Melody arr. J. Higgins

Beginning Band:

Folk Song Medley Shenandoah American Galway Piper Irish Mystery Song Enigma Crawdad Song American

Classical Themes Trumpet Voluntary J. Clarke New World Symphony A. Dvorak Hungarian Dance #5 J. Brahms Pomp & Circumstance E. Elgar

Little Liza Jane M. Collins-Dowden

Our Directors

Miss Evelyn Frandle Beginning Strings String Orchestra Pops Light Orchestra

Ms. Donna V. Smith Beginning Band Concert Band

Our Musicians

Ms. Alene Blomquist Hannah Rennie Percussion Tenor Saxophone Kaitlyn DeLange David Rennie Violin Baritone Saxophone John DeLange Benjamin Saxton Trombone Alto Saxophone Gavin Gibbons Lucia Skrobola Trumpet Violin Makayla Kirkland Teresa Skrobola Violin Piano Violin Seth Kirkland Theresa Su Violoncello Flute Piccolo Juliette Noël Gregory Su Clarinet Piano Trumpet Viola RJ Zmijewski Jacob Padley Trumpet Clarinet Malachi Real Trombone

Evelyn Frandle Principal violist in the Hillsdale College Symphony, studied violin and viola performance under Valerie Palmieri, Dana Duncan, and Dr. Melissa Gerber Knecht, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Hillsdale. Evelyn is incredibly proud of her students this year! They have approached orchestra

with eagerness and dedication. They consistently show a professionalism above their years when in rehearsal. “It is so wonderful to have students that love learning and exploring music together!” Evelyn hopes she has encouraged their wonder of music as they have done for her this year.

Donna V. Smith Professional musician involved in violin and viola performance

since age six, studied music and orchestral conducting at University of Michigan under Elizabeth A. H. Green, earned a

Bachelor’s Degree in music education from Eastern Michigan University, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from George

Fox University, founded the Lakewood String Quartet, coached

Malaika Strings in Nairobi, competed at the National Old Time

Fiddlers Contest in Idaho, and even performed at Carnegie Hall

in New York City.

National Homeschool Music Ensembles Ann Arbor Tecumseh

String Orchestra:

Alleluia from Exsultate, Jubilate W.A. Mozart My Country, ‘Tis of Thee arr. Arcari -Traietta Danza de mi Corazón S.L. Rosenhaus Avalon Rising D. Spata By Dawn’s Early Light D. Shaffer Blue Ridge Reel B. Balmages

Concert Band:

Epic Venture T.S. Grant Fairest of the Fair J.P. Sousa Two Movements from Lincolnshire Posy Horkstow Grange P.A. Grainger The Lost Lady Found arr. M. Sweeney Kentucky 1800 C. Grundman arr. R. Longfield At Morning’s First Light D.R. Gillingham

Pops Light Orchestra:

Selections from Les Misérables arr. J. Vinson Look Down I Dreamed a Dream Suddenly Master of the House Do You Hear the People Sing?

Journey in Concert arr. P. Murtha Don’t Stop Believin’ Separate Ways Open Arms Any Way You Want It

then came the question and answer portion of the event. The very first question came from a very haughty sounding trumpet player from the University. “How long do you guy’s practice?" he asked. The answer changed the way I thought about practice forever, including my own efforts. The answer went something like this, and I think it caught the room off guard. The gentleman fielding questions said, “Well, it’s like this. We start rehearsal at 10 in the morning. If we finish by 11:30 in the morning, we go out for pizza and a drink. If we are still at it at 10:30 that night, we order in. Never practice for time! ALWAYS PRACTICE FOR RESULTS!” Here was the answer that the homeschool musicians needed, an answer that would change the way I thought about and taught music. Every musician I knew practiced for time, like an hour a day, like time on a practice card. Here were some of the best musicians in the world refuting that theory. The person answering the question went on to share that results-oriented practice provides the individual with the sense of accomplishing something, thus providing an incentive to practice more, to solve another problem. He was absolutely correct: When we started to apply the concept in both rehearsal and practice time the results were amazing.

The culmination of these thoughts came when Kaden’s mom stopped me one day. Kaden played sax, and it was obvious he loved it. She said, “You’ll never guess what Kaden did the other day. He took his sax to his room, and practiced eight hours straight getting stuff right.” If that seems exceptional, it was. So the first of NHME’S suggestions for EXCELLENCE was born. Don’t practice for time, practice for results.

From “Miracle in Music” By Donald S. Dobrosky Sr.

Excellence is a habit, not an act.

“We’re playing Tchaikovsky’s 1812

Overture next year if we can borrow

Pachelbel’s cannons.”

“Cali doesn’t like the key of E minor. It gives her

the E B G Bs.”

“Pavarotti is a pirate’s favorite musician,

because pirates like the high Cs.”

“My phone can’t Handel modern music; I think

it’s Baroque!”

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“As parents, we give our kids music lessons as an enrichment or extra-curricular activity; to our children, music becomes essential to

whom they are and to whom they will become.” -K.

NHME started with a motto based on a quotation from Aristotle: “Excellence is a habit, not an act.” What habits would we need to develop in order to have a great band? I decided to look at what every student did well each day. I wanted to know what went right for the student, not the reverse. Asking the student often resulted in a litany of mistakes. For some reason, identifying the things that went well proved difficult. A student would play an exercise correctly except for one note, and the idea that the effort was ninety nine percent excellent escaped them. The focus was on the mistake. Now music is a human activity, and all of us musicians have made mistakes. Learning how to deal with them proved an EXCELLENT habit for the band. We all agreed that everyone did more right than wrong. Like Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, we approached beginning band with an “enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

What happens when you make a habit of not grading, comparing, criticizing, or demeaning your students? I can tell you the results are stunning. Let’s face it, we do not get up in the morning and think we will mess everything up today. Most of us try to do our level best. So with that in mind, I’ll focus on what you the student, does well in every situation. Jim Harbaugh seems to focus on what each of his

players does well. So it was with NHME; we focused on the positive, the excellence in every situation.

The fifth year of NHME, in the Spring, the University of Michigan held a clinic for brass put on by the Boston Brass, and I got an invite. It was to prove a seminal event for me. The clinic was fantastic, and

“… finding a community can be difficult. However, NHME provides a place where homeschoolers of all ages can come together to play music in an environment that encourages students and meets them right where they are. During my

eight years in NHME, I not only learned how to read music and play multiple instruments, but I also grew in confidence and forged strong friendships with the other musicians. I also had the opportunity to play alongside and learn from professional

musicians during joint concerts and music camps. Playing with NHME taught me that it is okay to make mistakes as long as

you keep going and don’t let them weigh you down. It provided an environment where I was free to be myself, to be

creative, to grow as a musician and as a person, and to feel supported by my instructors and fellow musicians. The skills I learned and the friendships I made are an invaluable part of

who I am today. Studying music has been one of the best experiences of my life, and NHME was a fundamental part…”

Catherine

“NHME taught me how much I love ensemble playing by being in a place where the teachers were incredibly

knowledgeable and encouraging, competition was healthy and not divisive, and the community was incredibly close-

knit. In my nine years of being in NHME, I learned an incredible amount about music on various instruments,

became more confident in myself, and met people who are now among my closest friends. NHME has a lot to offer to

any homeschooler who thinks it might be cool to learn and make music with others, and I strongly recommend joining! NHME helped make me into the musician and person I am

today, and I will always be grateful for that.” Good luck on the concert and stay safe,

Kinneret

What’s a light pops orchestra?

"Music is a privilege to study. It opens a world of beauty that can blow us away. I have always loved music - from playing piano for around 15

years, minoring in music in college and now pursuing composition. Being part of NHME was part of my journey in appreciating music and opening my eyes (and ears) to the beauty that can be created. There is

truly nothing quite like being part of something bigger than yourself, in being part of an ensemble, band or orchestra. When all the various instrumental parts and pieces fit together in a glorious melody, it is

truly spectacular and the joy and thrill is real. What an honor it is to be part of something so beautiful! Any music student will know that music can be hard and very challenging. Yet it produces such wonderful fruit! NHME provides a safe and encouraging space for any aspiring musician

to explore music, develop and foster musical gifts and have fun along the way. Thank you for making the world a brighter place with the

music you bring. Keep up the good work!” Natalie

“After having been with NHME for 3 years, my music skills and knowledge have grown drastically. I have always enjoyed music and learning new instruments, but I wasn't able to actually put

what I learned into practice until I came to NHME. I started knowing only a little of a few instruments; and now, I am

starting on my sixth instrument. It is so great playing so many breathtaking songs with the band that I would never have been

able to play otherwise.” Courtney

“Being a musician is such an amazing part of my life. When Mr .Doby handed me a viola 10 years ago I knew right away that I wanted to go places with it. Playing with NHME was so much fun and it was such a great opportunity for my brothers and I. Studying music over the years

has been a great experience and I’m so thankful that I was given the opportunity. They say do what you love and you’ll never work a day in

your life. So far that’s proved true for me. Studying music and playing in a full orchestra in college was honestly a ton of fun. I just received my bachelor’s degree in music from Eastern Michigan University and I’m

currently teaching private violin and viola lessons. I wouldn’t be where I am without NHME, and I hope that other young people get the

opportunity to explore what they love!” God bless, Rachel

A “Light Orchestra”, despite its featherweight moniker, does not actually refer to a diminutive-sized gathering of musicians. “Light” in this instance describes the type of music being played rather than the ensemble’s specific gravity or mass constant. Light music is characteristically melodic, uplifting, jovial, low-calorie, and generally unserious. Pops Orchestras and Light Orchestras also differ in their instrumental makeup from a classical orchestra. Traditional, philharmonic-type orchestras playing Classical Period symphonies from composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn (1700-1800) do not employ many of today’s common instruments, because instruments like saxophones, bass clarinets, and euphoniums were not invented until the Romantic Period in music history (1800-1900). Pops and Light Orchestras often perform showtunes and soundtracks from Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies at performances called “Pops Concerts.” Renowned vocalists and instrumental prodigies often sing solos or make cameo appearances with Light Orchestras at their popular concerts. Here at NHME, we rarely have all the requisite instrumentation to field a full orchestra. We will from time to time, however, combine our winds and strings into one, big, grand ensemble to play some of our favorite tunes!