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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Real Life GLEEKS

Hello.  My name is Shelley.  My daughter is a real life GLEEK.

By this I mean she is in Show Choir.  I should say EXTREME SHOW CHOIR.

I had the pleasure of chaperoning her choir at a recent competition.  Let me tell you, honestly I was not looking forward to it.  I mean, we are talking teenagers.  Lots of them.  Don't get me wrong, teens are awesome.  It's just that there would be so many of them...and I would have to make certain they stayed out of trouble until competition time.

Oh, and I had to ride on the bumpy, old yellow school bus with them.  Did I mention it was bumpy?

My worries were totally misplaced.  These kids were great.  They knew just where they were supposed to be and just what to do.  In addition, they all really cared about doing well in the competition. A passionate bunch they were.

And regardless of how much they wanted to win, they were SO supportive of the other teams.  All of the teams were hooting and hollering for each other when something cool happened on the stage.  I was so impressed by them.

But what impressed me the most were the performances.  Folks, you have no idea what really happens on the stage of a show choir competition. (I know this because I sure didn't).  I thought it would be kind of like GLEE.  But GLEE totally underplays it!  I mean, the competition I went to had lasers!  And smoke!  And Star Wars!  And Harry Potter!  And levitating people! And star-crossed lovers!  And 5 second costume changes! and brilliant, brilliant singing.

Wow.

Here is a little PSA about the importance of show choir which was filmed at one of the comps.





GlEEK On!

hrh

8 comments:

Kelly Polark said...

Very cool. I don't watch Glee (yet, I know I'd love it, but want to start from season one at some point), and I had no idea what show choir was until I watched the PSA! What professional sounding (and looking) students! It is sad that some schools do not offer this or think of cutting the arts. I wonder sometimes why funding for education isn't more important to the government.

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Oh my word, I had no idea. This is not the choir of my high school days. I'm so glad your daughter gets to participate (thanks, I'm sure, to parents like you) and I'm sorry to hear that some schools are cutting choir. Arts are so important to developing creativity and original thinking. Le sigh.

Yat-Yee said...

WOW!!!! I can't even imagine how much blood, sweat and tears that go into this. Watching the video brought tears to my eyes. The passion of these kids and their friendships...and the excellence!

Thanks for sharing this. I wish I could be a teen again and be part of something like that.

Time to write a YA show choir novel, Shelley.

erica and christy said...

Is your daughter available on a rental basis?? (kidding, but you make me want to have one when I always thought I was happy with sports-oriented boys). . .
erica

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

That was awesome! I had no idea what show choir was. I'll have to find out if there is one at my daughter's high school....so I can go watch them. :)

J.R. Johansson said...

Love it! I'm a total Gleek, both because I love the show and because I was in a show choir all through high school. My mom chaperoned a trip with me and it was a blast. So much fun! Thanks for sharing!

Hardygirl said...

Okay, I"m just absolutely DYING to see a real live show choir competition.

Without having to chaperone it, of course. That scares me.

sf

storyqueen said...

kelly-It is indeed so sad for some schools that they are losing the very thing that keeps so many kids invested in their education. A sad day for us all.

Tricia-I even had a bit of an idea, but I was blown away nonetheless.

Yat-Yee- I think someone should write a show choir YA, but I don't think I'm the person to write it...too close maybe. Or the voice would sound all mom-like.

Erica-Ha! Be careful what you ask for.

Sharon-Not every school has one...but if you can find one to watch, you won't be sorry.


SF-They are so much better in person. You wouldn't believe.