This week we will audition anyone who was not at the rehearsal April 4 and is interested in one of the Pokemon roles. We will then be measuring kids and making costumes. No auditions will be held after this week.
T-shirt sizes for kids that missed rehearsal and have not yet turned in a form need to be turned in this week. I will try and guess a size for those who do not have it done by Thursday April 11 and it will probably be too big. I have to get the order in.
There is a Cloud Cult Concert on April 20 in Madison. My car is full but check out the band website if interested:
http://www.cloudcult.com/home.cfm Craig Minowa gave me an interview for ChoralNet, a professional resource website I help lead. If interested the article can be found here:
http://www.choralnet.org/view/414184
High Scores for Robot Unicorn Attack will be kept and updated on this post:
Abby S 136,074
Ethan 100,934
Cloud Cult has released their new album LOVE on their website and on iTunes. Our Children’s Choir of teh Internet sings on “The Show Starts Now”, the last track. Parent’s, how sick are you of listening to One Direction, Selena Gomez and Disney Songs?! Do yourself a favor and get your children listening to something with more substance. You owe it to yourself!
If you are going to buy it, help the band out by buying from their website. T-shirts and other merchandise are also available there.
For those who haven’t listened to Cloud Cult, just read the comments on the interview link above to see how much their music means to people. I have to say, I think the media has missed the point by focusing on Craig’s heart breaking past instead of the quality of his music. This album doesn’t seem to me to be as much about the losses in his life as it is an opportunity to make the world a better place through music. The album is full of advice to be a stronger person. Some of the song titles tell the story: You’re the only Thing in Your Way, It’s Your Decision, Complicated Creation and Catharsis.
At a concert in Madison I watched back stage as fans came up to talk to Craig, one by one expressing their thanks for how his music spoke to their hearts or helped them through tough times. I have caught myself recommending specific songs to friends who were going through life’s challenges.
When I first started listening to Cloud Cult it was all business. I was looking for a band that AppleChor, the Red Apple Elementary choir, could cover with music that fit our school theme. I have become a hopeless fan. Strike that, a hopeful fan. There is no such thing as a hopeless Cloud Cult fan. This is music unlike anything you have ever heard. It doesn’t fit any category. It’s life messages are like Christian rock, without being about God. It has the homey feeling of folk music but with so much more energy and showmanship. The use of cello, violin and piano give songs like It’s Your Decision a slight classical feel. Many pieces are clearly Rock but all have some experimental quality. Then you get “Meet Me Where You’re Going” which Craig wrote for the band’s sound engineer’s wedding. It is sort of country and could well and hopefully replace Paul Stuckey’s Wedding Song in popularity.
I would love to get the kids and families up to Madison to hear them on April 20 but it doesn’t start until 10:15 PM. Comment of you are interested in going.
Working with children is always rewarding. My students and choir members are important parts of who I am and I am always proud of them. I could not be more proud of them than I am right now.
I just received a pre-release shipment of LOVE for the kids from Mr. Monowa. My own two choir members opened them with pride and we are listening right now. I guess there IS an advantage to being the director’s kids.
Last spring I went on a search for songs for our school theme of “water.” I asked my Facebook friends for help in finding songs by alternative bands. I wanted to find a band that was not mainstream, one that stayed in contact with their fans, one that might actually listen to my request to cover their song, and one that played concerts in our area. It was my hope that the kids might get an opportunity to perform with such a band. I know that choir is cool, but kids, especially boys don’t always feel that way. One of the tasks I take seriously as a music teacher that has taught K-12 is to get girls AND boys hooked on singing so that they continue on in middle school, high school and beyond.
So my FB friends, including many of my former students from Park High School, gave me their suggestions. My nephew Michael Senzig had gotten me to listen to Cloud Cult once before on a trip we took together. He suggested we do “When Water Comes to Life.” I really liked it but didn’t feel comfortable with some of the text for Public School. But that got me looking at other songs by the band and we chose to cover “Chemicals Collide.”
I have had my general music students recreate the sounds of a rainstorm since I was a student teacher at Woodrow Wilson in Milwaukee (Thanks Rita Crannell). When I heard Chemicals Collide, I envisioned an audience generating those sounds as a lead in to Chemicals Collide which I saw as Hydrogen and Oxygen coming together to make H2O. I didn’t even know that Cloud Cult was an environmentally conscious band at the time.
Craig Minowa founded a non-profit called Earthology Institute and has worked to make the band carbon neutral even to the point of touring in an alternative energy vehicle. He and the band have also been huge supporters of local music programs. We were all blessed that Mr. Minowa gave us permission to cover his beautiful song. Like Earthology Institute on Facebook and you will receive very interesting posts about organic farming and living life in harmony.
http://www.facebook.com/EarthologyInstitute?ref=ts&fref=ts
Here is AppleChor’s Cover of Chemical’s Collide with the Rainstorm intro.
AppleChor released the single of their cover on CD Baby. You can still support Red Apple Elemenatry’s music program by purchasing a copy here:
The Band Cloud Cult is unique in a lot of ways. My favorite idiosyncrasy is that they have two artists as part of the band. Connie Minowa and Scott West paint while the band sings. After their concert in Chicago I asked Connie if I could steal her idea and she gave her blessing. I have been trying to contact local artists that might want to try live painting during our concert tentatively for May 26.
Craig Minowa’s music and lyrics can be very profound to completely silly. I would love to have the choir cover more of his stuff. Transistor Radio, When Water Comes to Life, Running with the Wolves and especially There’s So Much Energy In Us. I have become a huge fan of his work and especially respect him as a composer. The instrumental writing on their last album Light Chasers is phenomenal.
Cloud Cult is performing live in Madison on April 20 at 9 PM. I’d like to get a bus and go together with any parents and kids that can stay up that late. Their shows are family friendly and very entertaining. Depending on numbers it could be open to the general public. Comment below or email me at OurMusicalLife@ymail.com
Sorry to go on so long but this has been an incredible 9 months and I feel like I’ve just given birth.
Mr. Minowa listened to the rough recording of the kids I sent him yesterday and is very excited about the quality of their sound. He said that we have the tone color he is looking for already. He gave me some suggestions for how to make the best recording I can that will provide him with what he needs. Keep your fingers crossed that the equipment I ordered comes in time.
I am starting to follow leads to find a Japanese organization that benefits children that have been affected by the tsunami and earthquake. I am looking for an ultra-local school or community choir or similar organization. I found some better footage that I am considering pursuing the rights to. It depends how expensive the license is. If you haven’t listened to Street Spirit (Fade Out) yet you really need to. The song is perfect and may help us do a lot of good for children like ours, half a world away.
Children’s Choir of teh Internet and treble Corp member Abby S. Went with me and Mr. Cobb to Madison and got to meet several members of the band. The quality of these pictures reminded me that we could us someone with a decent camera to take pictures at some rehearsals and the day of the recordings. Any volunteers?
Here is Abby with Craig Minowa and me:
This is the drummer Arlen Pfeifer and Abby. He gave Mr. Cobb one of his sticks and he gave it to Abby, lucky duck!
It’s hard to see but here is Sara Elhardt the keyboard/trumpet/french horn player on the left, Abby in the middle and Shannon Frid the Violinist/vocalist on the right. Click on it to enlarge and see them.
We purchased liability insurance for the year today so the last major hurdle has been cleared. It cost $900 which came as a big surprise, but what ever it takes, we are going to make these kids shine!
I have been to quite a few rock concerts in my life. Few can compare to the live shows that Cloud Cult put on this past weekend in Chicago. I liked it so much on Sunday that I went back again on Monday, and I hate driving to Chicago. The band has a lot of members and each one plays multiple instruments. The most unique band member is a painter sometimes two painters. These guys are brilliant and visionary. The live painting adds a visual element while the band paints the air with colorful sound. The band then auctions off the paintings to help fund their tour. I asked the artist if she minded if we borrow that idea. If anyone knows an established artist in Racine that would like to give this a try I am starting to think about the logistics. It would be a great opportunity to involve the broader arts community with our performances in the fall.
I would like to get as many family members of AppleChor, Treble Corp and the Children’s Choir of Teh Internet to attend a free concert Cloud Cult is giving in Madison on July 20. I believe it is open to all ages but I will keep you informed. There may be an opportunity to meet some of the band members where they sell t-shirts, CDs and other materials after the show. I do not have any particular pull with the band, our relationship is strictly a business one at this point but my friends that came with me to Chicago spoke to a couple of the band members so the kids might get a chance to as well, you never know. If I know you are coming I’ll ask them if they could stop and say “hi” or maybe sign some autographs.
I can’t say enough about Cloud Cult’s music. I think the best way to illustrate just how good they are is to have you listen to a couple of their pieces. There are two songs I am considering covering someday, maybe soon.
Transistor Radio
You’ll Be Bright (This is a fan made video, avoid the band’s video*)
Each one of the band’s songs has a unique style and character. You can access a Cloud Cult Playlist I set up on Youtube at
Their music is available on iTunes and most major download sites and from the band website. It will be easier for you to promote the kids performance on their upcoming album if you honestly have listened to and enjoyed the band. Brighten your summer and add one of their albums to your listening list! I like Light Chasers and Feel Good Ghosts the best.
*Parents should always watch YouTube material before allowing children younger than 13 to watch it. Some of the videos suggested for viewing may include images that could be disturbing to young children.
The Racine Journal Times called and they would like to write an article about the kids and the recording they are making for Cloud Cult. We will need some members that are willing to talk to the reporter the week of August 6. They plan on publishing an article about the choir in the August 14 Journal times A+ section.
I have filed papers to create the 501c3 and get non-profit status for Our Musical Life. Please tell other children you know about this opportunity.
Did I mention our rehearsal space has air conditioning?
The amazing band Cloud Cult is looking for children to sing some music for their new album coming out this fall. Our Musical Life produced a video of the Red Apple Elementary School Choir AppleChor covering Cloud Cult’s Chemicals Collide. When our director sent the band the audio from the performance, he was asked to assemble a choir of children to sing on their new album.
AppleChor kids get first choice, but there will be many other positions available for Racine area children. Any child presently in 3rd-6th grade can audition. The rehearsals will start July 23 and the rehearsal space will be Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 322 Ohio Street across from the toboggan hill at Lockwood Park in Racine, WI.
Stay tuned for audition info and tuition costs. Send an email to ourmusicallife@ymail.com.
