Tag Archives: internet

Concert Date and Time Set in Stone

The date and time are in stone now. June 1, 7 PM performance 5:30 PM practice. All we need is the venue which I will secure ASAP. I am aiming for the theater in Gifford Elementary, Park High School, Case High School, Horlick High School, Gilmore Middle School in that order. The choir should plan on attending rehearsal and preliminary filming of teh Pokemon song on June 1 at 5:30 PM.

MIC SWAT is Coming!!! They will be our special guests and will be coming from Evanston, Illinois to sing with us! See below for videos of some of the fun songs they have sung.

This is a ticketed event. I would like your thoughts on how to be fair to participants’ families i.e. a family pass, free ticket if you sell 4 free ticket for one adult etc. Otherwise tickets will be $4 adults, $2 students and seniors. We will need help getting the word out. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit the choirs invloved including: MIC SWAT, Children’s Choir of teh Internet, Gifford Elementary’s Accent Choir and Red Apple’s choirs AppleChor and ApplePeal as well as Our Musical Life for concert expenses.

MIC SWAT Singing Undead Love Song

No, I will Not Date You, Sir

I’m Online Every Day

He Knows Too Much (Our Teacher is an Alien)

Opportunity Knocks

One of our goals is to seek out online audiences and make entertainments specific to their communities. The TV show Dr. Who just had an episode with a beautiful song in it that will work really well for teh Choir. Opportunities like this have to be grabbed and shared as quickly as possible. Our target audience will find this extreemly entertaining. I am trying to transcribe the music for tomorrow’s rehearsal.

For anyone who saw the episode, we will have the sopranos on the girls part, altos on the man’s part and a short solo part for a girl with a pure straight tone.

Please read the last post if you haven’t already.

Auditions Today for Ash and Team Rocket

At today’s rehearsal we will do preliminary auditions for the three main characters for the Pokemon medley. We will narrow it down to two or three singers for each role and hold the final audition in the next week or two. We may get into some choreography and begin singing the Team Rocket portion of the medley.

T-shirt forms and payment must be turned in today so I can place the order.

We are in desperate need of Costume help. If you can help build the Pokemon costumes for Ash, Jesse, James and Meowth please speak up.

I would like kids to play Robot Unicorn Attack and have you post their high scores as a comment here on the website. Robot Unicorn Attack is a free game at Adult Swim. Adult Swim has many games and even advertisements you may feel are inappropriate for your child to see or play. Please check out the link yourself before allowing kids to play. It is your responsibility to determine appropriate internet use for your child. Adult Swim produces entertainments for teens and adults like the shows Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Robot Chicken as well as video games. Here is the link to the game: http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html Abby S holds the lead with 136,074, Ethan is in 2nd with
100,934.

How Can You Help?

As the level of performance of teh Choir improves and teh Choir receives more and more local, national and international attention, my need for you to help also increases. I would like your help to develop a list of jobs that individuals could volunteer for.

What skills do you have? Please comment with things that you think would be helpful or ways that you would like to help. Some of these will require a greater amount of commitment, time and equipment than others. This is just a brainstorm so here goes. Check back over time as I will be adding to it and will eventually move it to a page on the teh Choir website.
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Costume makers: This is the most urgent help needed. We need team rocket outfits, Ash Kechum outfit, Pikachu and maybe a Meowth. OML will pay for materials but we need design and construction help.

requirements: anyone who has sewn a costume before. A measuring tape and time to measure the kids chosen for these roles

Rehearsal Clerk
I could REALLY use someone in the first 20 minutes of rehearsal to collect forms, write receipts and even take attendance. These logistical things take a lot of rehearsal time.

requirements: adult choir relative
Time committment: attend all rehearsals, concerts and video shoots or at least attend the next few rehearsals.

Videographer: Someone with digital equipment that can set up their own camera to take digital video at practices and concerts and give them to me to post to YouTube or other sites.

requirements: have your own camera and tripod, have editing software and disc burner to get me the data file.

Time commitment: attend all concerts including video shoots
Membership: Any Adult or teenaged Choir relative.

Media Reminder: Send press releases to Racine Journal Times and other local news outlets. I will help write them.

Requirements: Computer and email access, extreme organizational and scheduling skill.
Time Requirements: a few minutes a month
Membership: Any adult choir relative.

Manager of Wardrobe Malfunction Prevention: I have had kids who went on stage out of uniform and many who have been on stage with shirts untucked. If the kids knew who to go to for torn pants, forgotten items etc. it would save the directors some stress.

Requirements: attend all concerts and video shoots and observe students in uniform without taking rehearsal time. Bring safety pins, bobby pins, masking tape etc. Watch for uniform violations (blinky lights, glitter etc and correct)
Time Requirements: Attend all concerts and video shoots
Membership: Adult choir relative

Concert House Manager: Person in charge of making sure doors are opened and closed at correct times, programs passed out, directing audience members where to sit, answer questions about bathroom facilities…

Requirements: independent adult choir relative
Time requirements: Arrive 35 minutes prior to all performance events, solicit helpers to usher

Program Roster Coordinator: This person would make sure choir rosters are up to date and would submit the current roster including all auditioned choir members names properly spelled for the printed programs.

Requirements: Internet, email, spreadsheet experience
Time requirements: A few hours early in the year, a couple hours 2 weeks before each concert to update the list.
Membership: Adult choir relative

Volunteer Recognition Coordinator:
I am terrible at letting you know how much I appreciate you because as soon as one project is over I am buried in the next. When I was 12 I was the heir for a fairly wealthy aunt who had no kids of her own. When I graduated from High School she sent me $20. When I didn’t send her a thank-you she found a new more appreciative heir. What she didn’t know was how much I loved and respected her. Because I have a short circuit in my timely response wiring I didn’t let her know in a way she could understand. How many of you have felt unfulfilled because you didn’t receive a proper thank-you in the way you expected? I need someone to put the thank-you card in my hand, and deliver it or mail it. This is hugely important and an area I really can’t do well myself.

Requirements: Someone who has ever felt under-appreciated. Time Requirements: Buying thank-you cards (no cost to you), filling out addresses and mailing cards. Coming in to rehearsal to get me to do my part.
Membership: Adult choir relative

Others:
Lawyer with Copyright Experience
Set Construction
Light Booth Coordinator
Sound Engineer
Ticket design and printing
Poster design and printing
Carnation Sale at Concerts Coordinator
Ticket sale coordinator
Please put comments with other jobs below

If you can’t think of any other way to help, just make yourself an informed choir parent and check this website a couple times a week! You have no idea how much time that will save me.

Thanks,
Jack

Rehearsal Holy Thursday

Yes we will be rehearsing. Feel free to miss if your family wants to attend religious services. Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (where we rehearse) has service at 7 PM if that is helpful. Feel free to leave early for that or other services. We will meet in the Luther Room (end of the hallway, not in the sanctuary).

If you have not checked in on the earlier post, please do. I need your help on a couple of things. http://ourmusicallife.com/2013/03/23/time-to-get-serious-about-communication/

LOVE Parents Check Out This Album!

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.

NPR had a short interview with Craig Minowa a couple days ago. You can hear it here: http://www.npr.org/2013/03/06/173518074/cloud-cults-love-channels-a-life-tested-by-loss

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.

If you want a more professional and personal account, read this article on AmericanSongwriter.com: http://www.americansongwriter.com/2013/03/recording-cloud-cults-latest-album/

We Are a Choir!!

We had our final auditions tonight for teh Choir.  In addition to many returning members we gained some excellent new talent.  We now have members from Starbuck Middle School, Fine Arts Elementary, Jefferson Lighthouse Elementary,  Our Lady of Grace Academy, Prairie, Walden, Red Apple, Nash Elementary, and Gifford Elementary.  What a bunch of talented kids.  If you missed tonight your options are getting more limitted.  Email me ASAP for a private audition in the next few days. OurMusicalLife@ymail.com 

Mr. Griffin enjoyed working with the kids so much he has now made himself available to help weekly.  We have done some amazing things.  With Mr. Griffin’s help we will go even farther.  Having another choral musician to assist us is like buying a new car with all the bells and whistles.  I could have got the kids where we needed to go but with Mr. Griffin’s help they will  go there in style! 

10 years from now Racine will look back and see what a turning point this was for our music community.  Getting all of these kids involved now will hopefully pay off for the adult singing community with swelled ranks in other church and community choirs.

I am so proud of you all!

Auditions Children’s Choir of teh Internet February 28

Children’s Choir of teh Internet will be holding auditions on February 28, 2013 at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio Street in Racine. The choir is for singers in grades 3-6 plus returning members with treble voices. The auditions are at 6 PM to 7:15 and start with a 20 minute meeting for parents.

Returning members will rehearse the Pokemon Theme Song and the Robot Unicorn Attack song with Mr. Griffin while Mr. Senzig auditions hopeful members.

Auditions are free and open to public school, private school and home school stduents. This is a choir for all kids in grades 3-6 from SE Wisconsin and Northern Ill. There are already members from 7 schools including Red Apple, Gifford, Prairie, Walden, Our Lady of Grace Academy, Starbuck and Nash.

Rehearsals are on Thursdays at the Church from 6-7:15 PM. Our goal is to entertain a worldwide audience as well as a local one. We make YouTube videos, collaborate with other groups and bands and will sing on a local concert on May 26.

Known costs include about $5/rehearsal, $10 for Uniform T-shirt, your own black dress pants, and a Uniform White shirt for about $16. If we make it to AGT, we will discus this further as expenses are unknown.

There is not another choir like this for kids anywhere in the world! Racine is a great place to be!

Please comment with questions or concerns or send an email to OurMusicalLife@ymail.com.

6 Days of Minecraft Video is Up!

It has been a lot of hard work for the kids and me but it is finally done. I hope you all enjoy it and don’t forget to share it with your friends, tweet about it and in general sing the praises of these wonderful singers! I am very, very pleased with the results!

Virtual Singers Needed-screen name credited

Play Minecraft? Want to have your character be in our video? Children’s Choir of teh Internet needs 19 brave players to stand on the virtual stage and sing (lip sync-sort of).

You will need a teh Choir skin. There are 2 boy and 2 girl skins to pick from. These skins match the t-shirts the real world kids wear in the video. Watch this tutorial for how to change your skin:

Here are the Skin files. On a Mac hold down the control key when you click on them to find saving options: Boy, Blonde, blue

Girl, Blonde, Brown eyes

Girl, Brown Hair, Blue eyes

tEh

Pick Axes will be provided.
You will receive a credit in the video as a member of the virtual choir.

We will meet on Saturday Feb 9 at 10 AM and Sunday Feb 10 at 2 PM. You can attend one or both filming sessions. Please download and put on your skin well before show time by logging into your legitimate Minecraft account.

You will need to email me to play. Include your screen name Kids under 13 need a parent’s permission to play. Put “Server Party” in the message field and email me the name of who is interested and which or both times you are available. If your child is in teh Choir please tell me. You will need the IP address to join. Once in the world, pick up a wooden, stone and iron pick axe from the nearby chests. Put them in consecutive inventory spots 1 2 and 3. Download or open the refrain of the song found here: http://www.choralnet.org/paint/408506/Six+Days+of+Minecraft+Refrain+Only.mp3 and be ready to hit play. I will message everyone to hit play have the wood one out, on the word “Stone” click #2 on the word “iron” click #3. Not sure this will work but let’s try.

Don’t chat until I say “all clear” Members must vow to do no damage. Kids should stay out of the back stage or light rigging in the virtual stage. DON’T MESS WITH THE REDSTONE! You can throw the switch behind the risers and watch what happens.

I am considering leaving the world available to members. The kids and families could build their own village near the stage and interact with the world. I think it would be fun for the kids to play together from home. Family time at my house is often three of us playing Minecraft on a LAN. Do not build anything until the video shoots are done. We’ll talk more later. This is my actual 1.3GB world so show respect but feel free to explore after the shoot. Rules are 1. Don’t take things that don’t belong to you (you can buy stuff in South Town) don’t wreck what others make and act with respect for each other and my world.