And the Band Played On!

I just love your photo essays, Bob, as does everyone else here. They really take me back - only about 10 or 15 years - to when my kids were doing these. I bet you have tracked the progress of your young charges over the years; I bet many have made some really great achievements in life.

It is so charming to see the delight and happiness on the faces of these children, who so obviously delight in making music.

Your article is Featured in the Triple Name Club.

This is just great - the looks on some of the children's faces is indescribable! What a good thing you all did by bringing in those instruments.

What a day that must have been! Your class looks to have been having a blast. Thanks again for taking us along.

Lena, what's wrong? Was that trumpet a little sour or something? LOL!!! The look on your face!

That is so cool. You are such an interactive teacher. Those kids are so lucky to have you for exposing them to different parts of life.

oh, I bet that had an absolute blast! They are very lucky kids!

Looks like so much fun, what neat instruments!

Wonderful, Bob!!! The photos are amazing. ;o)

great article thanks for sharing.

if you blow into a trumpet without making a face,it does not make noise.

You know this one is right up my alley as I am a music teacher to young children. "Hands on" is the way to empower the imagination and realization of budding musicians. Well done you two!!! I love the pictures and the expressions on those darling children.

You can tell the kids really had fun with this one!
Another wonderful article Bob - I loved the expression on the kids faces as they try out the instruments.

Ah, I love this photo essay! I agree with Rose; the expressions on the kids faces are wonderful. They look particularly focused and often tender, when playing the guitar.

In elementary school, our local symphony brought in instruments for the children to play. It was that pivotal experience that made my daughter want to take up the violin.

You are the dream teacher for our children, Bob!

Oh how cute they all are, what a wonderful photo essay. Children can always bring a smile.

As the others have said, great photo essay. What could be more satisfying than learning a new instrument. Good for you and very good for the children.

Another delightful photo essay. You are such an incredible teacher! I just love how you make it possible for your students to explore the many possibilities that life has to offer. What could be more empowering?

Thanks for posting this to BEST ORIGINAL PHOTOS, ART AND WRITING FOR 2008.

I think this is so cool, I want to play drums and have that cool t-shirt the young man is wearing that says "blah blah blah blah"!!

The excited and serious looks on the little one's faces says it all - another great teaching-learning hit. But I shudder at the din they must have made. LOL

Great stuff, Bob! Really great stuff.

Great job BOB, they look happy and delighted to just try!

It's better than analyzing chords... I-IV-V-V7-I!

Wow, this looks like a BLAST! WOW, how cool! I love the ukelele and that last young man looks intent on finding something on those strings--and comfortable! Also, I am envious of that super rain stick! SUPER photographs!!!!

Beautiful photographs. I still remember all of the names of my elementary teachers. I especially remember my kindergarten teacher, Mrs Keebler, because she often made me sit on the floor next to her when she played piano and she had smelly feet. I sat there because I was a bad boy. Mrs. Keebler had a lot of different musical instruments in her classroom and she often let us use them while singing songs. Her class was fun and left a profound effect on me to love music. I applaud you for giving your children the chance to use various musical instruments. I hope you do so often.

Elizabob! I so incredibly LOVED this essay! Their faces, Lord, had me questioning if the bugle player could have blown JUST a Leeeeetle Harder. The wonder, and the joy are gifts that you gave them which they will remember forever. BLAH BLAH REALLY thought he was too darned cool on the drums. I could see it in his face, he was visualizing himself on stage in that moment.

When I was coaching swimmers (100 kids, ages 4 to 18) I made them do backstroke while playing kazoos. They had to play the team song (which they wrote) and the 8 and unders sat on the side (I'm no dumm-o) and sang the words. What a bonding experience for them all...and they got so good at it that they took the darned things to city conference, and almost got me busted out of the "guild." LOL! (I'd do it again!)

How did your meet and greet go last week? Are you going to have another fun class?
Blessed be, You rock, you roll, and you make music. What could be better!
Renaissance Teacher! Fun, Fun, Fun.
Wilka

Oh my, so many wonderful people have stopped by to join the band. Yesterday after posting this article I was off to the zoo in Boston to do a "preview walk" taking scads of pictures. Today I am taking the A.M. group to the zoo and on Wednesday, the PM class. Imagine going to the Zoo three times in one week.

I am thrilled you enjoyed these images of my kids "making music"!

You are too good in framing the best photos..wow...that was a real blast.Well, enjoyed your hard work Elizabeth.

love

Thanks for "Rocking their world!" Everyone looks like they had so much fun, as always your Kidergartners enjoy your teachings and experiences. I can't wait for the zoo, you lucky ducky getting to go three times in one week.

What a delightful array of shining happy faces, glittering like stars.

Did Lena rob the music store? That's quite the collection of instruments. You can tell from the pictures that the kids are having a great time. What a wonderful exposure for them to the world of music!

Bob - Wow!!! You guys are having way too much fun and I bet there will be some musicians coming out of your classroom - these shots are fabulous - I had to stop and look at each expression but the award winning one - the one that looks like it should be on a Norman Rockwell painting - of the little boy blowing a trumpet and the lady bending down listening - classic!! Love them all and what a fun time for the kids! Thanks again Bob for your hand in creating the future music that we'll all be listening to when we're old and gray and rocking on our front porches! Tell the kids hello from Miz Mariana! Oh and thanks Lena! Salud.

Yet another fantastic voyage. Who needs a magic school bus- you are bringing adventure to them. That is a wonderful gift indeed.

Thanks so much for posting this to my group All Photo Essays Here!!

I loved this! Reminds me of school orchestras in England, where the kids play whatever instruments are available, and everyone can play something. My Mum used to teach in elementary school, and I always loved hearing her little orchestras.

A beautiful photo essay Elizabeth, and the kids all look so happy and excited, and they say music is the universal language so perhaps they all found something in common in the class , wonderful idea you had.

I love the looks on the kids faces when they discover the joy of something new.

Thanks for sharing, the children are darling with the instruments. More children need to learn about music early on. I wish I knew how to put pictures in my posts. I tried and it doesn't come out like that.

Thanks everyone for stopping by.