This past week, Mini’s class took part in a musical. It wasn’t the first time Mini has been in a school program that involved singing or dancing or what-have-you, but it was the first time she’s had real dialogue to remember and perform in front of a large audience. She did a great job, too, and I’m very proud of her. She remembered all her lines, spoke them strongly and with confidence and stayed focused on the play. Many of the children were distracted by waving parents and talking to their friends.
This is the same program that she tried out for the “stowaway” part several months ago. She didn’t get the part, but wasn’t deterred and kept trying for other positions and got a really cool part. Mini could have easily been upset that she didn’t get the part she wanted and then decided only to participate in the most minimal of ways. But she didn’t. She was determined to make the best of it. And she did.
I made a few observations during the show.
- Many of the kids on stage didn’t want to be. It was obvious by their stance and attitude during the program.
- Some of the parents didn’t want to be there. It was obvious by their stance and attitude during the program. They talked and were generally rude.
- The set design was horrible. The pirate ship was on the floor. If you sat in a chair, you couldn’t see it (or the children in it) at all.
- The sound was terrible. Music was provided by a small set of computer speakers. The microphones weren’t balanced well, some were really loud, others really faint.
It was a wonderful performance by nearly all the children. There was humor, music and dancing…and education! I never knew Mini had the authority to make someone a pirate!
What kind of musical programs have your tweens been involved in? How did the show go? Share you ideas, suggestions and questions in the comments.
