Author: Benford

Suicide Prevention

I got this email today. As a person who has lost at least one friend to suicice, I can attest that any help you can contribute is well appreciated.

Dear SPHS Band Directors,

Last October I lost a family member to suicide. My mother and I have decided to create a team in memory of my great-aunt Marilyn.

I would like permission to post a flyer in the band hall to educate and recruit walkers for our team and to raise donations. Below is the standard donation letter with more info on the community walk.

I will be joining with thousand of people nationwide this fall walking in AFSP’s Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

My personal fundraising goal is $150.00. I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 30,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP’s mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.

I hope you will consider supporting my participation in this event. Any contribution will help the work of AFSP. Checks should be made payable to AFSP and are 100% tax deductible.

Thank you for considering this request for your support. If you have any questions about the Out of the Darkness Community Walks or AFSP do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Tyler R.

Please visit my Community Walk fundraising page if you would like to donate online or see how close I am to reaching my personal goal:

http://www.outofthedarkness.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=communityWalks.participant∂icipantID=123822

Max Roach

I have this video I show to my students every year – the original VHS tape I have is called Jazz in America, Dizzy Gillespie’s All Star Band at the Lincoln Center. It was filmed in 1982 and recently, they made it into a DVD called “Dizzy’s Dream Band”. There isn’t one part of that video that I ever get sick of and whenever I show it to kids, they’re just as drawn in as I am. I’ve actually met two trumpet players that were on that video, Marvin Stamm and Jon Faddis. When I met Jon Faddis a few years ago and had him autograph the cover of the DVD, he looked at all the names listed, shook his head and said that a lot of those cats had since passed away.

from NPRAnd now, we have lost another. Max Roach passed away this week at the age of 83. I hadn’t ever heard his name before this video but once I associated the name with the sound of his drumming, I could never separate the two. He was absolutely amazing at making the drumset sing. He knew exactly what part of each drum and cymbal sounded like and used it impeccably to play back the tune during a solo. His drum solos didn’t sound like racket. You could always find the beat and even the tune or horn played lick in them. Every drumset player I have, I want them to sound like Max Roach. There are a few recordings of his playing in sidebars to the NPR article about his passing. Take a listen. You won’t be disappointed.

Brain Dump Before Bed

I don’t know what to write about anymore since band has resumed being the center of my life. And I’m not sure who all reads my blog anymore, anyways. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not necessarily considering taking it down right now but we all just seem to be so busy. Or maybe the fascination of keeping up a blog has dwindled away. Eh, whatever.

We start school in a week so that can only mean it’s Staff Development week. We have some LOTS of new staff this year (head principal change) so there will be new faces to really not get to know. I just found out how many people are on faculty at SPHS. There are around 100 at the 9th grade center and 200 at the main campus. With the 3000 kids and other staff (custodial, cafeteria, etc.) we have on top of that, we’re a small city!! Amazing.

Things have been just chugging along nicely. Our show this year is called “From Earth to Sky” and it’s all about flight. The kids are really diggin’ the music and the drill is going to be amazing. If nothing else, working on the show is going to be a lot of fun!!!

Despite band having started back up again, I’ve still had a night or two out with the girls. My friend Crystal keeps things quite interesting, I’ll tell ya! Oh, and Monica & I went out dancing the other night. That was REALLY fun and just what I needed, too. Since my gallery still isn’t fixed (like someone is gonna come along and fix it for me or something), I’ve posted an album or two on MySpace. Yeah, yeah…I know…it’s still the work of the devil but sometimes, you have to dance with the devil in the pail moon light….. OH, I also created a gallery of Fashion Don’ts that I’ve collected recently.

So, I think that’s pretty much it for right now. I’m awfully tired tonight. It’s been a long week. Tomorrow, lots of laundry and other chores around the house. In reality, I’ll probably sleep in and get a load or two of laundry in. Eh, it’ll be okay. Rest is probably just what I need anyways. Well, take care.

9 WORDS WOMEN USE

9 WORDS WOMEN USE

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!
5. Loud Sigh: This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6. That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you’re welcome.
8. Whatever: Is a woman’s way of saying F#%@ YOU!
9. Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking “What’s wrong?” For the woman’s response, refer to #3.