Dear Photograph

Addison shared a link with me a few weeks ago that I've really enjoyed exploring:  dearphotograph.com.  When I was home in Columbia last week, I decided to follow the premise of that blog, and take a picture of an old picture.  I submitted the photo, and they used it this week.  Kind of fun ...

Inspired - NPR's 'From the Top'

Inspired. That's about the only way I know how to describe how I feel tonight. Truly inspired.

I was humbled and honored to have been invited to participate on this famous NPR classical music program which travels the country and features the most gifted young musicians that can be found in our country. This particular episode, recorded in front of 2,500 teachers at the National Education Association's annual conference, allowed each of the performing musicians to give a special "shout out" to teachers who have been important in their development. I was brought out on stage - in a largely symbolic move by the producers - as an example of a "teacher who makes a difference." And - in all honestly - being put in this position ... that is representing so many teachers across our country who 'make a difference' ... was more nerve-racking than the actual performance of the narration I was asked to read.

One of the things that made this opportunity particularly meaningful for me was that the music, Stravinsky's 'Histoire du Soldat', was the piece of music I studied for the final in my Advanced Conducting course with Mr. Paynter as a Northwestern University undergraduate. And Mr. Paynter was of course my greatest mentor as a music teacher.

The host of the show, pianist Christopher O'Riley, asked me a question that gave me the opportunity to name another teacher who was influential in my life as I studied Music Education in college, and that was Don Casey - who now serves s the Dean of the School of Music at DePaul University. I shared with the audience tonight that I remember one of my first music education classes with Dr. Casey, and that he began the class by writing this on the board:

Music teacher / music Teacher

I believe Dr. Casey did this with the intention of challenging our thinking about education: Are we teachers who focus solely on music? Or, are we musicians who teach learners, through the conduit of music?

I shared with the audience tonight that I believe we are all fortunate - regardless of our subject matter - to have the privilege of walking in a classroom and being a small part of shepherding students along their journey. I don't know if that part of the interview will make the final show - or if it will hit the proverbial cutting room floor - but it did draw applause from the teachers attending the NEA convention.

I was also proud that NPR sought to highlight the Illinois Music Educator's Association "All State Music Composition Contest," which I have had the pleasure of leading for the past six years.  I've taken many cues from this NPR broadcast over the years as we've fashioned our own "Composer Showcase Concert" at the Illinois Music Educator's Conference.

The seven musicians from the Merit School that made up the ensemble 'Septacular' were some of the most inspiring young artists I've ever had the opportunity to rub elbows with. I'm sure they will sound great on the broadcast, but I so wish the world could see what those in the audience - myself included - experienced tonight. I don't believe I've ever seen a chamber ensemble with better communication skills on stage. The seven musicians stood in a semi-circle and hardly ever looked at their music. The non-verbal cuing, the eye contact with one another, and the dance-like movements of their bodies exuded exemplary musicianship. Again, the best word I can think of: inspiring.

Blackhawks Parade - Stanley Cup Champs

Last Friday, Miles, Emery and I joined the Williams family, and we took the train into Chicago for the Blackhawks Stanley Cup Victory Celebration Parade. It was the first "ticker tape parade" for all of us ... and we had a blast!

It was an absolute sea of Red and Black coming out of the train station, and we worried we wouldn't get anywhere near the team or players. But by avoiding the throng of people walking down Wacker, and zig-zagging a few blocks at a time toward the middle point of the parade route, we got AMAZING spots for the parade.

We decided that, instead of going to the rally point (which we knew would already be a mass of humanity), we'd try to find a spot along the parade route on Washington. We got there 90 min. before the parade started, and found a spot (in the shade most of the time - and right in front of a 7-11!) where we were only 2-deep back from the barrier. By the time the parade started, the men in front of us let Miles and Emery sneak up next to them ... so they could see. (Thank goodness there are still nice people left in the world.) I reciprocated by letting a young woman who was behind me, come up and stand next to me, and use here very nice Nikon camera to shoot pictures over Miles' head. Turns out she works for the Indiana University student newspaper. She was so appreciative of me letting her move up that she took my email address, and told me she'd send me some pictures later. When the parade was over, she followed me and the kids into the streets and started doing - essentially - a family photo-shoot in the streets. The first two pictures in this post are from her.

We didn't plan it this way intentionally, but we were near an El track over-pass for the Loop. So as the double decker buses for the team came by they had to slow way down to make sure no one banged their head as the buses went under the tracks. The net result was that by the time the final bus with Kane (and the cup) came by, the bus STOPPED for about 30 seconds right in front of us. Kane put down his beer long enough to hoist the cup in the air, turned around, and looked right at us. The crowd roared. The picture of the cup in this post is one I took at that moment.

The estimated crowd along the route and at the rally was put at 2-million. (The city had expected 350,000.) I think by the time the parade started there must have been 10-15,000 crowded just in the one city block we were standing in. Really amazing.
Link to a video from our vantage point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbym-5t4M4k

Happy 30th Birthday Pac-Man!

Today is Pac-Man's 30th Birthday!

We celebrated today with a few games at home.  Google celebrated with maybe the coolest Google page art I've ever seen.  You could even play the game on the logo!

25th Anniversary of our First Date

Today is the 25th anniversary of April 17, 1985 ... Brayer and Kristen's 'first date.'

Winter "Sport"

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Brayer's Christmas Clean-Up Song ...

Sung to the melody of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" ....

12 Rubbermaid containers, 11 trips to the attic, 10 levels of fake tree dismantled, 9 pieces of train derailed, 8 recycling bins filled, 7 minute break to play Foosball with the kids, 6 hours of clean-up, 5 arguments broken up, 4 times I almost wished I was back at work, 3-hundred tiny lights wrapped up, 2 semi-helpful elves, 1 temporarily crippled (yet willing to supervise) spouse...and Christmas 2009 is in the books!

41st Birthday - U2 Concert

My birthday present this year was the opportunity to see U2 as they came through Chicago this past weekend. U2 is a band I've always wanted to see, but never had. It was really quite amazing.

From what I understand, this current tour - the "360" tour - is the most elaborate tour the band has ever put together. It's not hard to see why. The stage took five full days to construct inside Soldier Field this past week, and stretched high above the roof lines to the point that it was visible from Lake Shore Drive.

A video I shot is here.

Great time!

Drive By Birthday

The birthday wishes continued through the weekend, and are now spilling into the new work week. Tonight, just as I was tucking Emery into bed, someone started pounding on the front door. At first I thought it was going to be some sort of prank played out by some of my high school students. No, it was a prank played out by the Williams family (which does include now, a true "boneheaded" high school student). A lovely serenade of Happy Birthday!

41

Pictures from today's 41st Birthday.

Many, many thanks to family members and friends who have made it so special.

The big "present" comes tomorrow night when Kristen and I are attending the U2 concert in Chicago, but wins by both Northwestern and Michigan were a great way to celebrate September 12th.

Twentieth year ...

Today I began my twentieth year of teaching. That sounds really old. I'd like to think I'm 'young at heart!'

Leading by example

Today was the Ropes Course training for our band's Student Leadership Team. "Lead by example," right?!

The Modern Wing

Kristen and I enjoyed (thanks to help from the Williams family) a little "alone time" today, and we chose to spend it taking a trip into Chicago to visit the new Modern Wing of Chicago's famed Art Institute. This wing opened just two months ago, and has been getting tremendous reviews. Now I personally understand why. The art was amazing - but I think as important is the environment that has been created to showcase the art. The galleries on the third floor (the top floor) were especially beautiful. As you might see from one of these pictures, they have used sweeping skylights, combined with track lighting, for a very warm and appealing environment. And the vertical lines in the tall windows seem to compliment the skyline of Chicago perfectly. I read that the curators recently added the canvas coverings on the windows, as to visually 'mute' the views of the city (see picture). Apparently people were spending more time staring at the city than the art in front of the windows!

This is really a special addition to what was already an amazing art museum. Kristen and I look forward to returning - hopefully with family and friends - in the years to come.

Father's Day 2009

When Brayer Met Kristen

Our version of "Teague Family" began - formally - nine years ago!

I've always loved the 1989 movie "When Harry Met Sally," and thought this was a fun picture to honor the day.

Prom was 23 years ago

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Witnessing History - the election of Barack Obama

It's just after 2 AM as I sit down to write this. Despite being exhausted, I feel the need to put a few thoughts on the Blog before I fall asleep and lose them. (However, truthfully, I think it's highly unlikely I'll ever forget tonight.)

I have returned from hearing President-Elect Obama address Grant Park, Chicago, the United States, and the World, as the newly elected 44th President of the United States. I, along with my father, and hundreds of thousands of others, poured into the city this evening to witness history. It was truly incredible.

This will likely be one of those events in my life that I will tell my own grandchildren about some day, and for that reason it was really special to experience it with my father. I'm so glad he happened to be passing through Chicago this week, and chose to stay for a couple of days. We had a great time.

There are several photographs that we think about which capture important moments in history. An example is the photo I have posted here, of the sailor kissing a girl on the streets of New York in celebration of our WWII victory over Japan. I have, burned in my brain, a similarly spontaneous moment from tonight. As Dad and I made it through several security-checkpoints on our way into the park, we could hear the noise of the crowd assembled in Grant Park increasing in volume. And we could hear the CNN audio feed updating the status of the election. At just about 10 PM we cleared the final check-point and were within about 100 yards of the crowd in the park. CNN announced Obama as the winner, and an enormous roar came up from the masses. Many people around us, who were just coming into the park with us, began to run down the relatively empty street to the permimiter of the crowd. For some reason, my eyes turned to an African-American Policeman from the Chicago Police Department, who was standing in an intersection. I happened to be looking at him at what must have been the moment he realized that the first African American citizen of our country had been elected. His entire body lifted from the ground as he lept into the air. And as his feet came back down to Earth, he looked at me ... jogged toward me ... and we gave one another a big "high five." I'm never going to forget that moment. The mental image of him leaping in the air is - for me - an image equally as powerful as the WWII image.

As lound, boystrous, and excited as the crowd was, I was taken by how quiet we all were at key moments in Obama's speech tonight. Those in attendance were respectful, joyful, and tearful all at the same time. From my position on a small hill, overlooking a sea of humanity, I saw a true American "melting pot" of ethnicity. It really was overwhelming. And summarized in the very opening statement of his speech:

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

Finally, I will say that I loved the fact that he emphasized that this is not an "end," but yet a chance to make the change that so many of us seek in America:

"What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek -- it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you."

And his closing:

"For that is the true genius of America -- that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

NU Homecoming

Miles and I enjoyed a trip to Evanston yesterday for Northwestern's homecoming football gave against Purdue. Prior to the game we played at "Wildcat Alley" where Miles was interested in viewing the three Big 10 Championship trophies.

I've been amazed at how much Miles has picked up on the rules of football this season. He follows every play and likes to anticipate what the team will do on the following play. Lots of fun.

Segway!

Last night Kristen and I "double dated" with the Williams in the city for a "Chicago at Night" Segway tour. It was so much fun! Thanks to G-Bird and Papa for the 40th Birthday Gift!

Turning 40

Yesterday I celebrated the 1st anniversary of my 39th birthday. Okay ... I just need to own up to it: I'm 40.

It was a busy, yet fun day. The best part was coming home for a bit yesterday afternoon to see Miles, Emery and Kristen. This was the first year that they both showed an interest in picking out something specific for me. Emery gave me a Spider Man shirt that she picked out, and Miles wanted to give me a "swimming noodle." Emery also coordinated the party, and with Kristen's patient help made me "Princess Punch." Oh, and Miles was the official batter-tester for the brownies.