
There are 88 keys on a piano. Even by playing one note at a time more songs can be composed on a piano than all the known atoms in the universe.
I love music!
The rambling thoughts of a violinist.
On April 27, Katie performed her senior recital at the Center for the Arts. About 60 family members, friends and students attended the violin recital. With help from other student musicians and friends, Katie performed several pieces of music.
Photograph by Jodi Krautkramer
About 60 people filled the CFA April 27 to watch Katie perform her senior recital. Katie began playing the violin about 17 years ago. Katie selected the pieces of music she played after intermission.The concert showcased the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, Fritz Kreisler and Luigi Boccherini. Accompanied by student pianist Emily Neal, Katie performed most of the music with only a piano and flower vase on the stage.“For Katie, everything on stage reflected her personality,” said Emily Neal, junior general and choral education major. “Katie was very well prepared, so when we sat down to put it together, it was easy.”Guided by her instructor Paul Brenner, Katie selected the first half of the concert music to meet the music requirements. The music after intermission was selected by Katie alone.“I wanted to do music that would be fun for the audience,” said Katie. “Lover’s Waltz by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason is one of my favorites as is the Boccherini Quintet. Fiddle music is always fun to hear and play.”During the Luigi Boccherini piece La Musica Notturna di Madrid, four students accompanied Katie on stage. Those musicians included Nathan Manwiller, Hannah Caylor, Brice Lory and Alex Hummel.“My favorite part of the concert was when Katie was accompanied by the piano,” said Tanya Kammes, sophomore biology major. “She made playing the violin look easy.”Katie began playing the violin about 17 years ago. At times, she thought about quitting, but she always decided to keep playing.“I was a very intense child, and my parents knew that I needed something to funnel that intensity into,” said Katie. “So, they prayed and asked God to tell them what to do. God spoke to my mom that I needed a violin.”Although Katie has been a business administration major with an emphasis in computer information systems, she used to be a music major. Typically, non-music majors do not give recitals, but she changed her major after deciding to do a recital. She is still contemplating a music minor or double major.Katie is hoping to graduate in two years. After graduation, Katie would like to remain living in the Midwest and have a job in computers or doing computer work from home.“I love the Midwest and the people that live here. I love the fact that people here care about each other.”Outside of school, Katie enjoys teaching violin lessons to nine students and hopes to continue teaching the violin wherever she ends up.
"For what will we fight?"
"To free Boston from these infernal redcoats and…" "No," said Otis. "Boy, give me more punch. That's not enough reason for going into a war. Did any occupied city ever have better treatment than we've had from the British? Has one rebellious newspaper been stopped—one treasonable speech? Where are the firing squads, the jails jammed with political prisoners? What about the gallows for you, Sam Adams, and you John Hancock? It has never been set up. I hate those infernal British troops spread all over my town as much as you do. Can't move these days without stepping over a soldier. But we are not going off into civil war merely to get them out of Boston. Why are we going to fight? Why, why?There was an embarrassed silence. Sam Adams was the acknowledged ringleader. It was for him to speak now."We will fight for the rights of Americans. England cannot take our money away by taxes.""No, no. For something more important than the pocketbooks of our American citizens."Rab said, "For the rights of Englishmen—everywhere.""Why stop with Englishmen?" Otis was warming up. He had a wide mouth, crooked and generous. He settled back in his chair and then he began to talk. It was such a talk as Johnny had never heard before. The words surged up through the big body, flowed out of the broad mouth. He never raised his voice, and he went on and on…….."…For men and women and children all over the world," he said. "You were right, you tall, dark boy, for even as we shoot down the British soldiers we are fighting for rights such as they will be enjoying a hundred years from now…."
"We are lucky men," he murmured, "for we have a cause worth dying for. This honor is not given to every generation."
"It is all so much simpler than you think," he said. He lifted his hands and pushed against the rafters. "We give all we have, lives, property, safety, skills…we fight, we die, for one simple thing. Only that a man can stand up."
"Hundreds would die, but not the thing they died for. 'A man can stand up…'"
Lindsey is a "good girl" who seemingly never does anything wrong. She won't watch R-rated movies, wears a promise ring her dad gave her on her thirteenth birthday, and won't even date (or "court," as she puts it) until she's ready to get married. It doesn't make her highly popular among some of her peers, but she cares more about what the adults in her life think. And they praise her constantly - usually while they bemoan all the "bad stuff" other teens today are involved in.
She loves it when she gets compliments for being such a "wonderful girl," but when Lindsey is honest, she knows she's become exceptional for what she doesn't do. She doesn't attend wild parties, cause trouble, or want a tattoo. But what does she do? Is the Christian life all about avoiding "bad stuff" or is it about doing "good, hard stuff" for God? Deep down Lindsey knows the answer, but she's already praised for being such a godly girl. Isn't that enough?The words jumped off the page and smacked me over the head. I can completely relate. I know the feeling all to well. So here's the thoughts.. Are you (and me) known for the things we do or the things we don't do? And what kind of things can you or we do to change that? I'm going to leave you with one thing. Just a little encouragement for all of us.