Music! Music!

Just one of the many things I love about the boys' preschool is its rock solid music program. Fourty-five minutes of every single three- hour day is devoted to all things music. And it's not just singing and dancing. The boys shake, drum and use mallets on all these sorts of instruments, some of which I confess I can neither pronounce nor spell. Today, as an added treat, I got to sit-in and join the kids watch a mini concert by a multi-awarded, twenty-four year old pianist. Oliver Salonga, this wonder boy who is even more wonderful for agreeing to play for the kindergardeners, has been making beautiful music on the piano since he was seven. Do the math. Ahh-maz-ing.

Somewhere in the middle of his variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, a three-year old belted out her own little variation. Think My Way by the dreaded office mate who's had one too many on karaoke night. Amusing side show. After the first few keys from Beethoven, a little one shouted "I know that!" His Chopin piece brought the house down. Mak was overheard in between all the applause and the More! More! shouting "O-li-ver! O-li-ver!". Hmm... son, very classy but one day I shall teach you to say Bravo.

Waiting for the show to start. Do you see Tato?

Mak (in yellow) with classmates

Oliver Salonga working his magic

Answering questions from curious minds

Tonight, still inspired, there is some clanging and banging coming from the playroom. Tato is trying to revive an old battery-powered drum set he received some Christmases ago. Mak is looking for a tambourine he won as a prize in some birthday party. They are both screaming to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Ta-na-na-nan! Ta-na-na-nan! Music to my ears.

Play Time

School's out. Hellooo Summer. This proud mama (and MacDaddy and MammaMia, and GrandmaB and GrandadDoc and LaT and the Titas) had a ball watching each boy perform in the school's closing programs.

Oh Tato. He was up on stage alright. He went through the motions. But he had this expression in his eyes, the melt-your-heart kind that seemed to plead 'Someone.. get me out of here. Quick. I'd rather be down there with the rest of you. Or anywhere else'. Cutiepie.

As for Mak, it seems he has found his second home. On stage. No one at our own home needed a calendar to know it was program day for him. He was marching around the house singing and saying his and everyone's lines as soon as his eyes popped open. More practice, more singing all the way until he was school-bound. He didn't get his wish. Little Miss Narrator was healthy as an ox and didn't quite need the help of Mr. Understudy. But he sang and delivered his own lines like there was no tomorrow. Or probably crossed his fingers he could do it again for more tomorrows. Mak falling in love with the stage. Who knew?

Extra special props to the Philippine Montessori Center's Instrumental Ensemble. Incredible bunch of kids. Four to six-year olds churning out ear candy using marimbas, metallophones, glockenspiels. (Confession: I had to spell check those) So amazing that the mini musicians are off to New York to perform at the Lincoln and Kaufman Centers.

The music program at the school kicks butt. Hats off to all the teachers too. Can't wait till next school year. In the meantime summer is calling.