Holiday Sing-Along was so fun!

Thank you to everyone who came to the party! So many beautiful things happened the night of December 6! The music was great, the food was yummy, and most importantly from my perspective: families sang and danced together! For the children who were old enough that the experience will stay in their conscious minds...what a beautiful memory they will have to cherish! For the children who won't consciously remember the event, the precious experience of listening to live music and participating in music-making with their loved ones will certainly contribute to their overall consciousness of the part that music can play in their family and community and celebration rituals. I was left with such a warm fuzzy feeling after the whole thing was over! While I'm absolutely thrilled that we raised over $160 for the scholarship fund, I think the most valuable outcome of the experience is the fun that we all had!

I must give a huge thank you to Music Together Mamas Pamela Yeater and Molly Coffey, who volunteered their time to coordinate food, decorations, and RSVPs. And of course, thank you to all the wonderful folks who contributed food, decorations, time, or some combination of those!

If you were there, I have a couple of requests:
1) Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to take any photos during the party, and I didn't arrange for a committed photographer. Please share photos with me if you can! Even if the photos were just of your own family members. I won't use them for publicity without permission--I'd just love to have the photos for my own personal enjoyment and reflection.

I am taking notes about this year's event to refer to when planning next year's party, and I'd love to get your feedback! If you have any suggestions for aspects that should remain the same or ideas about how to make the event better, please let me know.

Lastly, as a way of thanking the musicians and of giving you more information about the folks who worked hard to make the party a musical success, I've included some information and web links for the musicians.

Jordan Arnold, percussionist, member of Eroteme and funk band Jazz the Ripper (which has a couple of Orange Peel gigs coming up!)
Jazz the Ripper myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jazztheripper

Brad Hebert, percussionist, guitarist, bass player, accordionist, and lots of other "ists." Works at B-clip Productions.
Brad's myspace page: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=35607115

Matthew Richmond, percussionist, UNCA Percussion Instructor, teaches private lessons at the Asheville Music School, member of percussion ensemble Eroteme and piano/percussion duo Spies Among Us. Often plays with local pop band Stephanie's Id. Kari's husband!
Matthew's myspace: http://www.myspace.com/matthewrichmondmusic
Matthew's website: http://www.matthewrichmond.net/

Karl Ruch, Music Together dad, singer/songwriter, percussionist, guitarist. Karl has two CDs out!
Karl's website: http://www.karlruch.com/
Karl's myspace: http://www.myspace.com/karlruch

Aimee Sullivan, Music Together mom, saxophone player, sax and woodwinds teacher at Asheville Music School. Regularly performs with Bill Gerhardt and Mike Holstein of the Jazz Composers Forum.
http://www.callthatjazz.com/sullivan.html

Eroteme: Four of the musicians (Matthew, Brad, Jordan, Kari) are members of percussion ensemble Eroteme.
myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/erotememusic