Getting the Band Back Together

Last year the boys started taking lessons from Mr. Bill.

They both took lessons in Ocala,

but since starting with Bill, they have soared.

Tuesday night was the end of year concert.

Concert NOT recital!

Mr. Bill is an old school rocker.

Think Skynyrd, Kansas, Eagles.

Then think of Mr. Bill.

This year he had 13 students.

All of his students play either drums, guitar or bass.

Here is Joe-drums, Jacob-left guitar, Bill-middle, Joel-right.

This wonderful gal up front is Hillary.

Hillary is our mascot.

The girl can flat out sing!

(and she's captain of the soccer team which gives her an A+ in this family)

Back to the concert.

The music.

Bill picks out fun stuff for the boys to play.

Oldies, blues, southern rock mixed in with contempory Christian.

Here's our boys...

Joe hiding behind the drums, and

Jacob tearing up the guitar.

They were playing My Savior, My God.

Joseph (in the middle) playing a mallet trio.

Mr. Bill also teaches bells.

Jacob (joined by the electric guitar guys) playing

are you ready...

Carry On My Wayward Son

Jacob- playing some Mustang Sally

Bill has a lot of drum students.

This year he put two drum sets on the stage

and gave each student 2 minutes to show us what they learned.

No one wanted to go first,

so being the teacher he is,

he led them.

Joe- at the drums, playing Desparado.

The boys love Bill.

This year he encouraged Joseph to join a homeschool orchestra.

He encouraged Jacob to focus on the acoustic guitar.

He has Jacob learning a technique call "finger picking".

It's a precursor to banjo.

He also takes it beyond the classroom-

to a studio.

Where his friends, who own the studio, gave the guys a tour

of music production from beginning to end.

Including a video of Kansas during their last recording session.

It's been a great year-

both guys are wanting to add new instruments next year.

Jacob- Mandolin, banjo, bass. (Yikes)

Joseph- Bass, keyboards

No one wants to play the basson- wonder why?

Maybe it's because you can't close out your end of year concert

with Freebird if you play the basson!