The Band

Near the end of the year, as state-wide standardized testing approaches, it is pertinent to put a on a small assembly for the older students to encourage the promotion of strong test-taking strategies.

By "pertinent", I mean that you have to do this and there is no way you are getting out.

By "small assembly", I mean a large encompassing multi-media presentation with fireworks and hoopla. If something blows up, even better.

This is something we deal with every year as we encourage our students to "do their best on the test". Not being the most creative, school spirit-y, kind of fellow, I don't usually enjoy this.

"I want a band" the 4th grade teacher in charge told me. "You can have a band if you want. I know some professional musicians. We can probably get them out here for $400 or $500" I told her in reply.

"You don't understand. I want a band. We don't have that kind of money just laying around. You play guitar don't you?"

"..Yea.. a little"

"Great. We have another 4th grade teacher that plays bass. The janitor can drum. We can find you a singer out of the 1st grade teachers".

"..ok..."

"Thank's, I appreciate you doing this"

And that's how I become the leader of The Band.

So, we practiced.. we practiced before school, after school, and even during school hours during breaks in between lunch shifts. We practiced for two months. One of us had a baby, practiced during maternity leave, and came back to sing. We learned a bunch of really hard pop songs to encourage the kids during the assembly, but we found that we had a penchant for playing "Sweet Home Alabama" at every practice. We would go through Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift, but that three chord 70's rock song came the most natural.

The day of The Band's concert came. 300 kids on the verge of the most important test of their academic careers. Lights. Smoke. Screaming. 4 teachers scared to death. A loaded gymnasium.

We rocked.

We played Sweet Home Alabama 3 times.