Deja the Band Geek living vicariously through her children...
There, I've said it, I'm a Band Geek.  I played the oboe from 5th grade straight through college.  I loved playing my oboe.  Practicing...not so much.  But in the early years, I had to practice to learn what I was doing.  (And often heard the following comment from my father, "Keep it up and you'll send the Canadian Geese the wrong way" LOL)

In our homeschool, 2 years of Band is a requirement for graduation.  I love making the rules!  I think reading music is a life skill and the ability to make music with an instrument is priceless.  I'm glad my non-musical husband supports and encourages music in our home.

We have a little homeschool band, taught by a homeschool mom, Miss Lois. This year, Miss Lois has THREE Armstrongs in her band and lessons started on Wednesday.  And Miss Lois, bless her heart, offered to come to my house to teach the kids.  What an incredible blessing!  I don't have to pack up my crew of 6 and find something to do with the little boys during lessons.  Well, I DO have to keep them occupied, but it's much easier at home, and so much easier with a newborn.  Thank you Lois!

Emma has been playing French Horn for 2 years and this week, took on Double Horn (I didn't know such an animal existed).  Essentially, Emma can still read her music, but with this new instrument - which to the untrained eye looks just like a regular old single horn - she has to learn all new fingerings.  So in some ways, she's a beginner again.  I think her brain hurt after her lesson ;-)

Erik seemed somewhat reluctant about the whole music thing.  He really wants to play guitar and is going along with this 2 years requirement so he can move on to guitar.  But I think he's going to like saxaphone.  We were able to borrow an alto sax from my boss and it's silver, so it's really cool!  Erik was surprised at how heavy the sax was.

Ellie is the sweetest flute player on the face of the planet!  A friend from church, who happens to also be one of the girls' ballet teachers, loaned Ellie her flute.  We're on a trial basis with Ellie to make sure her mouth muscles can play the flute...it could be just the thing to strengthen those loosey goosey muscles of hers!