For over 20 years, Larry and Melissa Schmidt have been entertaining elementary students in the Spring Valley, now Kingsland, school system. “We started going into our sons’ classrooms each year to sing Christmas songs. Occasionally, family members from the Welcome Home band joined us and we’d go into our nephews’ and nieces’ rooms, too,” said Larry.
The Schmidts remembered when Jack Zierdt, then principal of the elementary school, would stop by to listen to a song or two as the entertainers moved from classroom to classroom. Eventually, they were asked to do a program for the entire school assembly.
This hour-long program is composed of traditional carols that the children can sing along with, as well as a couple of thought provoking tunes. This combination definitely adds to the children’s special excitement on the last day of school for 2006. Interesting and historical explanations of some of the ancient compositions are given. “Before we perform,” commented Melissa, “we try to speak with Mr. (Elliott) Grandall to see what songs the students have been working on. We include them and spotlight the classes who know the songs especially well. It’s a grand time!”
Often when talented individuals cross our paths, after having mastered the skills, we witness them possessing, we forget that many hours, indeed years of research and hard work have been accomplished by them before they step into the spotlight. True masters in any profession seem to effortlessly accomplish tasks we see. It is as if they were simply gifted with the talent to perform. Rarely is that the case.
Melissa recalls being an extremely shy youngster. Coming home from school one day, she entered her home with the excited news that she had been asked to sing in front of the entire elementary school assembly. Her mother, Peggy Stier, raised an eyebrow as she listened to this child of hers who had such a difficult time with shyness even in small gatherings.
Peggy did as good mothers often do - she did not question her daughter’s perception; no, she marveled at the words her dear child uttered, then saying very little more about it - tucked the memory away.
Years later, when as an adult and accomplished musician, Melissa visited her mother, sharing the news that she’d been asked to sing for the entire elementary school, her mother stopped, then burst into laughter, and said, “Well, you’re finally getting around to it!”
Peggy related the story from so many years before. Melissa commented, “I hadn’t remembered telling my mom about singing, however nervousness is still a factor in our playing. Larry and I still have to overcome the jitters. There is a thrill when you share something you have found, researched, rewritten, or rebuilt. Our musical accomplishments don’t just happen. There’s a lot of hard work in any successful achievement.”
Successful is an appropriate word for what these skilled musicians achieve each year. Larry, whose job it is to keep the rhythm on track, remarks how “sometimes children, especially in a large group, have a tendency to pick up the pace as songs reach their crescendo. It’s a great time!”
“The elementary school teachers are so wonderful too!” says Melissa. “They show us so much support and appreciation!”
The Schmidts concluded their program with the song, “We wish you a Merry Christmas” and a homework assignment, which they gave the children a year to complete. The question posed to the children was, “What is the ‘figgy pudding’ that is demanded in the song, “We wish you a Merry Christmas?”
Those gathered were encouraged to go home and search out the answer.
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