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The Little Big Band

New Meadow School, winter of 1963: I credit Steve Kazmierski with instigating this. While waiting for Mr. DeCapua to arrive for band practice, rather than practice our elementary repertoire, Steve brought in a Big Band Songbook and fumbled through a few bars of Pennsylvania 6-5000 for us. We all were amazed that one of us could go beyond "Little Brown Jug", and we knew that we had to keep this a secret. Surely our parents would disapprove, and Mr. DeCapua would probably become apoplectic. But by the next week, most of us had scraped together a few nickels and surreptitiously purchased our own copies, and by the third week, we were all trying to teach ourselves to swing to the Big Beat. By the fourth week, we were so into it that (horror of horrors) in the door walked Mr. DeCapua. He had apparently been listening outside the door. Immediately he put us at ease...no, we were not in trouble at all. We then were treated to the most mischievous of smiles. "Do you kids like this music? Do you really want to learn this music? Will you commit to showing up every Tuesday a half hour before school to practice? And most of all, can you keep a secret?" Nothing intrigues a fifth-grader more than engaging in a conspiracy. We were all in. For the next several months, we showed up every week and practiced and learned and shared Mr.DeCapua's love for fine music. Spring Concert finally arrived. As always, the Beginning Band played Twinkle Twinkle, and all those beginning band favorites. Then it was our turn, and we played all the advanced band favorites. And then, when all the parents in the audience were ready to say thank you and good-night, we sprung our secret on them: We really swung! The Beguine, The Bolero, I'm In the Mood for Love, and I think we closed with Pennsylvania 6-5000. I do believe at least some of the parents were dancing in the aisles. That was the first standing ovation I'd ever seen. Thank you Mr. DeCapua
Posted by Rick Harrington
Sunday February 1, 2015 at 1:12 am
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