Our Band

1          My name is Anthony.  I am in fifth grade at Gingham Elementary.  Two weeks ago my teacher, Ms. Curtis, announced that the school would be having a talent show and she expected all of us to participate.  She asked us to think about our talents that night.  We were allowed to work by ourselves or with a group.

2          That evening, I thought and thought.  My favorite hobby is helping my dad in the garden, but that wasn’t something I could do for a talent show.  I couldn’t think of anything to tell Ms. Curtis.  I called my best friend George.  He couldn’t think of anything either, so at least I knew I wouldn’t be the only one without an idea.

3          The next day, Ms. Curtis asked what everyone would like to do in the show.  She was going to give us class time to practice every day.  Most people said they would sing or dance or do magic tricks.   George, Harry, Matt, Lisa, and I all said we didn’t know what to do.  “If you have an idea for your act, I want you to meet with me over here,” said Ms. Curtis.  “If you don’t have an idea yet, meet with Ms. Cuellar over there.”  Ms. Cuellar is going to college to learn how to be a teacher and is practicing with our class.  She is really excited about teaching and we like her a lot.  She is always sweet and respectful and she is usually smiling.  I was glad that my group got to meet with her.

4          “Okay!” said Ms. Cuellar.  “Since you guys don’t know what to do, we’ll do something together.  How about making a band?  What do you think?”  I looked at George.  George looked at me.  We didn’t play any instruments.  How could we be in a band?

5          As if she could read our minds, Ms. Cuellar said, “You don’t have to be able to play an instrument.  Just trust me.”  The way she smiled at us, we couldn’t help but trust her.  She seemed really enthusiastic and we started to get excited too.  “Does anyone have a metal garbage can at home?”

6          “You mean the kind your mom puts out by the curb for the trash collectors?” asked George.  “I have one.”

7          “Great.  Bring the lid tomorrow.  Does anyone have a wooden spoon?”

8          “Sure.” said Lisa.  “My dad uses them all the time when he cooks dinner.”

9          “Bring one!  How about a couple of metal pot lids?” asked Ms. Cuellar.

10        “I’m sure we have some,” I said.

11        “Harry, can you bring the bottom of a shoebox?  Matt, can you bring two large rubber bands?”  Harry and Matt nodded.

12        “We’re in great shape then,” said Ms. Cuellar.  “I’ll bring a couple of kazoos and we’ve got a band!”  We all looked at each other.  I could tell that Harry was nervous about the whole thing, but the rest of us were starting to imagine great things with garbage can lids and kazoos.

13        The next day, we all brought our supplies to Ms. Cuellar.  She handed George the garbage can lid and the wooden spoon.  Next, she wrapped the rubber bands around the shoebox and handed it to Harry.  I got to keep my pot lids and Lisa and Matt got kazoos.  “Does anyone know how a kazoo works?” asked Ms. Cuellar.  We all shook our heads.  “Sound is made when you make something vibrate.  When it vibrates, it moves the air on either side of it and makes a wave that travels to our ears.  We hear the vibrations as a sound.  When you make noise into a kazoo, it vibrates this little piece of paper on the top.  That makes the sound come out.  Lisa and Matt, try humming into your kazoos.”  The sound was funny and we all started to laugh, including Ms. Cuellar.  “Great!” she said when she finished laughing.  “Now, try humming Twinkle Little Star together.”  After they were finished, we all clapped.

14        Ms. Cuellar taught George and me how to use our lids to make a rhythm for their song.  Then, she taught Harry how to pluck the rubber bands.  “When you hit the garbage can lid with the spoon, it vibrates.  When you crash the pot lids together, they vibrate.  When you pluck the rubber bands, they vibrate.  All those vibrations cause different sounds.  When we put all our sounds together, we have music!”

15        By the time the talent show came around, we were ready.  Our band sounded great and we could play three songs.  I think everyone at the show was pretty impressed that we could make music without real instruments and they gave us a standing ovation.  I was proud of our little band and our beautiful vibrations!