A Little Monday Piano Guys

I Knew this was Coming

The other day, my boys were listening the our Piano Guys CD. There was a song on it that we didn't know, so we went to their site to find the video. On the search, however, we were side tracked because we found this instead. It's their latest video, and it's a compilaton featuring the lovely Lindsey Stirling. When we discovered her, my boys both said she should do a video with the Piano Guys. Well, here it is.

 

 

And, because I really enjoyed this music (and hope to see the movie soon), here is The Hobbit.

 

 



ThePianoGuys: Waterfall

From the PianoGuys website:
"Written when he was 17, "Waterfall" is like an old friend to Jon. It got him the cutest girl in his high school, made him the life of many parties, and has been a big hit with pianists and piano teachers alike. Jon says that in high school it was proof that chics dig even ugly guys with skills.
"This tune has significant meaning to Jon and all of us at ThePianoGuys because it played a pivotal role in convincing Jon to commit to a full-time career as a pianist."

Summer Clean-up

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I've got the house to myself, getting ambitious and busy with cleaning is much easier than when there are people all over the house. I stay home with my kids, and I am of the opinion that because I am home, the household chores need to be kept up by me. I have no problem with that. But when summer hits, I just want to play all day, like a kid, and leave the chores to the wind. Summer vacation means that the kids will be home all day, every day. But for me, that also means that my husband will be home, too. Being a teacher, his summers are spent at home (at least until we find the necessity for him to get a summer job). So, it seems like it's that much harder to keep things in order in my house during the summer. Not that my hubby doesn't help out. He does. But there seems to be no routine anymore. I sleep in. I read all morning, and stuff just doesn't seem to happen on a regular basis. I want to be able to jump at the chance for a family outing on a moment's notice. And somehow, doing the cleaning clouds the idea that that will be possible.

I am definitely a "color inside the lines" kind of a girl. I like schedules and routines. Oh, sure, I'd like to think that I can "laze" about all day, doing nothing without regard to any kind of schedule. But then I'm frustrated because my carpets flinch when I run the vacuum because they don't know what the ruckus is all about, and the floors can't remember when the last time a mop was applied. Not to mention the bathroom mirrors that distort your reflection because of the fingerprints and toothpaste splatter and the piles of laundry that have been sitting so long they can't remember when they were last in the closet.

SO, as the end of school approached, I decided that I needed to do something to combat that. The boys have had "mini" chores to do each day. One simple task to keep them involved, and something to base their meager allowance on. But I decided that since I've got a household full of people every day, I had better utilize them. I created a new schedule for the week. Each day has a room that is to be cleaned. But it's not just a basic "Monday clean the Front Room" kind of chore chart. I needed specifics, and ways to be sure all the bases were covered. This chart has two columns. One labeled "Mom's Chores" and one labeled "Boy's Chores." Under each heading are all the responsibilities that for the assigned room. For example, in the Front Room, my responsibilities are to: dust the piano and book shelves, remove and put away anything that doesn't belong in that room, and vacuum. The boys need to: take all story books back to their bedroom bookshelf, put away any toys left in the room, and take out the garbage (I have a small waste basket for tissues and dryer sheets).

Each day has a room and each room has specific assignments. There are between 3 and 5 things that need taken care of in each room. And like magic, my house is perpetually clean and the boys are involved. We have successfully made it through one week of cleaning together every day after breakfast and I have heard several times from my boys, "I like doing chores together." If I can keep this up, my house will be lovely all summer, and after a while my kids may start keeping things neat and orderly without a reminder (we can all hope, right?).

And because everything is always better with music, here is thePianoGuys' latest video. Here's to a clean house and a summer with a routine!

ThePianoGuys: Me & My Cello

I got a concerned phone call from my "Anonymous" reader today, wondering if I'm doing alright. (Don't worry, I know who he is.) You see, I have't posted since Friday the 13th. Which seems a little ominous, don't you think? I've dissappeared from the "blogosphere" and the last I was seen was a day full of superstition. Rest assured, everything is great. I think I may have just needed a break. I have been online to check for comments and to read some of the blogs I follow. I just didn't have anything to say here. And since I didn't have any music scheduled, my blog came out looking neglected.

For those of you (perhaps one of you?) are trying to be a part of my book club, have no fear, I have brushed aside the lack of desire (gasp!) to read and have picked up The Scarlet Pimpernel. Again. I'm not sure what was stopping me, because it is a fun story. Whatever the problem was, it has passed and I am nearly finished reading. (Some book club host I am!) Look for my post in the coming week. I hope.

The video for today is fantastic. I laughed out loud. For most of my readers, it will be a repeat, however because my sister posted it on her blog a few weeks ago. But it is so funny. And the music is great, too. So, I had to share with the few readers (two?) who do not read Such a Sew and Sew. And if you've seen it, you may decide whether you like it well enough to watch again. Obviously, I did, so here it is.

ThePianoGuys: Without You

I picked this because the other day, this song, by Usher was on the radio, and my son said, "Hey, I love this song! PianoGuys does this one!" I couldn't remember if I'd even seen it (my Dad shows them videos when we go to my parents' house), so I had to find it.  Please enjoy.

ThePianoGuys: Nearer My God, to Thee

Between LDS General Conference and Easter Sunday, I thought this selection to be appropriate.

The PianoGuys' Day Off

The song from 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'.  Very clever.

A note from the PianoGuys: "The pianos will play...when the Guys are away! The pianos are REALLY doing this, no trick photography. This was accomplished with amazing MIDI programming by Craig Knudsen on his Yamaha Disklavier! Note that special codes can move the keys on the Disklavier without generating sounds like normal notes played on the player piano, allowing for these fun patterns and effects on the keyboard."

The things technology can do for us.

ThePianoGuys: "Dumb Song"

I picked this video because I knew it would give my boys a laugh. And I love when they laugh.

Comments from the creators:
"Inspired by a tuna-fish commercial, Jon wrote this in high school, age 15, and it has followed him like a curse. Ever since, he gets hate mail if he doesn't play it in his shows. Jon has added many crazy antics over the years to liven it up. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did filming it!"

He wrote it when he was 15! Amazing. The thing I don't get is the tuna-fish commercial. But there it is.

My parents recently went to see Jon Schmidt in concert. I wonder if he played it then?

ThePianoGuys: Bring Him Home, Les Miserables

ThePianoGuys: Harry Potter

ThePianoGuys: Beethoven's 5 Secrets

I love this video. There is just such enjoyment on Steven Sharp Nelson's face as he plays (in every video, really). And could you imagine being in the orchestra that he played with? What a neat experience.

ThePianoGuys: Paradise (Peponi)

The PianoGuys: Just the Way You Are

Yesterday being Valentine's Day, I thought this beautiful love song was appropriate.

And because I like it, here is the original.



ThePianoGuys: Cello Wars

This is a video I was reluctant to post. I think it is a little cheesy. I love their version of the music. It's fantastic. I really enjoy the sound. But I don't really love the video. The first time through, it gave me a laugh. Then my boys wanted to watch it over and over and over. Basically every time I was looking at something PianoGuys, they wanted me to play 'Cello Wars.' Let's face it. It appeals to the kid in us. But the grown up in me got a little tired of it.

Then one Saturday afternoon (after having seen 'Cello Wars' about a hundred times), my oldest son said, "Mom, can we watch 'Star Wars' today?" The big thing about this is that my kids had never seen 'Star Wars.' Don't get me wrong. We own all 6 episodes, plus a couple of DVD's full of 'extras.' All their cousins watch it. Their friends talk about it at school. But they have never shown the desire to watch it. I have offered to put it on for them on several occasions, and they refused, worried it might be 'too scary,' or that they just weren't 'old enough' to watch it (regardless of my explaining that it is rated PG). So this time, when they were asking, I said yes. We watched 'A New Hope' together.

C-3PO and R2-D2 with another C-3PO

Like any kid watching a movie with plot lines and dialog between adults, my kids played with their toys during the movie, looking up when it sounded exciting. They didn't really follow the story, and they probably didn't watch most of the movie. But here is what did come from it. While watching, they played with their TRIO blocks. With inspiration from the movie, they created their own replicas from 'Star Wars.'

Two Light Sabers and a 'Jedi Training Ball'

They each built their own C-3PO. So they both get to pose with R2-D2.

What 'Star Wars' collection is complete without a light saber or two? I asked them why they made their Light Sabers red. They said "Because that's the color we have the most of." Although, the Saber is not much longer than the handle. I'm sure they could have switched them. But you just don't stomp on an artist's creation.

Two 'Storm Troopers'

Of course there have to be Storm Troopers. This is what they came up with. I think they look rather menacing.





          

R2-D2

Here is a close-up of R2-D2. I think this was a clever little design. Unfortunately there were only enough wheels to make one. So we only have one R2 unit. But he sure is cute!

And now, for the video that spawned all the 'Star Wars'-ing in my house. Please enjoy. And may the Force be with you.

ThePianoGuys: Moonlight

ThePianoGuys: Linus and Lucy

I think this may be my favorite video.

ThePianoGuys: Pirates of the Caribbean

ThePianoGuys: The Cello Song

ThePianoGuys: Michael Meets Mozart

If you've been following along, last week you saw Carol of the Bells, performed by Steven Sharp Nelson from thePianoGuys.com. (If you missed it, go back and take a look!) I did a little browsing on their site, and I'm hooked. The videos are amazing, and the music, well, just take a listen for yourself. Here is a just a sample of the art they create. This video features Steven Sharp Nelson on several cellos, and John Schmidt on the piano. Of course we need to give credit to Paul Anderson, Tel Stewart and Al Van Der Beek. They do behind the scenes work. Check out their website to read their story and find your own favorite. Then, tune in here on Wednesdays for a new clip each week!